The Heights 10/10/2013

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HEIGHTS

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The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College

established

1919

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Vol. XCIV, No. 35

Montserrat bids farewell to founder Pastrana established coalition to support low-income students

BY DEVON SANFORD Assoc. News Editor

JORDAN PENTALERI / HEIGHTS GRAPHICS

The Montserrat Coalition was started in 2010 by Boston College alumna Marina Pastrana.

On Friday afternoon, students, faculty, and administrators gathered in the foyer of the Brock House to celebrate and bid goodbye to Marina Pastrana, the former program administrator and founder of Boston College’s Montserrat Coalition and BC ’08.

Pastrana recently accepted a position at Catholic Extension, a national fundraising organization that supports poor mission dioceses across the country. The BC alumna developed and worked with the Montserrat Coalition, an initiative under University Mission and Ministry that assists students at

high levels of financial need, since its formation in 2008. Her work with the Monsterrat Coalition is rooted in her own experience as a BC undergrad.

“My first two years of college were really hard,” Pastrana said. “I am a first generation immigrant and a first generation college student … I didn’t know how the college system worked and I didn’t connect with students on a real level. I had friends, I went out, and it was fun. Other students were wonderful but I didn’t feel like they could understand the background I was coming from or the challenges I was facing.”

Pastrana was born in Mexico and grew up in Californa. Traveling to the east coast and studying in a private New England university, Pastrana experienced culture shock.

“Within the first week, I felt isolated on campus,” Pastrana said. “The freshman Welcome Week program cost students $100 at the time. I couldn’t go because I couldn’t afford it.

It was very easy to tell—when the masses of freshmen went to these events—who was left behind. During the first week of school, it was incredibly challenging.”

Pastrana often felt that she could not relate to her peers, many of whom were from affluent families in the New England area. She spent much of her free time working to pay for tuition and bills and, as a result, did not get involved on campus during her first two years of college. It wasn’t until her junior year that things began to change.

“I was randomly placed in Vanderslice my junior year with a group of women who were incredibly involved,” Pastrana said. “One of them had me apply for Arrupe.”

Knowing that she could not afford the $200 acceptance fee, Pastrana originally decided not to apply. Her roommate persuaded her to fill out the application, however, and after speaking

See Pastrana, A3

Moderators shut down ‘Confessions’

BY ELEANOR HILDEBRANDT News Editor Following the response to post No. 7122 on the Boston College Confessions Facebook page last week—a post that detailed three alleged cases of sexual assaults on campus—the moderators of the page announced Monday afternoon that they would stop accepting submissions.

“After some discussion among the page moderators, we have decided that it is time for us to shut down the page,” read the post.

“We sincerely appreciate all of the people who have continued to read and contribute to the page; it is all of you that made the page what it is. The constant stream of supportive comments has shown that no matter what you might be going through, the BC community is willing to help you through it.”

A tacit acknowledgement of last week’s events was followed by a reiteration of the page’s original purpose.

“We hope that, despite some controversy, BC confessions has had a positive impact on our school,” the moderators wrote. “It has reminded us that we never know exactly what our fellow students are going through, and an action as simple as a smile can make a world of difference. We apologize to those that relied on this page for both entertainment and for support, and we would like to remind everyone that BC has support systems in place for anyone who might need it.”

Many students commented on the update, expressing disappointment and clamoring for a new, retitled confessions page.

The page administrators responded to one query about obstacles that they faced: “The only roadblocks we had was that we would have had to change the name so that it is unrelated to BC,” read a comment from BC Confessions. “The decision was a personal one and was not at all forced by the administration.”

After a new Facebook page titled “Eagle Confessions” posted a link to its page, the moderators of the Boston College Confessions page commented again: “The bc [sic] administration told us we could not use the words BC, Boston College, Eagles, or Heights.”

Less than an hour later, a page titled Confessions from a University in the Vicinity of Chestnut Hill commented on the update: “After some deliberation, we’ve decided to march on and continue receiving confessions from students attending The-UniversityWhich-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

Dean of Students Paul Chebator confirmed in an email Tuesday morning that he and the three site moderators had a conversation about the Facebook page after the events surrounding post No. 7122 last week.

“The discussion centered on how they were dealing, personally, with the impact of the post in question and, secondly, my concern that they were using BC’s trademarked terms without authorization,” Chebator said.

See BC Confessions, A3

TATIANA PETROVICK / FOR THE HEIGHTS

With the go-ahead from the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Univeristy will tear More Hall down next year in preparation for a new building at 2150 Comm. Ave.

Boston Redevelopment Authority approves construction More Hall to be razed, Allston-Brighton Task Force accepts $17.5 million benefits package

BY ANDREW SKARAS Asst. News Editor In 2009, Boston College received approval for the University’s Institutional Master Plan (IMP) that included designs for new and renovated buildings across campus. Since then, Gasson Hall was

renovated, Stokes Hall was constructed, and restoration of St. Mary’s Hall has begun. After a meeting of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) on Tuesday evening, BC has obtained final approval for the next step in the IMP—the construction of a new residence hall on the current site of St. Thomas More Hall.

Originally, the BRA was expected to vote on the proposed construction during their Sept. 26 meeting. The vote was postponed, however, due to concerns from members of the Allston-Brighton community and their representatives on the city council that not enough time had been given for them to consider the ramifications of the project and what was contained within the community benefits package offered by BC. In between, the Allston-Brighton Task Force (ATF) met

with members of the community and representatives from BC, including University Spokesman Jack Dunn and Thomas Keady, vice president of governmental and community affairs, to discuss the merits of the benefits that BC was offering.

At the Sept. 30 meeting, the ATF began to go over each item in the benefit package and questioned the BC representatives on the specifics of each line item. In addition,

See More Hall, A3

Successful Start coordinates annual winter clothing drive

BY JENNIFER SUH For The Heights

Successful Start, the financial literacy program in the Office of Student Services, has organized its third annual Winter Clothing Drive for Boston College students in need of winter clothing for the cold months ahead.

While adult sizes are preferred, students can donate gently used sweaters, jackets, and coats, as well as new scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens of all sizes in the labeled boxes in the lobby of Lyons Hall now through Oct. 25. All members of the BC community can also help by setting up donation boxes for the clothing drive.

“What I enjoy most about the clothing drive is being able to meet a need and seeing students walk away happy, grateful, excited, and feeling blessed,” said Marisa Kreaime, director of Successful Start. “One of the students last year stated that he would never be able to afford to buy all that he got for himself and his family.”

The goal of the Winter Clothing Drive is to provide warm clothing to students in need and international students who are not from areas with cold weather. All of the donated clothing will go to members of the BC community.

“Successful Start saw a need and responded with an opportunity to give back to the community,” said Steve Rugg, graduate assistant for Successful Start. “We talk about budgeting to meet our goals, and a lot of people forget that community support should be a part of our plans. This type of community involvement and support is a habit that BC students can inculcate and take out to the world.”

Last year, Successful Start distributed over 325 articles of clothing to BC students.

This year, the program hopes to exceed that number.

“Our annual Winter Clothing Drive has been immensely successful in the past,” Rugg said. “It’s always wonderful to see the support that students have provided for each other.”

Successful Start was founded in the 200506 academic year, when Kreaime and the Office of Student Services realized that students had a need for information about debt management and borrowing student loans. After students were asked what they knew and what they wanted to learn concerning their financial futures, Successful Start offered four workshops on budgeting, credit card management, loan repayment, and investing.

See Clothing Drive, A3

JENNIFER BISHOP / FOR THE HEIGHTS

Author Paul Tough spoke about the effect of stress on children’s academic success.

Tough talks school success

BY NATHAN MCGUIRE For The Heights

Over 250 students, faculty, and members of the BC community packed the dimly-lit lecture hall in Gasson 100 on Wednesday evening to listen to a lecture given by New York Times bestselling author Paul Tough. The event was sponsored by the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics as part of the Lowell Humanities Series.

Tough, who is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, spoke mostly about the ideas behind his newest book, How Chil-

dren Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. The book is a collection of stories about specific people and places Tough encountered while reporting on education and poverty-related issues.

“The center of the book is that the conventional wisdom that has governed our thinking for the past couple of decades about education and childhood development has been misguided,” Tough said. “We’ve been emphasizing the wrong skills and abilities in our children and we’ve been using the wrong strategies to

See Tough, A3

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

things to do on campus this week

1 2 3 Verdi Roundtable

Red Sox Nutritionist

Today Time: 4 p.m.

Location: Gasson 100

Thursday afternoon, Boston College’s romance languages and literatures department, in conjunction with the Sottile Fund for Italian Studies, is hosting a roundtable discussion and live performance in celebration of Giuseppe Verdi’s bicentennial.

Opening the Cabinet

Today Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Fulton 511

The Office of Health Promotion is hosting an event focusing on nutrition today in Fulton 511. Tara Mardigan, the nutritionist for the Boston Red Sox, will be coming to talk about developing strategies for boosting brain power and energy.

Today Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Higgins 310

As a part of Silver Week, Asian Caucus Cabinet is hosting an event to discuss mental health, mental disorders, and how to cope with them. University Counseling Services will also be presenting at the event.

FEATURED EVENT

‘Padre Melo’ denounces Honduran atrocities

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 Metro 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

BY NICOLE SUOZZO For The Heights Twenty homicides daily. Thirty-two journalists killed within the last three years.

Five hundred people under the age of 30 trying to escape over the border each day.

This is the reality in Honduras that Rev. Ismael Moreno Coto, S.J., popularly known as “Padre Melo,” spoke about on Wednesday afternoon as part of his U.S. tour coordinated by Witness for Peace New England.

An attentive group of faculty and students gathered to hear his tale of human rights abuses occurring throughout Honduran society. Although Coto did not speak a word of English (a translator was provided), he managed to captivate his audience with stories about being detained by U.S. soldiers on the highway and the Honduran military barging into his radio station demanding the Jesuits shut it down during the coup d’etat in 2009.

Coto described his homeland as a typical “Banana Republic,” one run by three major actors: drug traffickers, multinational corporations, and the U.S. An outspoken critic of the coup d’etat and its aftermath, as well as one of the foremost spokespeople for human rights in Honduras, Coto has been a target of death threats and has a bounty on his head. As a member of the Jesuitsupported radio station Radio Progreso, and director of the Center for Reflection, Research, and Communication—which conducts research on societal trends and public opinion in Honduras—Coto speaks

CARA ANNUNZIATA / HEIGHTS STAFF

Through a translator, Coto talked about drug policies and trafficking in Central America. out against atrocities occurring in what is now known as the “Murder Capital of the World.”

According to Coto, 80 percent of the cocaine used in the U.S. goes through Honduras, typically coming from Colombia. Therefore, the U.S. supports policies that combat drug trafficking in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Coto believes, however, that the U.S. government is committing a grave error.

In the war on drugs, the U.S. looks to support from Honduran military officials, politicians, and businessmen who have commitments with drug bosses. Coto mentioned that 215 internal associates maintain fortunes of $139 million due to their relations with drug bosses in

Honduras. Within the congress of the republic, the supreme court of justice, and public administration, there is a lot of control by powerful drug traffickers. Therefore, institutions and the Honduran rule of law have been weakened.

Coto is from the Central American province of the Jesuits, and worked in El Salvador after his colleagues and friends (six priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter) were murdered at the Jesuit residence on the campus of the University of Central America (UCA), San Salvador.

The murders were committed by U.S.-trained Salvadoran soldiers—the U.S. created a military base in Honduras during the 1980s to combat surrounding countries that had erupted into

POLICE BLOTTER

10/4/13-10/7/13

Friday, October 4 1:52 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a motor vehicle accident in the Brighton Campus lots.

8:25 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an alcohol confiscation from a minor in the Upper Dorms lots.

Saturday, October 5 12:18 a.m. - A report was filed regarding vandalism to Gonzaga Hall.

1:14 a.m. - A report was filed regarding two underage intoxicated students in Cushing Hall.

2:21 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an assault and battery in Stayer Hall.

2:48 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a reported sexual assault that occurred on campus.

3:23 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an activated fire alarm in Rubenstein Hall.

tance provided to a BC student who was tranported to a medical facility.

1:59 p.m. - A report was filed regarding two non-BC affiliates who were ejected from Alumni Stadium for possession of alcohol.

Monday, October 7

8:30 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated BC student in 90 St. Thomas More Rd.

On Oct. 7, the Board of Trustees at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) released a letter to the university community stating that the board had made the decision at a recent meeting to discontinue coverage of elective abortions under the health care plan offered by the university. According to the letter, this year was the first time that the university had the opportunity to exclude elective abortions from its primary insurance plan and the board decided to take the opportunity to assess the university’s policy on the matter.

“We acknowledge that the issue of abortion is extremely complicated and encompasses varied and competing values that often leave no one happy,” said Kathleeen H. Aikenhead, chairwoman of the board, and David W. Burcham, university president, in the letter to the LMU community. “Nonetheless, we believe that the right to life and dignity for every human being is a fundamental part of Catholic

9:56 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a larceny in Conte Forum.

Sunday, October 6

5:12 p.m. - A report was filed regarding medical assistance provided to a BC student who was transported to a medical facility from O’Neill Plaza.

12:03 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated BC student in Corcoran Commons.

9:45 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an activated fire alarm in Alumni Stadium.

12:14 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated BC student in Fenwick Hall.

12:32 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated BC student in Vanderslice Hall.

2:47 a.m. - A report was filed regarding medical assis-

College Corner NEWS FROM UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

BY ANDREW SKARAS Asst. News Editor

civil war. At that time, the poorest people in Central America were living in Honduras, and the U.S. provided economic support for Honduran military officials for their role against the crisis.

Coto, along with other members of the Center for Reflection, Research, and Communication, develop organizations that can defend Honduras’ natural resources, and defend human rights organizations and grassroots groups that are threatened by the Honduran government. Coto also wants the U.S. to change public policy from focusing on controlling the supply of drugs from Honduras to concentrating on the demand of drugs in the U.S. In his testimony in 2012 before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee of the U.S. Congress, Coto asked committee members, “How can freedom of expression be defended in a country like Honduras where the biggest violators of this fundamental freedom are the friends and partners of a ‘democracy’ backed by policies and agencies of the United States government?”

“He is one of the most prominent voices for human rights and social justice in Honduras, particularly using the platform of the Jesuit-supported radio station Radio Progreso, to offer views centered on the wellbeing of the general populace, which is beset by so much poverty and violence,” said Timothy Karcz, assistant director of the Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice. “These views are often in contrast to the vested interests that control much of the country, and he has received death threats as a result.” 

beliefs (all other rights flow from this primary right to life and dignity), and that this vision needs to be evidenced in LMU’s policies and procedures.”

The letter went on to state that a plan managed by a third-party would be available to cover elective abortions, but that it would charge a higher premium.

This would be so that “no LMU dollars will be used in paying for this additional coverage.”

According to The Huffington Post, Anna Muraco, an associate professor of sociology at LMU, has spoken out against the decision. Muraco has claimed that the university is not taking into account issues of equity and diversity.

According to The New York Times, another professor, Christopher Kaczor, in the philosophy department has condemned the decision from the other side.

“I don’t think this is morally coherent,” he said via email. “It is like saying, ‘Since I believe abortion is intentional killing, I won’t drive you to the clinic, but I’ll arrange for my brother to drive you there if you pay him a few bucks.’” 

—Source: The Boston College Police Department

News Tips Have a news tip or a good idea for a story?

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Arts Events The Heights covers a multitude of events both on and off campus – including concerts, movies, theatrical performances, and more. Call Sean Keeley, Arts and Review Editor, at (617) 552-0515, or email arts@bcheights.com. For future events, email 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 David Cote, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or email eic@bcheights.com.

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CORRECTIONS Please send corrections to eic@bcheights.com with ‘correction’ in the subject line.

VOICES FROM THE DUSTBOWL “Which building on campus would you choose to be renamed after you and why?”

“Bapst—it’s where I do all my homework.”

—Samantha Cloud, A&S ’16

“Fulton—I’m in there all the time.”

—Doug Gorman, CSOM ’17

“O’Neill— that’s where I spend most of my time.”

—Conor Hawley, A&S ’17

“Gasson—it’s the most famous building on campus.”

—Gray Gotcher, A&S ’17

The Heights

Thursday, October 10, 2013

A3

Founder of Montserrat Coalition Marina Pastrana steps down Pastrana, from A1 with the director of the program who told her not to be deterred by the fee, Pastrana chose to apply to Arrupe. A few weeks later, she was accepted to the program.

“That was when things started to change for me at BC,” Pastrana said. “I started to see a different part of Boston College. I met a Jesuit who was a mentor of the program, Antonio ‘TJ’ Martinez, and he was unbelievable. He was amazing.”

Pastrana began to connect with her peers and faculty on campus, attending on-campus events and programs. With the encouragement and financial support of faculty and administrators, she went on several retreats and even led Arrupe her senior year.

“What I realized was all the opportunities that I found junior and senior year were always there,” Pastrana said. “I just didn’t know about them.”

Throughout her experiences as an upperclassman, Pastrana learned that she was not the only one experiencing economic challenges at BC. “I realized how many of my peers felt a little bit jaded with BC,” Pastrana said. “There is so much to do here, but it’s sometimes not open to all students. And that’s not a bad thing. You’re not going to be able to do everything. But sometimes, when you have to work all the time, when you have a lot of pressures from home, when you’re so worried about all the other expenses you have, you can’t attend the club meeting you wanted to go to or go to the dance that all your friends are going to.”

At the end of her senior year, while juggling cap and gown costs, grad school applications,

and GRE fees, Pastrana found herself in the office of an administrator asking for financial support to pay for the $95 ticket to Commencement Ball.

“I had to talk to them and say, listen, here is the reason I don’t have this money and I really want to go,” Pastrana said. “I was comfortable at that point sharing my story because I had done it a lot, but it was really hard. I felt like I was begging … I got the ticket and I realized we should do this for other people.”

With the help of Intersections, a division of University Mission and Ministry that supports faculty and staff in the exploration of the Jesuit, Catholic mission of the University, Pastrana—then a graduate student at BC—began gathering faculty and administrators to discuss the struggles of students at the highest level of financial need on campus. She led the study under the title “Economic Challenge Committee.” Pastrana worked with the Financial Aid office during the 2008-09 academic year to identify students in need of financial assistance.

These students became the first Montserrat students.

With tickets in hand, Pastrana would sit every week in the old Chocolate Bar in McElroy and talk with Montserrat students about their experience thus far at BC. She would ask them what they were enjoying at college, what moments were great, and what they were struggling with.

“At the end of grad school, I knew I couldn’t leave without doing something,” Pastrana said.

“I knew I wanted something to be institutionalized. I wanted BC to make the commitment.”

In the 2010-11 academic year, the Montserrat Coalition was officially established and Pastrana was hired as the program administra-

tor. In its first official year, Montserrat reached out to 1,300 students, distributing over 800 free tickets to dances, concerts, cultural events, and theater productions. Additionally, the coalition assisted students with funding for EMT courses, retreats, service programs, and study abroad programs. Montserrat members of this year’s graduating class will be the first to have participated in the program for all four years of college.

“Our main objective is not the tickets,” Pastrana said. “We provide a community, we mentor, we support. Students are told from freshman year about the opportunities on campus so they don’t miss out. As an incoming freshman, I can ask you, ‘What do you want to do, where do you want to go, and how can I help you?’”

The Montserrat Coalition has worked to build a more welcoming and inclusive community for students of varying economic backgrounds since its official establishment in 2010. The program now coordinates with over 40 administrators and faculty members across campus and supports over 1,500 BC students.

Nanci Fiore-Chettiar, A&S ’15, has been a member of the Montserrat Coalition since her freshman year. She said the program has helped her to feel more included within the BC student body.

“I know that there are events that I attended because of Montserrat that I wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise,” Fiore-Chettiar said. “It’s hard to say you can’t go to an event, especially because the reason is you can’t afford it. That was particularly harder during my freshman year—but Montserrat made that so much easier for me.”

Fiore-Chettiar has also turned to the

Montserrat Coalition for support and mentorship. During her sophomore year, she had the opportunity to move into Vanderslice with some of her close friends, who had a vacancy in their suite. The dorm cost $2,000 extra than her previous housing placement, Edmond’s. Unsure whether she could afford the price difference, Fiore-Chettiar went to Pastrana for advice.

“I went to Marina and was in her office for an hour and a half talking about it, weighing the pros and cons,” she said. “She really gave me the support. Even though Montserrat is about financial need and economic support, Marina wasn’t just focused on that. She was also focused on my health and wellbeing, and where I would be happier. She allowed me to look at the decision more holistically. I could not have been more grateful. She was instrumental in helping me make my decision.”

While some students have taken full advantage of the Montserrat Coalition, others have used it less frequently. Benjamin Ballard, A&S ’15, has gone to Montserrat for financial aid support when attending retreats. Otherwise, he has only used one Montserrat ticket.

“I am Montserrat and I know that my family needs that money for me to go here, but I know that I can support myself because I work a lot,” Ballard said. “I feel like other people could use the tickets more than I should.”

Jose Altomari, A&S ’16, commented on the support that Montserrat provides students.

“Marina and the office are a great resource not only for opportunities and help financially, but also in terms of your own personal growth,” Altomari said. “I believe wholeheartedly that it helps students.”

Pastrana emphasized the significance of the University’s support in funding. It is not

the goal of the Montserrat Coalition to receive 1,500 tickets to each event or program, she said. Rather, the coalition is a University-wide effort that is meant to build awareness of the diversity on campus and create a more inclusive student body.

“This is a coalition,” Pastrana said. “Montserrat still depends on the budget and support of other offices. We get support from whoever is running the event. I think it’s incredibly important to remember that we are a community and we are supporting one another. We talk about men and women for others at this University and that has to start with supporting each student on campus.”

After leaving what is sure to be a lasting impression on the BC community, Pastrana has accepted a position at the Catholic Extension.

A new program administrator has not yet been appointed, and Montserrat’s graduate assistant Frank Garcia-Ornelas will serve as interim administrator while the University searches for a permanent replacement.

“I had to ask myself again, ‘What am I good at and what does the world need from me?’”

Pastrana said. “I have always wanted to work at a national level and the Latino community is incredibly important to me … It’s another opportunity for me. I can’t be afraid.”

On Thursday, Oct. 3, the day before her celebratory send off, Pastrana sat by her desk in the Brock House and considered the impact the Montserrat Coalition has had on BC. “We are a diverse community and we are all going to face different challenges,” Pastrana said.

“But here, we are going to try and understand your challenges a little bit better, and work so that other students can understand your challenges and connect with you as well.” n

Financial literacy program runs student clothing drive Clothing Drive, from A1

image courtesy of einhorn yaffee prescott

An architectural rendering of the new residence hall planned for the current site of More Hall, as seen from Commonwealth Avenue.

Destruction of More Hall given go-ahead More Hall, from A1 Gerald Autler, senior project manager at the BRA, was present to address concerns. The conversation and the questions from the residents centered on how the money would be dispersed in the various funds and what control BC would have over the money. The total allocation proposed was $17,692,980 dispersed over six and a half years.

One of the items that the ATF spent the most time talking about was a “Neighborhood Improvement Flexible Fund.” BC allocated $2,564,000 for improvements to local parks, open spaces, beautification, transportation, public safety, and public art. One of the points of contention was who would have control of this money and who would be able to apply for it. The BRA representative explained that the money would be held in an escrow account and that this was standard for community benefit packages provided by universities in Boston. One of the BC representatives explained that anyone could submit proposals for projects funded by this money and that the responsible city department would execute the project.

Some residents, however, objected to the fact that the money would be used by the city and were concerned that the availability of this money would lead to the city neglecting to provide maintenance to the Allston-Brighton area out of its own budget.

Other parts of the package include sponsoring two annual job fairs for Allston-Brighton residents and offering computer skills training for up to 10 residents annually. BC also volunteered $10,000 per year to sponsor five AllstonBrighton candidates for pre-apprenticeship training provided by the Boston Building Trades Council. Residents’ concerns for these items pertained to how the word would be spread to notify residents of these opportunities.

Regarding education, BC committed to providing $400,000 per year for the next six and a half years to support St. Columbkille’s Parish School. Several residents expressed misgivings over this aspect of the package. Some did not believe that it was truly a benefit to the Allston-Brighton community, but only to the Catholic families. Others questioned whether BC’s support of St. Columbkille’s parish school truly ben-

efited St. Columbkille’s and the people it served. One of the questions raised was how many of the students were actually from Allston-Brighton. Dunn responded that 241 out of 375, or 69 percent, of the students were from the community. He further added that not all of the families that sent their children to the school were Catholic.

BC also committed to providing annual funding for a total of 40 fulltuition scholarships to qualified Boston residents, with preference for AllstonBrighton residents.

In order to facilitate home ownership in the Allston-Brighton area, BC will provide mortgage assistance to BC employees trying to purchase homes in the area and provide a matching grant for up to two residents who have completed a first-time home buyer’s program toward an area home.

Another benefit that BC has agreed to provide is support for the BC Neighborhood Center, which is located on Washington Street and offers space for community programming, meetings, and services. Through this item, BC will be paying an estimated $195,600 over six and a half years to pay rent, maintenance, and utilities.

The ATF was unable in the first meeting on Sept. 30 to fully discuss the plan and proceeded to hold more meetings before the Tuesday BRA vote. At its final meeting on Monday, it approved a revised version of the community benefits package presented to them on Sept. 30, with a nine-to-one vote.

According to Keady, the only changes to the original plan were in terms of the number of scholarships offered to the Allston-Brighton students. The number of scholarships offered per year was increased from 10 to 15 for a total of 60 scholarships.

At the BRA meeting Tuesday evening, Autler introduced the project to the BRA board of directors, before turning the microphone over to Keady.

Beginning by giving background on previous construction and renovation, Keady talked about the work that had been done on Brighton Campus. To describe the project itself, he turned the presentation over to Paul King, the representative from the architectural and engineer firm, Einhorn Yafee Prescott, which BC has been working with on this building.

Starting with the building currently on the site, King gave a full background of the project and explained how the building would fit into the campus life, the architectural surroundings, and the landscaping that would take place around the finished building. After he finished, the BRA did not have any questions for BC or EYP and turned the floor over to the general public first to give feedback in favor of the proposal and later to give feedback against the proposal.

Members of the community, a member of the ATF, and representatives from several unions spoke up in favor of the project. Additionally, a representative of Mark Ciommo, Boston city councilor, spoke in favor of the project.

After they finished talking, two other community members, Mark Alford and Patrick Galvin, spoke in opposition to the project. They requested that the BRA defer the vote on the project because of an unsettled lawsuit in which they were both plaintiffs and the BRA was a defendant.

This lawsuit was filed in 2009 and named the BRA, the ATF, and the Boston Zoning Commission as defendants in a case regarding the BRA’s initial approval of the IMP. “We weren’t originally defendants on the suit—we became defendants because we intervened,” said Joseph Herlihy, University general counsel.

“Because [the suit] sought to overturn the Institutional Master Plan, we intervened.”

According to Dunn and Herlihy, the case was summarily dismissed by the lower court. The plaintiffs, however, appealed that decision. Wednesday morning, the appeals court released its decision on the case. “[The appeals court] affirmed the lower court decision that dismissed the case,” Herlihy said. “Technically the plaintiffs could seek additional appellate review at the supreme judicial court. They are not entitled to [a hearing]—they have to make a case for the court to take up [their suit].”

After Alford and Galvin finished giving their opposition, the BRA board of directors voted unanimously in favor of the plan. With this approval, BC plans on beginning construction late into the spring semester, so that the dorm will be ready to open in the fall of 2016. n

According to its mission statement, “The goal of the Successful Start program is to ensure that Boston College’s students are financially literate for their lifetime by offering a series of workshops and seminars, led by Boston College employees and expert guest speakers, related to all aspects of personal financial management.”

About 300 to 400 students attend workshops every year. The program is continuing to grow by providing more workshops and a certification program.

In addition to Kreaime, two graduate assistants and a work-study student help run the program. “We want to make sure BC students are equipped to step off campus and into their lives confident that their finances can help them

reach their goals,” Rugg said.

Successful Start also introduced Peer Money Mentors three years ago to provide BC students with the opportunity to meet with a trained mentor who can help them manage their personal finances in a confidential, oneon-one environment. Peer Money Mentors are graduate and undergraduate volunteers who also help with topics such as budgeting and credit management.

“I would love to see even more students take part in the workshops and with the Peer Money mentors, of course,” Kreaime said. “Our vision is to eventually have our own center where we could do more outreach and expand the program. It would enable us to offer more to the students focusing on their needs and interests.” n

Tough discusses attitudes around academic success Tough, from A1 help develop those skills. The name that I give to this conventional wisdom is the cognitive hypothesis.”

The cognitive hypothesis, which is accepted by many educators, says the most important quality in a child’s success is his or her IQ, Tough said. As standardized test scores measure cognitive skills, many educators have placed great importance on them in the past few decades.

“As a nation we’ve invested a whole lot of importance in standardized test scores, because we really believe on some deep level that they measure what matters,” Tough said. “But the educators and scientists that I write about in How Children Succeed have identified this very different set of skills that they say matter at least as much as IQ, and quite possibly more so.”

He said that most educators and scientists would consider things like grit, curiosity, consciousness, and optimism character traits, but Tough believes that these things can help young people succeed in school. Exposure to the right amount of adversity can strengthen character traits.

He compared a private school, where he said many kids are underexposed to adversity, with an inner-city school, where he said kids are overexposed to adversity. In both cases the kids don’t have the character skills to properly respond to failures.

While preparing his book, Tough spent years talking with educators, teachers, and pediatricians and researching areas like neuroscience and developmental psychology to find out how children succeed.

While researching trauma and stress, Tough learned about a study that linked childhood stress to adult diseases.

“The study finds that if you take any group of adults, the ones who experience significant amounts of trauma in childhood have heart disease rates that are twice as high as normal, cancer rates that are twice as high as normal, emphysema rates that are four times as high, suicide rates that are 12 times as high, and what we understand as the mechanism behind that is stress,” Tough said.

While every infant experiences some sort of stress, more traumatic and chronic stress can damage a person’s stress response system, he said. The body’s stress response system is closely related to mental and physical health.

“The stress response system is in lots of ways like a muscle, and it needs that regular exercise in order to develop,” Tough said. “The problem comes when children are not experiencing stress that is mild but that is intense and chronic, what doctors call toxic stress. And toxic stress doesn’t develop the stress response system but instead debilitates it, which has an effect on the crucial set of attention and concentration skills that matter so much in school.”

Tough said that a close childhood connection with a parent could insulate children from forms of toxic stress.

While researching and writing the book, Tough said that he met a lot of students who were able to rise above their childhood disadvantages. In most of the cases, he said the students were able to succeed because they had strong character traits and had someone supporting them along the way. n

Confessions page shut down BC Confessions, from A1 “We then had a general conversation about the site itself and its value, or lack thereof, to the community in light of the numerous complaints that they had received from fellow students and community members.

At no time were they told that they could not keep the site going—however I did ask them to not use any BC trademarks without

authorization. The decision to shut down the site was their own.”

Chebator also commented on the University’s response to the student who submitted post No. 7122. “With respect to the student responsible, he is no longer a student at Boston College,” Chebator said.

“BCPD did investigate this matter after his confession and is convinced that the matter was a hoax.” n

The Heights

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Far East NCOW opens doors to BC community realpolitik

By Allie Olivieri For The Heights

Daniel Lee After I criticized the Japanese historical management on Sept. 12, there have been additional relevant events in Japan. First, Japan successfully launched a solid-fuel rocket, called Epsilon. Second, Secretary John Kerry and Chuck Hagel openly endorsed the Japanese move toward amending the constitution. I’m deeply frustrated with this U.S. foreign policy in Far East Asia.

The Western press failed to raise concerns about possible misuse of the solid-fuel technology—which is the very same technology for the ICBM. Yet the U.S. government has strongly objected to South Korea’s development of satellite rocket technology—for the very same reason that I’m concerned about the Japanese rocket. Japan is not facing any real threat from the outside, except maybe North Korea. South Korea, on the other hand, has been dealing with direct threats from the un-ended Korean War, and has respected the bilateral agreements between Washington and Seoul for limited military technology development.

The same policy is not sufficient for Japan. The Shinzo Abe administration has tried to change the pacific constitution, inherited from the cause of the Pacific War, to expand its passive military role to an active one. Long story short, the revisionist Abe administration wants to become the military hegemon in the region. As I explained in the Sept. 12 column, such a move is concerning without a proper war redemption-seeking effort, which should’ve been made post-1945, because history repeats itself.

On Oct. 4, the U.S. government publically endorsed the newly expanded “collective self-defense” of Japan, which will abandon the current pacific Peace Clause 9 that prevents potential warring military action. Because of the way Adolf Hitler dominated the country, Germans constructed their constitution with various political safety devices that made changing the constitutional interpretation virtually impossible. In fact, German participation in the war in Afghanistan is reluctant, according to its collective self-defense with NATO, while Japan has been waiting for a request from the U.S. government to expand its military role in Far East Asia.

Before expressing my frustration, I understand the strategic U.S. endorsement. As the current defense budget has become burdensome, the U.S. is trying to borrow the hands of Japan to check the growing Chinese power and its uncertainty around North Korea. Japan has been an active supporter of the U.S. Missile Defense campaign in the Far East.

In the Japanese perspective, such collective self-defense with the U.S. military is a win-win strategy. Even if the nation-state admitted its war crimes and recognized its past—to the historical part China also agrees, as they warned the Japanese against further worship of the war criminals at the Yasukuni Shrine—such a revisionist attempt is naturally alarming to its neighbors, politically speaking.

The Japanese political movement on amending the constriction only sounds superficially peaceful. South Korea withdrew thousands of U.S. nuclear warheads out of the peninsula due to the joint declaration between Seoul and Pyongyang on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in 1992, and the South has been willing to bind to the policy line despite the nuclear development of the North.

Antithetical to what Abe said, the expansion of the military role can’t be pacific, logically, especially when Japan is still involved with territorial disputes with Russia, China, Taiwan, and South Korea since the Pacific War. I don’t see any political justice when the U.S. hasn’t questioned any of Japan’s improper historical management under its national interest. Well, that’s the exact reason I’m so frustrated when studying international relations—the “right thing to do” isn’t always there in international politics. The “world police” haven’t been objective.

Daniel Lee is a senior staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at news@bcheights.com.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals make up 10 to 12 percent of the population of the U.S., which means that approximately 900 undergraduates at Boston College could be GLBTQ. Some people, however, have yet to be open about their sexuality. National Coming Out Week (NCOW) gives members of the BC community an opportunity to express their sexuality and to interact with peers and supporters.

Alex Taratuta, chair of the GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC) and A&S ’14, believes there are many more students poised to open up about their sexuality. “The number of students currently in the GLBTQ community on campus is just the tip of the iceberg,” Taratuta said.

The GLC provides GLBTQ students with a peer group and environment in which to express issues related to sexual orientation. The GLC organizes several events throughout the year, including presentations by speakers, support initiatives, and NCOW. This week is aimed at supporting students learning to express themselves to the world, but Taratuta noted that many students are not ready until later in their college career. Studying abroad junior year

can have a significant impact on a student’s confidence and comfort with their sexuality.

“They use that time to find themselves and then when they come back from studying abroad students realize that a lot of people have accepted their sexuality,” Taratuta said.

NCOW, which began in 2006, takes place during the first week of October and typically consists of the same events every year including: a kick-off barbecue, gayme night, Opening Boston’s Closet, Guess Who’s Gay, F to eMbody, and a closing ceremony. All of these events are important, but the barbecue is the most popular among the students.

Taratuta recognizes people who regularly participate in the events and tries to make it a point to know them and learn their names. Typically, around 1,000 students attend the events during NCOW, but the GLC hopes to attract 1,200 people this year.

With six events in five days, it can be hectic for the members of GLC and the GLBTQ community at BC. Taratuta proposed an idea that he predicts will attract more students in the future. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to look into doing a full month of events,” Taratuta said.

There are over 40 people in GLC this year, which is a dramatic increase from previous years.

“When I started [with GLC] my

freshman year there were probably 12,” Taratuta said. He attributes the sudden increase in participation to the group’s increased visibility.

“Because we’re more visible we have had more success in our events,” Taratuta said.

Taratuta’s own experience with the group can be traced to his freshman year, when he attended a Spectrum retreat and met GLC leaders. After the retreat, he attended several meetings and officially joined GLC at the end of his freshman year.

Preparations for NCOW are extensive, and include designing and ordering shirts and stickers and planning meals for the events.

“We start planning NCOW at the beginning of summer,” Taratuta said.

Participation in the events is open to everyone, Taratuta said, and there are many students in GLC who do not identify themselves as GLBTQ. “They are just there for their friends, or for family members, just because it’s something that they are interested in,” Taratuta said.

The two remaining events this week, F to eMbody and the closing ceremony, will take place on Oct. 10, from 3:30-5 p.m. in McGuinn 334 and on Oct. 11, from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. in Vanderslice Cabaret Room, respectively. n

drew hoo / for the heights

Taiye Selasi spoke on the “lumping of African literature” on Wednesday.

Selasi warns against clumping African culture B y S ara D oyle For The Heights

natalie goepel / for the heights

The GLC celebrates its seventh NCOW with six oncampus events, including last night’s Guess Who’s Gay game show.

Nasr criticizes U.S. foreign policies

By Soo Jung Rhee For The Heights On Wednesday in Devlin 101, Vali Nasr, dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and author of several bestselling political analyses, presented a lecture titled The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat. Nasr also served as the senior advisor to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, President Barack Obama’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, from 2009 to 2011.

Titled after his most recent book, Nasr’s lecture evaluated the current administration’s handling of foreign policy with a focal point in the Middle East and Asia. While identifying the Middle East as the singular, most important place of U.S. foreign policy, he criticized the previous administrations’ overtly militaristic approach toward the Arabic world. After Obama’s speech at Cairo University raised hope for bringing economic stability and democracy to the Muslim world and mending its relations with the U.S., Holbrooke and his team struggled with the issue of sending more troops to Afghanistan in an effort to help rebuild a functioning nation.

They were confronted, however, with Arab foreign ministers’ stubborn opposition and a potential fear of Afghanistan becoming another Vietnam. Soon after, it was suggested that the U.S. completely withdraw from Afghanistan grounded in the growing opinion that there was no need to fight the Taliban but only to kill Osama bin Laden and disperse the ever-growing power of Al-Qaeda. “Diplomacy was not on the table,” Nasr said. “It was not considered at all.”

The U.S. then withdrew from the region and instead turned its attention to Asia, designing a grand strategy of pivoting to

Asia, especially China. Inevitably, problems emerged as the European countries begrudged the idea, which spurred the U.S. to extend diplomatic relations to Asia. While the U.S. worked to contain China, at the same time, the Chinese government turned its attention to the Middle East, forming an economic alliance with the oil-rich countries on which its energy plan depends.

“The problem with the pivoting in Asia was that it failed completely,” Nasr said. While the U.S. was preoccupied with its anticlimactic policy in Asia, the Middle East was transforming, experiencing technological advancement, economic development, as well as suffering through eruptions in various regions including Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria.

Unlike several nations from other parts of the world that defeated political corruption and economic downfall thanks to timely assistance from the U.S., Nasr said, the Arab world received no investment from the international community and the U.S. that could help its democratization. He argued that one-fifth of the population in Jordan now consists of the unstable foreign

population of Syrian refugees and that the U.S.’s ignorance of Egypt only exacerbated its domestic situation, eventually leading to a catastrophic explosion.

According to Nasr, the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Arab world with spontaneous indifference caused greater chaos to the region and ultimately brought its costs of intervention in the future even more. Now fermented with unstable economic and political systems and destructive regional conflicts, these countries require a greater degree of attention, and their devastating circumstances necessitate U.S. intervention. Nasr casted doubt on whether the current administration has a game plan regarding the Middle East, and closed his hour-long lecture questioning the mission of Iran and its nuclear capabilities.

Questions later asked by the audience addressed various issues, including distinctive accomplishments of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Iran’s interest in Afghanistan after the U.S.’s withdrawal, prediction of Iran’s decision on its nuclear power, and Syria’s future following the U.S.’s departure from the region. n

juseub yoon / for the Heights

Vali Nasr spoke on America’s relations in Asia and the Middle East.

Drawing on her own experiences as an author and years of history, Taiye Selasi, author of Ghana Must Go, described the categorization of literature in her lecture on Wednesday, entitle d “African Literature D o e s n’t E x i s t .” S el a s i , w h o was born in London, of Nigerian and Ghanaian descent, and raised in Massachusetts, argued that literature should exist without being classified by the author.

“The classification of writing and w r iters is ne ver a s b e n i g n a s i t s e e m s ,” S el a s i said. “To call me an African novelist constricts me and my characters.”

The presentation was one of a series organized by the African and African Diaspora Studies department called New Directions in African Diaspora Studies. Selasi is a rising author, with Ghana Must Go as her debut novel. She was named to Granta’s prestigious list of Best Young British Novelists in 2013. She is also the author of The Sex Lives of African Girls and Bye-Bye, Babar.

Selasi discussed the lump-

“The

classification of writing and writers is never as benign as it seems.”

- Taiye Selasi, author of Ghana Must Go and speaker in African and African Dispora Studies series ing of literature into “African,” which does not take into account the diversity of the continent, comparing it to the ways in which European or Asian authors are treated. According to Selasi, Africa is often treated as a single identity, while other co u nt r i e s o f th e w o rl d a re treated as individual nations with very diverse cultures.

“Why do we do this?” Selasi asked. “Of all the earth’s landscapes, Africa might be religiously, ethnically, and linguistically the most diverse.”

Selasi described the literary classification of “African novelists” as a category in which she is often placed, but she does not believe it should exist in such simplicity.

“The only way to define African literature is to overlook these complexities, which is the problem,” Selasi said. “I’ve never heard of anyone from Switzerland or Sweden be put on a panel of ‘European writers.’”

Selasi’s 2013 novel, Ghana Must Go, tells the story of a family of Ghanaian descent.

She discussed one of the characters from the novel, Kweku, and his desire to “unhook” his own personal experience from the experience of “Africa” and to have his own identity as a human.

“I couldn’t agree with him more. The challenge of African writers is the same as Kweku’s,” Selasi said.

Selasi described how she of ten he ars p e ople refer to “Africa” as an entire entity, and reflected on how the usage of the word as such reinforces the idea that the entire continent is to be treated as such.

“Of all the continents, Africa is the least eligible for generalizations, and yet not a week goes by when I don’t hear someone talk of ‘Africa.’ I wonder, what is your ‘Africa?’ The singular ‘Africa’ to which we allude with ‘African literature’ does not exist,” Selasi said.

In answer to an audience member’s question about what c an b e done to combat the usage of ‘Africa’ and ‘African literature’ as terms to clas sify works of literature, Selasi stated her belief that, as language was used to create these classifications, language can be used to fix the problem.

“Ask people ‘What do you mean?’” Selasi said. “There is no Africa—we just keep making it up as we keep saying it. We’re literally inventing it.”

To solve the problem, Selasi said, we must look at its roots and discover why we classify.

S ela si quote d authors from the 19th century and described how colonialism and imperialism created categorizations of literature that are sometimes not easy to define today. Selasi talked about her own background, and how she does not fit neatly into a category.

“I’ve come to feel I’m standing in an anteroom with four doors—English, American, Ghanaian, and Nigerian,” she said. “I began to think, there must be others who feel the same way.”

As an author, Selasi said that the very process of writing, in which she experiences a detachment from time and space, makes her transcend the boundaries of nationality.

“To write powerful fiction, one must disappear altogether,” Selasi said. “These are the moments that we live for, as writers, these portals into truth.

We call this madness art, and those afflicted by it artists. It allows a single human being to access all human beings. This madness knows no national boundaries.”

Instead, Selasi believes that literature should be treated more like music, in which, she stated, the product is not classified in terms of the creator. “ The identity of consequence is the writers, not the writing,” Selasi said. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we classified literature not by the country, but by the content?” n

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Socioeconomics must join diversity discussions

Thursday, October 10, 2013

QUOTE OF THE DAY Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

-Mother Teresa (1910-97), Albanian born, Indian Roman Catholic religious sister

Student culture should reflect Montserrat’s efforts to make those with high financial need feel welcome at BC This week saw the departure of Marina Pastrana, BC ’08 and the founder and program administrator of the Montserrat Coalition—an organization that has made huge strides toward helping BC students with the highest financial need enjoy all the opportunities BC has to offer. The Montserrat Coalition has traditionally provided a certain amount of free tickets to major BC events for students who qualify, but the coalition has recently evolved into a more cohesive program, aimed at providing mentorship and community for its members. Pastrana, as the architect of the coalition, stands out as someone who lives and acts as “a woman for others.” On Friday, she left BC a better place than she found it as a freshman in 2004.

Pastrana recognized that BC needed an organization like Montserrat while she was a student here. A first generation immigrant and the first member of her family to attend college, Pastrana came from a lower socioeconomic class than the majority of her classmates—a fact that was made glaringly obvious before courses even started her freshman year.

Up until about six years ago, participation in Welcome Week activities required an extra fee. As a result, Pastrana, who could not afford to participate, felt immediately isolated from her classmates who could afford the activities.

This sense of isolation remained for most of the beginning of her time as an undergraduate, until a friend encouraged her to apply for the Arrupe program during her junior year. When she was accepted, she approached administrators about her inability to pay for the trip. She found that BC was willing to front the costs so that she could take part in the service trip. This experience provided Pastrana with a different perspective on the economic disparity on campus and how to combat it. She realized that BC was always willing to help, so long as a student asked. Pastrana sought to bridge the gap between the University and students by helping those who were struggling with similar financial difficulties.

After graduation, she stayed at BC as a graduate student and simultaneously laid the groundwork for the Montserrat Coalition, which was officially established for the 2010-11 school year. The coalition works with the Financial Aid office to identify those students of the highest financial need. Today, 1,500 students benefit from the services of the Montserrat Coalition, with the class of 2017 being the first ever to receive notice of their qualification with their acceptance letters.

The Montserrat Coalition has worked hard to ensure that students of lower socioeconomic status feel welcome at BC, but providing a total sense of comfort is neither completely within their power nor entirely their responsibility. The student body itself must work to create a student culture and campus environment that is inclusive of all levels of wealth—a task at which it often falls short.

As an elite private institution, BC

has a student body that is in many ways socioeconomically self-selecting. BC and other schools like it will inevitably have a student population that weighs more heavily on the upper-middle class area of the economic spectrum, but that does not justify the fact that students of lower socioeconomic status can feel isolated or uncomfortable within the student culture at BC—a culture which, intentionally or not, frequently operates under the assumption that everyone is of a similar level of wealth.

As an example, last year’s description for the Residence Hall Association’s Annual Snow Ball read, “Gents, dust off those Vineyard Vines bow ties, and ladies, here’s the perfect occasion to debut those brand new pair of high heels you bought with absolutely no occasion to wear to.” This paper received a Letter to the Editor pointing out the social stigmatization implied in the event’s description and calling for more substantial discussion on campus on the topic of socioeconomic diversity.

Unfortunately, no such discussion has emerged. Perhaps the closest BC has come is through UGBC’s Backgrounds program, a diversity-focused discussion series run by students that contained in its curriculum a section focused on socioeconomic differences. This program saw promising success during its pilot semester last spring but has since been tabled due to the reorganization of UGBC. The reinstatement of Backgrounds would be an important step toward establishing socioeconomic diversity as an area that requires a higher level of discussion among students.

BC would also benefit from having a BC Ignites event that focused on this realm of diversity. BC Ignites, which was founded in October of last year, was designed as a way to get students talking about issues of diversity that can often be perceived as taboo. The first two BC Ignites focused on race and sexual orientation, respectively, and each drew a large crowd. It would certainly fit within the mission of this series to have an event focused on socioeconomic diversity.

Extensive, involved discussion is key to heightening awareness of this issue, and only through awareness can the student culture evolve into one that is more welcoming of students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Additionally, students, whether or not they are officially designated as a part of the Montserrat Coalition, should recognize that BC is ready and willing to help them take advantage of opportunities in college, even in the presence of financial barriers. The Montserrat Coalition exists to carry out this mission, and it has only grown in strength and numbers since its inception. Montserrat, however, would not exist if Pastrana had not started a conversation and brought the issue to the administration’s attention. Likewise, the student body must renew a wider interest in this conversation in order to further the progress made by the coalition.

EMILY DEVLIN / HEIGHTS ILLUSTRATION

THE ONLINE BUZZ Reprinting reader comments from www.bcheights.com, the Online Buzz draws on the online community to contribute to the ongoing discussion.

In response to “BC Confession No. 7122 Deemed Hoax” by Eleanor Hildebrandt: “Even if it was a joke, which would almost be more disturbing, BCPD and the Boston College administration should use this opportunity to send a message that this issue is real and incredibly serious. One in four women experience some sort of sexual assault, and if BC does nothing they are sending the message that half of our college community should live in fear.”

—ANONYMOUS

and a dad. The government doesn’t incentivize single parenthood for the same reason it shouldn’t incentivize same-sex unions—they don’t accomplish this end.

It takes a mother and father to bring a child into being, and having a mother and father is still the best context for a child to grow up in. People are free to live alternative lifestyles, if they please, but the government should not have to recognize a two-dad or a two-mom setup as a “marriage” any more than it should call a singleparent or polyamorous home a married home for tax purposes. Those aren’t the conditions marriage was meant to foster.”

In response to “#BeAnExample” by Evan Goldstein: “Thank you. Thank you for being one of very few who don’t mind standing up for something that some may deem, ‘not a big deal.’ It is a ‘big deal’ for some.

Letting the small things through the cracks is one of the ways the big issues become so ugly. I hope for a day when sexism and gender disparity isn’t used to promote.

So, thank you..”

—ANONYMOUS In response to “Anderson Delivers ‘A Case Against Gay Marriage’” by Eleanor Hildebrandt: “Despite Anderson’s protests, I definitly saw his prejudice showing. Throughout his talk, he referred to social science research as a basis for understanding what works best for children, and therefore for the larger public good. He also stated that there are not yet comprehensive, controlled, double-blind studies regarding the outcomes of children raised by opposite and same-sex parents. Yet, despite saying there is no compelling evidence, he continued to say that children do best when raised by the man and woman who created them. Where is he getting this information? He just said that the studies don’t exist, so how does he know where children do better? The only thing left is his subjective opinion.”

—ANONYMOUS “Marriage as public policy should be about giving kids the best possible chance of having a mom

—ANONYMOUS “Anderson is in no position to criticize ‘sloppy thinking.’ His critique of gay marriage depends on ignoring the inconvenient facts that thousands of gay families (and single parents, for that matter) are raising children, and by banning gay marriage, he’s condemning these children to growing up in less stable and economically secure homes. If he really believes what he’s saying, he should be fighting single parenthood and marriage licenses for infertile couples too. But he won’t. because the cruelty in his argument would become too blatant. So he’s depending on the fact that he can bully around this allegedly small minority group. As usual, the ‘rational’ argument against gay marriage turns out to be a childish tautology—’marriage equals a man and a woman because I SAY SO.’ These people are frauds.

That’s why Americans are embracing marriage equality—these folks haven’t come up with an argument yet that isn’t barely-cloaked prejudice and twisted rationalizations that wouldn’t impress a 6th-grade debate team.”

—STEVE SILBERMAN “Mr. Anderson is a fantastic speaker and he presents a strong case that I have yet to see any proponent of SSM match. Unfortunately, this battle is not just fought in the intellectual arena. Kudos to everyone. The article is very fair-minded and objective and I’m proud that students who disagreed with Mr. Anderson kept it respectful and of course, kudos to Mr. Anderson for his tireless work on behalf of marriage.”

—ANONYMOUS

More’s demolition finally approved, but at high cost The University can now begin work toward the realization of long-awaited construction plans The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) voted on Tuesday to approve plans for the construction of a new residence hall to be erected on the site of More Hall following its demolition. This building will serve as the new home to University Health Services as well as add on-campus housing for nearly 500 students. Construction for the new building is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the fall semester in 2016.

This approval by the BRA comes at the right time for Boston College, which has seen its plans for expansion suffer setbacks in the past as a result of concerns voiced by some Allston-Brighton residents. In order for the plans to gain approval, BC had to offer an upgraded “benefits package” to the Allston-Brighton community, which included millions of dollars to be

allocated to “community enhancement” and a total of 60 scholarships for members of the Allston-Brighton community over the next six and a half years.

While it is understandably the BRA’s prerogative to satisfy the desires of the city’s constituents, BC should not be required to surrender such a large amount of money simply to build a residence hall on its own land. The University already provides monetary benefits to the Allston-Brighton community, but now must add to that this excessive increase. Tuesday’s approval is a step in the right direction, but moving forward the BRA should not so readily submit to the demands of Brighton residents at the expense of the University’s ability to expand, reasonably and appropriately, within its own borders.

HEIGHTS

THE

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 DAVID COTE, Editor-in-Chief JAMIE CIOCON, General Manager JOSEPH CASTLEN, Managing Editor

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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 email to editor@bcheights.com, in person, or by mail to Editor, The Heights, 113 McElroy Commons, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467.

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The Heights

Thursday, October 10, 2013

A7

The problem with the supplement

Stephen Sikora Party At Clemson! - This weekend, students are packing up, boarding RVs, and driving the 1,000 miles (that’s 15 hours without stops) to Clemson, South Carolina to watch our football team take on the No. 3 team in the nation. This display of school spirit is certainly worth applauding, and such devotion on the part of the fans deserves a win, we think. What say you, football players?

We Heart The Rat - We’re gonna go ahead and throw a Thumbs Up at the most underappreciated dining hall on campus—The Rat. Despite having a name that should never be ascribed to a place whose main purpose is to serve food, The Rat has lots of assets that are exclusively its own and often go unnoticed. Sure, it lacks the large-scale bravado of Lower or Mac, the posh feel of Hillside, and the good-for-you-and-the-animals vibe that pervades Addie’s, but it has some qualities that cannot be matched. Firstly, Mac and Cheese Thursdays. ‘Nuff said. Secondly, it has hands down, no questions asked, the best coffee you can get with your meal plan money. Thirdly, it is painfully convenient. It’s right there in the middle of middle campus! If you want to eat and do work for the one free hour you have between class on Monday, where better to do it? And finally, perhaps because it lacks all pretences of posh-ity, it has a more welcoming atmosphere than the others. You feel like you could really make a new friend in The Rat. Sure, it’s unavoidable to notice that the first two seats occupied at any table are the opposite corners, but at least people will sit at a table with someone they don’t know. At Lower, if there’s not a free table, you just leave. But not at The Rat. You sit there, in silence with your headphones in, but you toss a “God bless you” at that person at the opposite corner of the table who sneezes. And that is a nice thing.

76th Anniversary - Happy almost Columbus Day! It is the 76th anniversary of this day being an official federal holiday, and we, for one, are disappointed that no one told us last year was the 75th anniversary. So we propose that everyone really let their hair down for this Columbus Day—(the first anniversary of the 75th official Columbus Day!). This will be the Columbus Day you never forget.

More No More - More Hall is finally going to be demolished after lying completely vacant for several months and serving no purpose other than to inspire a handful of Depths stories.

And while we are a little sad to see the source of some of our most prized comic material disappear once and for all, we know it is for the best.

Because that means we can also see Edmond’s get torn down. And who doesn’t want that?

#StarbucksDrakeHands - There’s a new trend on Instagram, and it’s mildly disturbing. Inspired by a creepy selfie video that a Starbucks barista sent to model Piper Kennedy after aggressively obtaining her number, this trend is one of those that makes you both love and hate the Internet. In the original selfie video, the barista touched his own face sensually for 15 seconds while Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” played. Now, Instagram video parodies are popping up everywhere with the completely self-explanatory hashtag: #StarbucksDrakeHands. If this doesn’t speak to the truly endless possibilities of trending hashtags, we don’t know what does.

Like Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down?

Follow us @BCTUTD

During a weeklong leadership program I helped run two summers ago, I interacted with 30 high school seniors. I spoke highly of my experience at Boston College and convinced a few of them to consider the school when they previously hadn’t. Later in the fall, one of the students asked me to review her BC supplemental essay—a new addition to our application, which before last year had only included the Common App. Her overstated answer, and unenthusiastic attitude toward the supplement, confirmed my previous thoughts about the new questions. Rather than helping our school, I believe the current supplemental essays hinder the admission process for both prospective students and BC. If you’re unfamiliar with the questions, in which a student chooses one essay to write 400 words on, here they are: 1. St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, encouraged his followers to live their lives in the service of others. How do you plan to serve others in your future endeavors?

2. Tell us about a time you had all of the facts but missed the meaning.

3. Tell us about something you heard or experienced for the first time and how the years since have affected your perception of that moment.

4. Boston College has a First-Year Convocation program that includes the reading and discussion of a common book that explores Jesuit ideals, community service and learning.

If you were to select the book for your Convocation, what would you choose and why?

My issue with the supplement starts with the first and fourth essays. Visiting a school’s campus and speaking with current students is, in my opinion, the best way to find out whether a college is for you. Unfortunately, not all students can make the trip to BC to decide if they either want to apply, or want to attend

once they’ve already applied. Even for those who have visited, a great deal of what they envision BC to be is crafted through information on our website and websites similar to the College Board.

But perhaps the most time a prospective student will spend one on one with a college is through its application. In BC’s case, 50 percent of its supplement has to do with religious values. The Jesuit Catholic influence on campus is something that most, if not all, of the people I’ve met here have come to enjoy, regardless of their religious orientation or level of faith. Unfortunately, that attitude, and the positive benefits of a Jesuit education and community, are extremely hard to explain to a 17-year-old. My friend considered BC’s spiritual connection a risk, as she hadn’t previously attended a religiously affiliated school.

Even though I spoke extensively with her about the advantages of such an education, the supplemental essay—and her experience writing it—reinforced her previous outlook.

My second issue is that the essays as they’re currently constructed have the potential to misrepresent students. In my opinion, the questions encourage students to craft an essay that BC wants to hear, instead of writing what is true to them. When my friend answered the first question she included the lines “I hope to one day volunteer in numerous temples, mosques, and churches,” and “One of my greatest passions is tutoring younger kids and my peers.” If I were an admissions counselor, rather than read that type of hyperbole, I’d like to have more insight into the students’ real passions. Harvard’s supplement poses questions including “What you would want your future college roommate to know about you?” and “What’s an intellectual experience that has meant the most to you?” I believe both of those essays will give a more honest look into the 17-year-old psyche and will help evaluate a candidate better than our current essays.

Third, there’s a distinct statistical drawback to adding a supplement, or perhaps, adding this particular supplement. BC decreased from 34,000 applicants in 2012 to 24,000 in 2013. As a result, our acceptance rate rose from 29 percent to 32 percent, and our yield—the number of accepted students who choose BC—in-

creased from 25 to 28 percent. A Heights editorial written Jan. 24, 2013, in support of the supplement, stated that “yields are, in many ways, a more accurate measure of a school’s prestige and attractiveness to applicants.”

I disagree completely.

From personal experience, I recall the acceptance rate being a hot topic among my high school friends and I, while yield wasn’t discussed. It wasn’t only us. A university search on College Board’s website, for example, has admission rate as a possible search field, but not yield rate. There is also an “applying tab” on each school’s page, which has a big box with large font telling the viewer how selective the school is. Even BC’s own website for admissions includes the acceptance percentage in its second sentence on the main admissions page, while the yield percentage is nowhere to be found. Acceptance rate matters to prospective students—yield doesn’t.

Enough about perception, though—the fact is, last year we lost 10,000 potential members of BC. The pool of students for the admissions committee to choose from decreased nearly 30 percent. That’s not an encouraging number when we’re looking to increase the quality of students here. I have friends that submitted applications to BC either on a whim or as a safety, and then attended and absolutely thrived here. They likely wouldn’t have applied, however, had they been required to write one of the new essays. I have no doubt there are many students at BC with a similar story.

I understand the decision from our admissions staff to implement a supplement, even though I may not agree with it. If one is added, though, I believe there’s potential for a great deal of improvement. I’m not alone in the assertion—in a New York Times piece written April 12, 2013, BC Director of Admissions John Mahoney was quoted as saying, “I don’t think everyone’s fully grasping the questions.”

It remains to be seen if or when the questions will be changed. In the meantime, I will be eagerly awaiting the admission numbers for the, gulp, incoming class of 2018.

Stephen Sikora is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at opinions@ bcheights.com.

‘Carry on, ghetto woman’ Tessa Mediano So, I know you all read The Heights religiously (especially the Opinions section) and therefore saw my fellow columnist Kwesi Aaron’s piece in Monday’s paper about race relations at Boston College. Although conversations about racial inequality, especially between black and white Americans, aren’t exactly in vogue at the moment, Kwesi’s article hit home with me due to its relevance to the latest release of one of my favorite artists, Janelle Monae. Monae’s newest album, The Electric Lady, debuted back in September to justifiable critical acclaim. The young artist has that rare ability to make music as danceable as any Lady Gaga tune, but with lyrics that reveal a sharp mind and passionate soul, unlike the majority of the Top-100 crap that radio stations punish us with nowadays.

It’s no stretch to say that Monae follows in the footsteps of great black artists before her who understood that the best way to work toward bridging gaps caused by racial tensions is through music. This, in large part, is what makes her class-conscious narrative so effective—you may or may not agree with the message she is spouting, but I dare you to turn off hip-shaking, lyric-screaming tracks like “Ghetto Woman” midway through. However, while Monae gets the race conversation started, it’s up to the listener to continue the interaction—and this listener found herself torn between alienation and enjoyment upon closer analysis of the racially charged Electric Lady.

For those of you who know little to nothing about R&B’s reigning queen, or are under the impression that Monae’s greatest accomplishment to date is singing backup on fun.’s megahit “We Are Young,” allow me to catch you up to speed. The Electric Lady is Monae’s second full-length record, following 2010’s The ArchAndroid and 2007’s EP Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). All three albums are installments of her Metropolis series, which follows

Lecture Hall

Cindi Mayweather, a renegade android intent on freeing the underprivileged citizens of the large city. Monae has often employed a variety of styles on her albums, and The Electric Lady is no exception: tracks mix soul, R&B, and more—the last song of the album, “What an Experience,” is a feel-good mash-up of gospel and African rhythms (disclaimer: I’m far from an expert on technical music terms).

Strangely enough, while the same social message and mix of genres have been present in all of Monae’s oeuvre to date, after listening to the closing notes of “What an Experience,” I felt the persistent nagging that this album was more overtly about racial politics than her previous ones. Perhaps the constant talk of Obamacare had heightened my sensitivity to class disparities, or maybe the farcical Trayvon Martin case was still on my radar, but either way, I began to look for clues revealing a racial agenda within Monae’s album.

The most in-your-face racial element of The Electric Lady is present in the three interludes that break up the music. Each fragment is given as a radio program on the fictional WDRD station that ostensibly exists in Monae’s metropolis. The host, DJ Crash Crash is black, and a supporter of Cindi and his fellow droids. In the first interlude, “Good Morning Midnight,” he takes calls from other droids, who are also black—the first caller offers her support for the Droid Rebel Alliance, while the second proposes a riot in protest of the mistreatment of droids. Upon hearing this violent incitement, DJ Crash Crash cuts off the caller, calling his idea “nano-thinkin’ nonsense” and proclaiming “quiet, not riots”—a pacifist stand that recalls the methods of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The second interlude, “The Chrome Shoppe,” is a thinly disguised substitute for the barbershops that have long served as a meeting place for members of the black community.

The third interlude, “Our Favorite Fugitive,” is when we first hear white callers on the program, and they don’t exactly serve as models of tolerance. The first caller, a human woman who lives in “Neon Valley” and talks like, well, a valley girl, expresses her disgust toward Cindi, saying, “they should just do whatever they do to people like that … I mean,

she’s just not even a person!” The second caller is a bro-sounding student at “Time University,” who naively asks DJ Crash Crash if the android community thinks Cindi “Maywater” could also be the messianic ArchAndroid. The good DJ shuts him down, implying that such a question is dangerous to ask on his radio program (the likely reason for which being that the authorities could suspect him of spreading this revolutionary idea to fellow droids). The third caller briefly declares that “robot love is queer” before being laughed off the air by Crash Crash and his cohorts.

It’s interesting that the only white presence on Monae’s album (all of her guest artists are African-American, with the exception of Miguel, who is half-Mexican, half AfricanAmerican) consists of an apathetic bimbo, a superficially interested but foolish college student, and a homophobic racist. Are these the three main stereotypes of white America that Monae sees in today’s society as well? I admit, my first instinct was to be offended and a little turned-off by these characterizations, none of which I identified with (I am a young white female, FYI).

The Electric Lady is worthy of a much longer study than the one I’ve done here, but unfortunately, space dictates that I moderate my thoughts. The most important, and perhaps most controversial, thing to take from this album is that it is made by black people for black people. Does this mean that everyone else can’t enjoy it? Absolutely not—as I said earlier, her songs are catchy as hell. Plus, the radio-friendly quality of her album ensures that she will be in the mainstream consciousness for a while to come. At the same time, to sing along to songs like “Ghetto Woman” with lyrics that go “carry on ghetto woman / even when the news portrays you less than you could be / I wish they could just realize / all you ever needed was someone to free your mind” and disregard the sociopolitical connotations present would be impossible. For better or worse, I have a feeling that as artists similar to Janelle Monae become bigger, like a good pop song, race will be the tune stuck in a lot of people’s heads.

Tessa Mediano is a staff columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at opinions@ bcheights.com.

BY PAT HUGHES

The opinions and commentaries of the staff columnists and cartoonists appearing on this page represent the views of the author or artist of that particular piece, and not necessarily the views of The Heights. Any of the columnists and artists for the Opinions section of The Heights can be reached at opinions@bcheights.com.

A ‘good’ opinion Tiffany Ashtoncourt Spoiler Alert: If you want the nature of an opinion to remain a mystery, DO NOT read the following: It’s Sunday night, and I am sitting in my room surrounded by the flickering bluewhite glare of my laptop doing … nothing.

I have no clue what to write. None. Maybe it’s because it’s midterm week for me or the fact that I’ve had approximately two to three dopio espressos in the past hour or so, but I’m starting to get anxious. I have only done one other opinions column, and I want this one to be good. Everyone, whether on print or person-to-person, wants to channel and express the ideal opinion, but capturing that ever–elusive siren, who embodies the perfect blend of irreverence and thoughtprovoking honesty, is truly a delicate act.

List neatly your reasons and “life-changing lesson” at the end, and your opinion displays all of its wares to the point that there is nothing left to the imagination. Same thing applies for the blatantly offensive/controversial “just telling-it-like-it-is” opinions—you don’t want to tread on the verge of vulgarity and be dismissed out of people’s minds.

However, if nothing even mildly cheeky or relevant is expressed, the opinion will lack any memorable feature and will ultimately suffer the same fate as its opposite.

Now, the fact that I just used a siren as a metaphor is definitely another sign that I need to lay off the Starbucks, but truly, what is the secret to a quote-on-quote “good” opinion? What is it about an opinion that makes it stay in our minds long after we’ve crossed its path? And why do so many, including myself, take the time to try to convey it? Since I don’t have the answer (and because it’s so much more fun!), I’m going to outline where I feel opinions go wrong and then see if I can delineate the truth from there.

Firstly, I believe that the worst incarnation of an opinion is an insult, which at its worst, conjures images of Rush Limbaugh and Anne Coulter. I am not going to take up anymore of my 850 allotted word count describing their opinions, but I will say that even from a purely partisan viewpoint, deriding other human beings can’t ever be justified, even if all you are concerned with is not making a mockery of your “message.” So, unless your ideal siren looks like either of those two, you’d best stay away from blatant disrespect in an opinion.

On the other hand, I still feel that an opinion still has to be an opinion, biased in some sort of way and presenting a certain view on life.

So, abstaining from a position is not an option, but neither is taste. It is a necessity.

Unfortunately, perspectives on catastrophe and controversy seem to be the most prevalent kind of opinion, and are another kind of opinion gone wrong. After all, how often does “good news” get on the air?

Whether written or spoken, if someone only contributes an opinion on the most divisive issues or the most current disasters, I feel that people will ultimately shy away from forming their own ideas about their daily lives and positive experiences, because these occurrences will seem far less relevant and intellectual in comparison. Relevance is just resonating with other human beings—sharing an experience that others have had like love, fear, or excitement, all of which have been relevant to humanity since before remembrance. Personally, I don’t want to only speak about the day’s headliners—more than half of the good stories are not the most politically or morally controversial. Secondly, I think I would grow more tired of hearing myself defending quote-on-quote provocative cases than Gloria Allred is (no seriously, if you’re tired of hearing her defend every cat and dog, don’t you think that she’s had enough of herself?).

Lastly, the “Life-Lesson” opinion: Although I strongly believe that everything has a deeper meaning, I can’t help but feel that opinions that didactically preach a certain lesson are usually either uninspiring or worse, make the reader do the opposite.

“Save the Earth” and “Just Say No” are both well-meaning messages, but I wonder why both of these efforts have failed to gain the deserved traction? So, while I don’t want to make my opinion a philosophical sermon, lecturing you on the benefits of doing x or y, I want my opinion to share something more fundamental.

In the end, opinions are supposed to push your buttons, make your head spin, and teach you something in the process, but they are also respectful, funny, and even mundane. I think that I speak for all of us columnists at The Heights when I say that we recognize how fortunate we are to have the chance to voice things to you all that we find interesting, and although comments are more than welcome, what we really want is to make you think about things that you never thought about before, even if it’s something as trivial as an opinion on opinions.

Tiffany Ashtoncourt is a staff columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at opinions@bcheights.com.

A8

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, October 10, 2013

THE HEIGHTS

EDITORS’ EDITORS’PICKS PICKS

Thursday, October 10, 2013 The Week Ahead

Standings

Men’s hockey opens its season on the road tonight at Michgan. FIeld hockey has yet another matchup against Virginia on Friday. Men’s soccer takes on North Carolina on Saturday.

Women’s hockey plays a two-game series against St. Lawrence. Florida and LSU will clash in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

Chris Grimaldi

16-9

Marly Morgus

14-11

Heights Staff

13-12

Austin Tedesco

12-13

A9

Recap from Last Week

Series of the Week

Women’s soccer lost narrowly to Florida State. Volleyball lost to NC State to remain winless in the ACC. Men’s soccer fell to Maryland on the road. Women’s hockey dominated Maine in its first game of the regular season. The Bruins opened their season with a win over the Lightning at TD Garden.

Men’s Soccer

Guest Editor: Tricia Tiedt

North Carolina

Metro Editor

“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

This Week’s Games

Austin Tedesco Sports Editor

Chris Grimaldi Assoc. Sports Editor

Men’s Hockey: No. 4 BC at No. 11 Michigan

Marly Morgus Asst. Sports Editor

Tricia Tiedt Metro Editor

Michigan

BC

BC

BC

Field Hockey: No. 6 BC at No. 4 Virginia

BC

Virginia

BC

Virginia

Women’s Hockey: No. 2 BC vs. St. Lawrence (series)

BC

BC

BC

BC

UNC

BC

BC

BC

Florida

Florida

LSU

LSU

Men’s Soccer: BC vs. North Carolina NCAA Football: No. 17 Florida at No. 10 LSU

vs.

Boston College

On Saturday night, men’s soccer will host the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC heads into the game ranked ninth in the ACC, having yet to come away from a conference matchup with an outright win. The Tar Heels have an overall record of 3-2-5. BC, on the other hand, has three wins so far in ACC play, and an overall record of 5-3-2. The Eagles are coming off of an exciting home win over Syracuse on Tuesday, whereas UNC just lost a heartbreaker to Clemson. Though the teams are hoping for a win for different reasons, BC to continue a strong season and UNC to redeem a weak one, both will come out fighting.

Saturday at 7 p.m., Newton Campus

Three different scorers get on the board for BC against Syracuse Men’s Soccer, from A10 midfielder then knocked the ball across to forward Emil Ekblom, who raised his leg to direct the ball past Alex Kapp.

After the goal, Syracuse gained more possession of the ball, and for the next quarter of an hour, the Orange brought the BC offense to a standstill.

A long ball from Wendelken found Normesinu’s diagonal run after a half hour of play, but the skilled winger could not create enough space to finish.

The Orange had multiple chances to level just before the break, but a long throw-in and pair of corners were batted away by a shaky Eagles defense.

Syracuse’s siege continued after the intermission. A knuckling volley from Grant Chong whisked by Kapp’s post, and the diagonal runs of Emil Ekblom were difficult for the Eagles to track.

Ekblom, who was dangerous throughout the evening, found his way by Kapp again on 53 minutes. A ball from behind the halfway mark by Syracuse left back Jordan Murrell sought out Ekblom. The Norwegian’s sublime control allowed him to blast his effort into the far post’s upper triangle, leveling the match at 2-2.

“It was a great goal, but they fell asleep,” Kelly said of the defense.

Seeing his team begin to lose its shape, Kelly shifted his formation immediately after his team conceded. Cole DeNormandie replaced Boateng—who had featured as a right midfielder—and played as a forward. Lewis dropped into “the hole” and

Women’s Hockey, from A10

GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

No. 8 Matt Wendelken and Diego Medina-Mendez each had a goal and an assist for the Eagles in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Syracuse.

Normesinu moved out to the right due to the substitution.

Three minutes after the change, BC took back the lead through a corner kick.

It was a textbook set piece delivered by Normesinu to the head of Wendelken.

Instead of aiming toward goal, the junior full back put the ball across the face of the net, and picked out Butler. He powered the ball to the ground, bouncing it into the back of the goal.

Syracuse didn’t relent after the goal as it began its hunt for another equalizer.

Multiple attacks came from the Orange through supporting forward Alex Halis, who gave the Eagles a rough go of it. To thwart Halis, Dylan Pritchard was summoned, replacing Ampadu just under a half hour from full time.

“Dylan Pritchard did a great job when he went in, because we were struggling with that one off forward, so once we put

Dylan in that stopped them a lot,” Kelly said.

The substitute paired up with Frano in the center of midfield. Pritchard’s partner launched a knuckling attempt in the 69th minute that cannoned off the post.

An additional tactical change was made when Lewis was told to press ahead as the lone forward. This dropped DeNormandie into the hole.

“Cole also plays midfield and with the

two guys up front and their speed, so we’re looking at Cole coming into the midfield side because he’s big and strong,” Kelly said. “That was his first game in there and he did alright.”

In the end, the Orange stopped themselves. Eleven minutes from the end of regulation time, Jordan Murrell, who provided the assist to Ekblom on the second goal, was given a straight red card for using language that referee Andrew Chapin called “offensive,” when he explained the incident to Syracuse coach Ian McIntyre.

The self-inflicted wound put the visitors a man down, leaving direct play as their only way back into the match. Kelly was wary of the threat from long balls and set pieces and repeatedly told his team not to foul.

“They had a height advantage when we had the little guys,” Kelly said after the game.

His team failed to heed his warnings though, as Boateng fouled an Orange moments from the final whistle. The infraction allowed the opposition to put a ball into the box that proved a threat to Kapp, who punched the ball away. Mendez fouled a Syracuse player outside the box moments later, but the effort from the ensuing free kick failed to get past Kapp.

Syracuse produced a couple of corners in the last seconds of the match, but a final defensive stand by the Eagles secured their win.

Kelly can have few complaints after the team’s 3-2 victory on Tuesday evening.

“That is a massive win.” 

BC should screen road games Column, from A10 which has won the past three contests against BC. We’re also talking Johnny Gaudreau, Bill Arnold, and Michael Matheson.

We’re talking pitting what is arguably the top freshman class in college hockey against another freshman class that has seen high praise during the offseason.

We’re talking about a team that feels like it got sent home too early during last year’s post season.

And all of this will be playing out on Comcast’s Ann Arbor local station.

Unless I find a glitchy online stream and download a virus to my computer, I won’t be watching.

The Clemson game is going to be live on ABC regionally and also on ESPN2, so in theory that matchup isn’t going to pose a problem to those eager for an entertaining performance from Boyd. The problem I see, however, is that there is a huge difference between watching a game alone or with a couple friends in your dorm room versus watching it in a crowd. While some people may prefer to watch in a calmer setting, there are others that feel the excitement isn’t the same.

There is always the option of making the trip to a sports bar, but BC should offer something on campus as well.

When I get my Nights on the Heights email for this week, it will probably say something about there being a trivia contest tonight upstairs in Lower. Could they not make better use of that time?

Instead of trivia, could this week’s Thursday night event be a screening of the BC vs. Michigan game in the Heights room?

There would be hurdles to jump. BC would have to make agreements with local television stations as well as the outlets in areas where the game is readily avalible in order to receive broadcast rights, but there would be a big payoff.

The same thing goes for Saturday’s game. When the Eagles are at home, the whole campus is buzzing about the game. While I don’t expect people to tailgate before a screening of the game (but hey, you never know, to each his own) a scheduled event would not only give people the opportunity to generate some excitement about the matchup, but it would also bring a broader viewer-base.

As it is, it will only be the die hards that remember to turn their TV’s on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Others, myself included, will probably get back from dinner around 7 p.m., remember that the game is on, and maybe catch the tail-end of the fourth quarter, missing most of the action.

Still more won’t have it cross theirminds at all. If there was an organized event for people to anticipate, it would pull a wider audience of people that wouldn’t necessarily sit down to watch the game all on their own, but appreciate the game day atmosphere.

I’m not saying that every single away game needs to be a huge affair, but this weekend is an exception. Both games will be telling about the future of BC’s most high-profile programs, and students should have the opportunity to observe that.

Marly Morgus is the Asst. Sports Editor for The Heights. She can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

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GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Eagles’ defense will be crucial as they go up against Tajh Boyd, one of the top quarterbacks in the country, on Saturday at Clemson.

Eagles prepare for battle in Death Valley Football, from A10 While the Eagles will have their hands full with the elite product Clemson places on the field, they’ll also have to contend with an infamous 12th man in college football—a home crowd at Death Valley.

Practicing yesterday morning with the Tiger fight song blaring in the background, Addazio’s players prepared for a confrontation in one of the most hostile atmospheres they’ll ever enounter on a gridirion—with a crowd twice the size of Alumni Stadium’s capacity.

“It’s the loudest stadium we’re going to play in,” Addazio said. “It’s like an SEC stadium. You’ve got to prepare for it or it’ll rattle you.”

Senior quarterback Chase Rettig is preparing for the blitz of noise and in-

durham, nh 10/4

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plasteras 1 g 1 a BC bozek 1 g md

chestnut hill, ma 10/5

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johnson 7 sv BC pickett 1 g 2 a nc state

tensity he’ll encounter on Saturday like he would for any play or on-field situation— by anticipation through visualization.

“It’s definitely a loud environment,” Rettig said, “so you’ve just got to control it, execute it, and just worry about the plays on the field.”

Despite the anticipation preluding Saturday’s contest, BC is no stranger to matchups with some of the country’s best. A gritty performance against top-10 FSU a couple of weeks ago resulted in the Seminoles’ most closely contested victory of the season.

Regardless of opponent records or close scores, a loss is still a loss. Yet even a loss can teach valuable lessons to a team on the rise.

“You learn from yourself and you learn from them,” Rettig said.

48 mctighe 8 k BC glass 8 k army 27

williams 263 yds dixon 125 yds

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The Eagles have shown early on that they can hold their own against upperechelon teams and gaudy rankings. When they step into the lion’s den this weekend, they’ll realize they belong.

“They’ve got a bunch of players,” said linebacker Steven Daniels, “but we have our players. We’re going to go down there and play BC football.”

And considering the never-say-die attitude the Eagles have exhibited each week, Clemson will encounter a visiting team unafraid to leave it all out on the field.

Addazio hopes a relentless will to win can do what even the best playbook sometimes can’t—take down Goliath.

“We’ve got to scratch and fight and claw for everything we can get right now.” 

storrs, 10/6 Boston, Mact11/11

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SPORTS THE HEIGHTS

A8

A10

Thursday, February 7, 2013

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

UP TEMPO

On campus, away games are forgotten

MARLY MORGUS There are two pretty unbelievable games happening this weekend that, odds are, not many Boston College students will watch. What are arguably the school’s most popular teams will both be on the road playing in matchups against top competitors.

The first is football’s journey to Clemson on Saturday. While most followers of BC football are hardly counting on a win this weekend, they are looking for the Eagles to put up another fight. Two weeks ago, when BC hosted Florida State, you got what was in my opinion the best of both worlds.

For almost the entire first half, the Eagles the controlled the game. They put up a performance on defense that no one could have anticipated, and the offense followed suit. For the Eagle faithful in the stands, the first half inspired a lot of hope.

Then, Jameis Winston woke up. The Hail Mary to end the first half was just the beginning, and the Seminoles’ star quarterback put on a display of incredible talent during the second half that anyone who loves football can appreciate. Who cares that the Eagles were losing? That Winston guy is unbelievable.

Now, as BC heads down to Death Valley, many students will miss the opportunity to see another one of college football’s biggest talents in action.

Tajh Boyd, another Heisman candidate quarterback, will be leading the offensive charge for Clemson. Last week against Syracuse, the Tigers put up 49 points.

They’ve scored over 50 twice this year.

Maybe the Eagles will put up another unexpected performance in the first half, maybe they won’t. If they don’t, I’m expecting Boyd and Sammy Watkins put on an impressive show—something that, once again, anyone who loves football can appreciate. If the Eagles do come out strong or even fight back, I’m expecting that display to be even stronger as Boyd fights for his team’s undefeated status.

The problem is, with the game being in South Carolina, most of the BC community that was present for Winston’s show won’t even be watching.

And then there’s hockey. I woke up this morning intending to write a column that would involve me being overly excited that hockey season was finally upon us and trying to convey that excitement to anyone and everyone that would take the time to read about it. And yes, I am a bit overly excited that hockey is back. But I’m also incredibly upset that, chances are, I’m not going to get to watch tonight’s game against Michigan.

We’re talking Michigan, a team that is 4-0 all-time against BC at home.

Michigan, which has seven of its top 10 scorers returning from last season and added a second-round draft pick up front for good measure. Michigan,

“Of course, it’ll be the most hostile environment we’ve been in to this date.

There’s no question that it’s more severe.”

GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

man Trophy candidate Tajh Boyd, who has dominated the stat sheet with 14 scores and 1,449 yards. His knack of eluding the pass rush with speed and arm strength gives him the potential to throw BC’s defense off balance during its After losing its first away game of the season by four touchdowns, the Boston aggressive pursuit of the ball. Boyd’s skill set resembles that of another elite ACC quarterback—FSU’s Jameis Winston—but also includes veteran experience in College football team will have a crack at road redemption this weekend. an NFL-worthy repertoire.

Yet Saturday’s matchup at Clemson presents BC with a Addazio realizes that his team’s best chance for a competitive caveat—entering a lion’s den known as Death Valley to duel afternoon is to storm out of the gates with quickness, keeping with the country’s No. 3 ranked team.

Boyd and his cohorts on the sideline as long as possible.

“We’re playing one of the finest teams in America right “Obviously, the best recipe is to jump out early and to get now,” said head coach Steve Addazio. going strong,” Addazio said. “That’s the best recipe against a The Eagles will face their biggest challenge so far in 2013, great team, especially on the road.” as the Tigers boast one of the most potent offensive units in BC’s defense came up strong throughout the second half last college football. Their averages of nearly 344 passing yards OCT. 12, 2013 week against Army, allowing only one touchdown en route to a and 45 points per game are among the country’s top 15 marks BC vs. CLEMSON 21-point victory. Yet its impressive finish followed a shaky start in each category.

3:30 ON ABC/ESPN2 that surrendered two touchdown scores of 75 yards or more.

Although the Clemson offense’s dynamic personnel and Another slow defensive start is something that the Eagles downfield strategy are no secrets, its ability to execute big plays has been on display over a dominant 5-0 start. Addazio acknowledged simply can’t afford.

“There’s no question that we have to come out fast,” Addazio said. “It’s a that the offensive attack that BC’s revitalized defensive unit will encounter on totally different scenario with what they’re defending.

Saturday is of the highest caliber imaginable.

“If you give this team too many cracks, they’re going to hit it.”

“I don’t see anybody that matches up to them from that standpoint,” he said, noting the Tigers’ national stature.

At the heart of Clemson’s offensive machine is senior quarterback and HeisSee Football, A9

BY CHRIS GRIMALDI Assoc. Sports Editor

Clemson Offense Boston College Defense BC’s defense matches up well with Clemson’s run game but must fight to contain Tajh Boyd and the Tigers’ aerial attack. Whether on a pass or run, BC will confront a fast paced offense.

44.2 pts/game 26.8 pts/game 174.6 yds rushing 204.6 yds rushing 343.6 yds passing 212.8 yds passing Clemson’s Average: 408 plays/game Opponenents’ Average: 332 plays/game

See Column, A9

BC holds off aggressive Syracuse offense for a conference win

BY ALEX FAIRCHILD For The Heights

Just eight minutes in, the Eagles had already scored two goals looked on their way to a dominant victory.

“We got off to such a great start and then we went bananas. We must have thought we were going to kill them or something,” Boston College head coach Ed Kelly said after his team’s 3-2 victory over Syracuse.

BC got off to a flying start on Tuesday night with scores from junior Matt Wendelken and sophomore Diego Medina-Mendez before conceding a goal to a feisty Syracuse side in the 15th minute.

The Orange leveled the proceedings after halftime, but a winner from Nick Butler sealed a third point for BC, giving the team its third win in ACC play.

The Eagles were bereft of goalkeeper Keady Segel, who had a broken finger, and full back Amit Shumowitz, who was dealing with a hamstring injury. This

forced Kelly to pair Butler at center back with Nick Corliss. Chris Ager played at left back, and Wendelken took the right side of the defense Atrobra Ampadu and Giuliano Frano were the team’s center midfield pairing.

BC’s wingers got off to an excellent start, dominating the flanks early in the match. Derrick Boateng showed off his silky touch, while Medina-Mendez’s direct play got the Eagles closer to goal.

Coach Kelly went with a 4-4-2 formation against the Orange, which used a 4-4-1-1.

The Eagles’ freshman strike duo of Zeiko Lewis and Isaac Normesinu was at the top of its game. They linked up extraordinarily well to create the opener after six minutes of play. A combination between the two helped the ball find Medina-Mendez on the left. The junior midfielder whipped the ball into the box, and found Wendelken’s head. Coming all the way from right back to pound the ball past the keeper, the header was textbook,

I NSIDE SPORTS THIS ISSUE

as Wendelken leaped above his mark to nod the ball off the ground and by Syracuse keeper Alex Bono.

The tandem helped double the team’s lead two minutes later. A few short passes between Lewis and Normesinu got them inside the 18-yard box. Lewis’ ball across to his fellow striker trickled around, before Medina-Mendez struck it by Bono from 15 yards.

“They were electric in the first half,” Kelly said, who rued that his team had so many other opportunities to score during the match.- “There were so many chances that we broke that we didn’t get the last pass in. There were so many times we couldn’t connect that last pass.”

Syracuse started to get a foot into the match though, and its efforts came to fruition when they halved the BC lead. A cross from the right side by Oyvind Alseth found Chris Nanco on the far post. The

See Men’s Soccer, A9

The Heights Hockey Preview 2013

The men’s and women’s hockey team prepare to write new stories....................B1

GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Diego Medina-Mendez had three points against Syracuse, bringing his season total to nine.

Game Of The Week: UNC visits BC

Men’s soccer faces off against the Tar Heels on Newton Campus..................A9

Editors’ Picks........................A9 Scoreboard........................A9

The Heights 2013 hockey preview

All for one

Boston College, with the youngest team in college hockey this season, is relying on a loaded freshman class and a crop of tested veterans in its chase for the program’s sixth national championship Matheson harnesses his strength B2 Projected Lines, defensive pairings B3

B6 Demko’s journey to Chestnut Hill B8 Women rally for revenge

johnny gaudreau, see B4

2 THE HEIGHTS oct. 10, 2013

hockey preview feature

Check-Point

His gifts on the ice have always led him to the next level, from Bantam Hockey to the NHL Draft. Yet sophomore defenseman Michael Matheson is ready to live in the moment and win it all at BC. BY CHRIS GRIMALDI, assoc. sports editor

F

rom his seat at the 2012 NHL Draft, Rod Matheson watches on as Florida Panthers’ general manager Dale Tallon prepares to reveal the team’s first-round selection.

The player who is announced has attracted attention as a highly-touted prospect slated to attend Boston College before joining hockey’s professional ranks. As the young man makes his way toward the stage for a formal introduction, the NHL brass in attendance envision a defenseman on the precipice of stardom.

Rod also watches the young man don his professional jersey for the first time in front of camera flashes, gleaming with a father’s pride.

Unlike the NHL scouts and GMs, he remembers a time not so long ago when this hard-hitting standout was just a little boy playing Bantam hockey back home—a kid who could skate circles around his opponents.

To the hockey world, Michael Matheson was a first-round pick, a franchise player in waiting, and a college star on the horizon.

To Rod, he was first and foremost a son who had grown up in the blink of an eye.

“It creeps up on you in a hurry,” Rod said, “and then it becomes a surreal moment.”

From early on, Michael Matheson was a player whose accelerated talent appeared destined for a higher echelon. The skills he flashed and gaudy statistics he produced at each level of play gave him the appearance of a player well beyond his years in age.

Matheson wasn’t looking to rush his developmental process along, but his raw ability on the ice pushed him to make pivotal decisions— whether it meant pursuing junior league hockey or putting off the pros to attend college.

And this past year hasn’t been any different.

During his first season with the Eagles in 2012, Matheson stormed out of the gates with All-Hockey East Rookie Team Honors and recognition as BC’s most outstanding freshman.

The Pointe-Claire, Quebec native’s 25 points as a defenseman and an unshakably mature approach to the game were uncharacteristic for most 18-year-olds.

Yet with every success came growing speculation that the freshman would be packing his bags for Florida and a career in the NHL. The added attention and buzz around hockey about Matheson’s potential was loud enough to toy with his focus.

“You can try really hard not to think of them,” Matheson said, “but they’re always back there.”

Whistle-friendly referees contributed fuel to the fire, as they slammed the brakes on a major facet of his on-ice approach.

Matheson’s hard-hitting style and aggression against the boards drew a high number of penalty calls from the outset. Whereas the bone-rattling hits he delivered to opponents would be celebrated in the NHL, they are penalized in the Hockey East—leaving the enemy sprawled out on the ice following an encounter means automatic box time.

While rookie mistakes contributed to Matheson’s high penalty mark, there was a chance that his style of play had already outgrown the collegiate level.

Yet Matheson has a lot of experience dealing with pivotal decisions and when they ought to be confronted.

There are times that are appropriate for making choices about future plans in the NHL—or “extracurriculars” as Matheson casually phrases it. And a race for the NCAA tournament isn’t one of them.

“Those are types of questions I ask myself at the end of the season,” Matheson said.

Like he always has done, the sophomore consulted his parents’ advice throughout the decision-making process. Their caring presence provides Matheson with a sounding board, and their guidance brings order to the chaotic sea of curiosity regarding his next move.

“They’ve been vital,” Matheson said of his parents. “Without them, I would’ve had all those calls coming in right to me, and it would’ve been impossible to put that on the backburner and focus on my season and my teammates.”

Despite his parents’ supportive role, the course Matheson has taken up the ranks of organized hockey has been his own to chart.

Returning for his sophomore season is another

tall order on the horizon.

“We have to take it in building blocks,” Matheson said, “and just see how things go.”

One would assume that Matheson’s sophomore voice ought to have more clout in the locker room and out on the ice this year to compensate for the Eagles’ youth movement. But acting like the center of attention and stepping on a team captain’s toes do not mesh with Matheson’s style.

He wants his hits against the boards to speak louder than words.

Regardless of talent, players of all classes are humbled by the marathon-like conditions of a collegiate hockey season. Like the departed senior class that mentored him last year, Matheson aims to treat BC’s newcomers as equals in every walk of life—whether in the workout room or at center ice for the Frozen Four.

“The only thing I can do is make sure I’m being just as much of a role model as them,” Matheson said.

The defenseman’s quiet leadership does not go unnoticed by Eagle head coach Jerry York, who recognized early on that the top prospect was wise beyond his years both on and off the ice.

“He combines a lot of attributes that we like in players,” York said. “I think you can have a lot of people wear C’s in the locker room.”

If this year’s BC squad has an appreciation for leadership by example, Matheson will be one of them. graham beck / heights editor

step along the journey.

“We helped him step through the process and made sure he had all the information,” Rod said, “but at the end of the day we wanted him to make the decision.”

Like winning players in any sport, Matheson does not tolerate unfinished business.

None of his individual accolades could palliate the sting of BC’s unceremonious exit from the NCAA Tournament last March. Only a year removed from capturing their fifth national title, the Eagles hopelessly watched underdog Union College bring an end to a once promising-looking season.

Open looks at the net came up empty, and the stoic defense Matheson had anchored all season long appeared vulnerable at the worst possible time.

“As much as you can try not to have a championship hangover, it’s just there,” he said. “You can work really hard but it’s still there.”

As Matheson and his teammates soon found out, the symptoms of a championship hangover lead to shortened seasons. The shadows that disappointment casts tend to linger around the ice until new success is forged.

“It makes you remember the feeling of losing wherever you are,” Matheson said. “I don’t want that feeling again.”

The sophomore defenseman’s hatred of failure rivals that of the program he plays for. Higher-caliber athletes don’t retreat from a disappointing loss for greener pastures—they return with vengeance in mind.

“If you talk to anybody that knows me, they’ll tell you that I hate losing more than anything in the world,” Matheson said. “It ignites even more of a fire.”

As a father who watched his son’s meteoric rise from peewee participant to one of the world’s best, Rod Matheson can attest to that statement. “[Michael] was so focused,” he said. “He’s been driven to succeed in this game for a long time.”

No matter how strong a distaste for losing Matheson possesses, it does not erase the challenges of playing in what is arguably the country’s most competitive conference. Nor can preseason talk bring back the stellar senior class the BC squad has lost, a core group of Eagles who seemingly added a Beanpot trophy or national title to the trophy case every season.

Considering the crop of 10 new freshmen on this year’s roster, BC is a young team heading toward a

“If you talk to anybody that knows me, they’ll tell you that I hate losing more than anything in the world. It ignites even more of a fire.”

At every practice, one of York’s players honors a tradition by delivering a quote of the day.

He whose number matches the date assumes responsibility for leaving his squad with inspiration, condensing a tough workout on the ice into a few motivational words.

To Matheson, each quote bears more significance than a pregame ritual or superstition.

Rather, it is a reminder that a powerhouse program doesn’t reclaim its place atop college hockey overnight. It urges him to take each day in stride even when his talent pushes him forward at a relentless pace.

“That really just breaks every single day down in the sense that we’re going to get better today,” Matheson said.

He places little stock in those critics who emphasize the proverbial fast start as a mandatory prescription for overcoming the disappointment in a season cut short—even for a young man who hates to lose. BC’s season opener tonight at Michigan counts no more than a forgettable contest on a cold winter’s night in the middle of February. If Matheson and his teammates have learned anything from last year’s collapse, it is that a 10-1 start comes with no guarantees.

Five—the number on the back of Matheson’s gold and maroon jersey matches the number of months it takes to hoist another banner from the rafters of Conte Forum.

“You don’t win championships in October,” Matheson said. “It’s a good saying coach York puts in our head.”

The greatest challenge the sophomore faces isn’t a speedy forward skating straight toward him on the breakaway or a stringent referee waiting to blow the whistle on an aggressive play. Rather, it is the task of having to channel the drive that caught his father’s attention many years ago. It is the will to improve defensive positioning and puck movement, even after being selected in the NHL Draft’s first round. It is seizing every game, practice, and workout before setting his sights on a higher prize at a higher level.

It is committing to the here and now.

Matheson has so far stayed true to his word and true to his team. That doesn’t imply a lack of consideration for his own future. He’ll eventually process what he knows and make the best decision he can—but not until bringing home the hardware he envisions for his team.

“At the end of that, then I can look at it.” n

OCT. 10, 2013 THE HEIGHTS 3

HOCKEY PREVIEW PROJECTIONS

2013 MEN’S HOCKEY SEASON BC’s lines feature a mix of veteran and freshman talent on offense and defense.

Freshman stats are from the previous year of play.

LINES, DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS, AND GOALIES FIRST LINE JOHNNY GAUDREAU

#13

Junior Hometown: Carneys Point, NJ Height: 5’8” Weight: 159

KEVIN HAYES

AUSTIN CANGELOSI

Senior Hometown: Dorchester, MA Height: 6’4” Weight: 216

Freshman Hometown: Estero, FL Height: 5’6” Weight: 171

#26

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

35

21

30

51

1.46

27

6

19

25

.93

53

29

30

59

1.11

SECOND LINE EVAN RICHARDSON

#22

Freshman Hometown: Nanaimo, BC Height: 5’8” Weight: 167

RYAN FITZGERALD Freshman Hometown: North Reading, MA Height: 5’9” Weight: 166

#19

BILL ARNOLD Senior Hometown: Needham, MA Height: 6’0” Weight: 203

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

44

16

31

47

1.07

26

14

16

30

1.15

38

17

18

35

.92

THIRD LINE PATRICK BROWN

CHRIS CALNAN

Senior Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, MI Height: 6’1” Weight: 207

Freshman Hometown: Norwell, MA Height: 6’2” Weight: 200

#11

QUINN SMITH

#27

Junior Hometown: Fairfield, CT Height: 5’8” Weight: 166

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

38

5

6

11

.29

32

27

22

49

1.53

38

8

5

13

.34

FOURTH LINE ADAM GILMOUR

#14

Freshman Hometown: Hanover, MA Height: 6’3” Weight: 193

BRENDAN SILK

CAM SPIRO

Sophomore Hometown: Wakefield, MA Height: 6’3” Weight: 180

Junior Hometown: Hingham, MA Height: 5’10” Weight: 204

#15

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

Games

Goals

Assists

Pts.

Pts./Game

64

19

28

47

.73

36

2

2

4

.11

23

2

2

4

.17

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS MICHAEL MATHESON

TEDDY DOHERTY

Sophomore Hometown: Pointe-Claire, QC Height: 6’2” Weight: 189

Sophomore Hometown: Hopkinton, MA Height: 5’9” Weight: 171

IAN MCCOSHEN

STEVEN SANTINI

ISAAC MACLEOD

Freshman Hometown: Mahopic, NY Height: 6’2” Weight: 201

Senior Hometown: Nelson, BC Height: 6’5” Weight: 212

#3

Freshman Hometown: Faribault, MN Height: 6’3” Weight: 206

DANNY LINELL

#4 #6

Junior Hometown: Great Neck, NY Height: 5’7” Weight: 175

#7

GOALIES

BRIAN BILLET

#1

Junior Hometown: Brunswick, ME Height: 6’1” Weight: 181

THATCHER DEMKO

#30

Freshman Hometown: San Diego, CA Height: 6’3” Weight: 192

BRAD BARONE

#29

Junior Hometown: Medfield, MA Height: 5’10” Weight: 173

Games

Goals Allowed

Saves

Save %

Games

Goals Allowed

Saves

Save %

Games

Goals Allowed

Saves

Save %

2

5

29

.853

43

85

833

.907

1

0

3

1.00

4 THE HEIGHTS OCT. 10, 2013

OCT. 10, 2013 THE HEIGHTS 5

HOCKEY PREVIEW FEATURE

OVERNIGHT VETERAN

Brothers Gaudreau Gaudreau’s younger brother, Matt, joins the team as a freshman this season. Gaudreau mentioned his brother’s arrival as a reason for staying for his junior season.

Back for a third year to play alongside his younger brother, Johnny Gaudreau is no longer an underclass hot shot and must fill a vastly different role on his young team

BY MARLY MORGUS | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

S

tanding still on the ice, Johnny Gaudreau doesn’t look like anything special. Next to many of the freshmen, most of which tower over six feet, the 5-foot-8 junior will be dwarfed. If he skates over to chat with Kevin Hayes, his 158 pounds will appear to be no match for his teammate’s 216 pounds of force.

But give him a puck and size is forgotten. Suddenly, the lack of inches or pounds disappears between quick, powerful legs and nimble hands. Suddenly, it becomes clear why Gaudreau, similar to Johnny Manziel’s nomination as “Johnny Football,” has been called “Johnny Hockey.”

Gaudreau is back for another year of Boston College hockey, despite his status as a Calgary Flames draft pick and the rumored possibility of his exodus after the completion of his sophomore year. Once a freshman phenomenon and sophomore standout, a matured Gaudreau confronts his junior year, suddenly thrust into the role of an upperclassman on the nation’s youngest team.

“We have a really good freshman class from the goaltenders to the defense to the forwards,” Gaudreau said.

“They’re all going to get a chance to play professional hockey someday and it’s awesome to have them here.”

All of a sudden, Gaudreau can’t just be a kid with quick hands and feet. Scoring and generating points isn’t enough.

Now a veteran, he must round out his game and step outside of his comfort zone in order to lead his team.

Gaudreau has been a contributor since the very beginning of his career at BC. During his freshman year, he earned seemingly every honor that a rookie can receive.

In October, February, and March, he was recognized as Hockey East’s rookie of the month. After scoring two goals and assisting another two during the Beanpot, he was also honored as the Beanpot MVP. He was the Hockey Commissioners’ Association Rookie of the Month for March and April after he put up 13 points in 10 games as he helped BC to its third straight Hockey East Tournament Championship, becoming the tournament MVP along the way. Quite deservedly, he also earned BC’s own Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award.

This prolific list of honors comes along with several clutch performances—five game-winning goals, seven power-play goals, 11 multiple-point nights.

He didn’t need time to come into his own and adjust to high-level collegiate hockey—rather, he burst onto the scene scoring once and notching three assists in what was only his second appearance as BC dominated powerhouse North Dakota in a 6-2 win.

The kid—and kid is the appropriate word here— seemed unstoppable and helped the Eagles roll to their 19-game win streak through the end of the season and a National Championship. The opposite of an enforcer, he used his quick feet and skilled hands to score 21 times that season and assisted another 23 goals. That’s 44 points in 44 games.

He did all of this at the age of 18, weighing around 140 pounds.

His sophomore year was recognized in a similar fashion. Though the Eagles did not have as successful a season, Gaudreau was a driving force on offense. Instead of the rookie honors, he began raking in general awards. He was an American Hockey Coaches Association All-America East first team selection and CollegehockeyNews.com AllAmerica East first team honoree. Despite the Eagles’ poor showing in the tournament, Gaudreau was selected as the Hockey East Association Player of the Year, as well as being recognized as New England’s MVP and top forward.

His statistics told a similar story. Gaudreau had 51 points on the season, even though he missed two games for the World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia, and played a total of 35 games.

He led the country in points per game with 1.46 and tied for third in game-winning goals with six. His 14 multiple-point games, including a four-point streak, and only seven games in which he didn’t have a goal or an assist, made Gaudreau one of the nation’s biggest contributors

on offense.

All of this was enough to earn Gaudreau a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors college hockey’s top player. The rest of his team was denied a trip to Pittsburgh with an early 5-1 loss to Union in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but Gaudreau attended the Frozen Four as a member of the Hobey Hat Trick.

“Unfortunately our whole team wasn’t out in Pittsburgh in the Frozen Four but it was a good experience, it was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of nice people out there, signed a lot of autographs, so it was a pretty fun experience for me,” he said.

Along with Eric Hartzell of Quinnipiac and Drew LeBlanc from St. Cloud State, Gaudreau was recognized at a ceremony the day before the National Championship game took place. Though LeBlanc took home the award becoming the Huskies’ first Hobey Baker winner, Gaudreau was happy to just be included in the final three.

“It was a great experience for me,” Gaudreau said. “I was just excited to get a chance to be in the Hobey Hat Trick. It didn’t really matter, loser or winner. I would have been excited to win it, but, you know, it was a great experience for me to go out there and meet two other great players.”

With the end of the season coming a bit too early, the question became whether or not Gaudreau would be returning to BC for another year of hockey. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames, he was not expected to turn pro after his freshman year, but at the end of his sophomore season, there seemed to be a distinct possibility that Gaudreau had played his last game in BC uniform.

“Just getting a chance to play professional hockey, I mean, I guess its every player’s dream to play hockey in the NHL,” Gaudreau said. “So that’s probably one of the most important things for me.”

There’s little doubt Gaudreau will be headed in that direction someday, but for this year, there was a factor that could not be overlooked in his decision. Matt Gaudreau, Johnny’s younger brother, was slated to join the Eagles for this season, and that was enough to keep Johnny in Boston for at least another year.

There were some in Calgary, especially fans, who took this decision with a certain amount of suspicion. If Gaudreau opts to finish his four years at BC, he will be an unrestricted agent come the summer of 2015.

“I know that’s what the fans worry about,” Jay Feaster, the Flames general manager told The Calgary Sun. “I’m not concerned that he’s going to college as a ruse for ‘I don’t want to be play in Calgary.’ That’s not the case.”

Gaudreau has been identified as the possible next Martin Saint-Louis, another undersized, yet highly productive forward who started his NHL career with the Flames. This time, however, Calgary will hope to prevent Gaudreau from becoming another one that got away, as Saint-Louis’ career took a positive turn after being traded from the Flames to the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Tampa Bay, Louis put up significantly more points and helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup victory.

Gaudreau, on the other hand, hasn’t shown any signs of wanting to leave the Flames, and only points out two reasons for wanting to stay at BC. “My little brother is here, he’s a freshman this year, and I wanted to get a chance to play with him,” he said.

“Also I know my degree is really important to me and I thought that three years of my education would be best for me and we’ll see, going from there, whether there will be a fourth year or not.”

The decision came after a long process of speaking with his family and with his family advisor, someone hired

1

6

3

4

Played in his first college game against Michigan State in a 5-2 win.

by Gaudreau and his family whose responsibility it is to help the family understand the ins and outs of developing into an NHL player while also understanding the family’s unique situation and values.

Gaudreau is happy to be playing with his brother for at least one more season. The last time the two played together was during Gaudreau’s junior year of high school during which Matt was a freshman. The next year, Johnny left Dubuque Senior High School to play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

That was a full four years ago, and both have grown considerably as players since then.

“When we played together, I always loved playing with him,” Gaudreau said. “I mean, he’s my bother and we’re really close, and he’s a really talented player too and just seeing him develop in these past two, three years, its been pretty cool to just be there with him and get to be here with him my junior year.”

Last year, Matt played for the Omaha Lancers of the

Scored his first collegiate goal, had three assists against No. 3 North Dakota in a 6-2 win.

NOVEMBER

Earned the Beanpot MVP after notching his 12th assist of the season to Chris Kreider to give BC a 2-1 lead in a 3-2 victory over BU. 2 GOALS 2 ASSISTS

Was one of four players from the preliminary roster for the Junior National Team. Saw it as a turning point in his season.

NOV. 1, 2011

Earned Hockey East rookie of the month and his second Hockey East rookie of the week award with nine points through eight games.

NOV. 18, 2011

USHL. Though the younger Gaudreau did not see as much success in the league as his older brother, amassing 18 points in contrast to Gaudreau’s 72 during his final season in the USHL, Johnny is optimistic about the rookie’s transition to college hockey.

“He’s doing good, he’s doing really good,” Gaudreau said. “He’s a little underweight, he’s got to get some weight on him. He weighs like 130. I mean, when I was a freshman I only weighed like five, 10 pounds more than him, so I think he’ll be fine. He’s fitting and adjusting well, he likes all the guys on the team and it’s a really good fit for him.”

Matt is a small part of what is a huge freshman class for BC, in the literal sense. Out of 10 newcomers, Matt is one of three under six feet tall, and the class is already being praised as highly skilled.

With such an influx of young talent, suddenly, Gaudreau has evolved from a highly praised young talent into a veteran. That fact has not been lost on him.

“Just two years ago I was a freshman playing all these older guys that are now playing in the NHL, and now I’m a junior and these little, these freshmen, are looking

Scored the game-tying goal sending No. 4 ND into overtime before the Eagles lost to the Irish.

JANUARY JAN. 27, 2012 3

up to us now and its hard to change the mindset from that kind of freshman, junior year, but I think I’m doing alright,” he said.

Gaudreau cited Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold as two who are doing a particularly good job of motivating the freshmen and showing them the ropes. Personally, he knows that his particular set of leadership skills have yet to develop fully, saying that he needs to learn to be more of a leader off of the ice.

“Freshman year, I know I was looking up to guys who were juniors and seniors and it was really important to me how they showed me the ropes and everything like that, how they were in the locker room and on the ice, off the ice,” Gaudreau said. “It’s the same thing every year.

We older guys have to show the younger guys what to do and how it goes.”

He has never been a big presence in the locker room. In the past, all of his leadership has come through offensive success, and Gaudreau is ready to admit that he tends to be on the quieter side on the bench. If the Eagles hope to move past last season’s disappointing postseason performance, his leadership will be an important factor.

While leadership is an important element of success for any team, Gaudreau has his sights set on a number of other areas that his team should focus on improving in.

“Being good off the ice, getting all our workouts in, working hard on and off the ice,” he said. “Last year we worked hard and everything but I think the start of this year we are pushing each other a little harder. You can definitely see all the motivation through all the guys and I’m pretty excited about that.”

Last season, the Eagles’ performance on special teams

FEB. 28, 2012

Named Hockey East rookie of the month again after recording 13 points on seven goals, six assists in seven February games.

FEBRUARY

Scored the game-tying goal with three minutes left against UNH before Steven Whitney gave the Eagles a late 4-3 win.

MARCH

Scored a breakaway goal on Ferris State to give BC a 3-1 lead late in the third period, securing BC’s fifth national title.

Notched his third game-winning goal of the season by breaking up a 2-2 tie with Maine five minutes into the third period.

APRIL 15, 2012

NOV. 24, 2012

Earned the Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award at BC’s annual banquet.

APRIL

MAR. 14, 2012

Selected to Hockey East All-Rookie team after a 35-point regular-season, including 16 goals and 19 assists.

MAR. 18, 2012

Made Hockey East all-tournament team and became the fifth freshman to win the tournament MVP award.

MAR. 25, 2012 4

also declined, which Gaudreau saw as a major problem. In the 2011-12 season, the Eagles scored on 22.5 percent of their power plays and held their opponents to 11.5 percent success. The true standout statistics came during the last 19 games of the season during which the Eagles were undefeated. During that time, BC scored on 30.3 percent of their power plays, while their opponents scored only 8.2 percent of the time.

The 2012-13 team, in contrast, scored on only 21.1 percent of their power plays. Additionally, the Eagles allowed goals on the penalty kill 16.4 percent of the time, and scored only once while a man down, despite 57 attempts.

“Last year towards the end of the year we weren’t as good on our power play and penalty kill and I think that’s something that we’ve been focusing on a lot more this year and this past preseason,” Gaudreau said.

“Last season cut a little shorter than we expected, losing in the first round, but I think those adjustments from last year are going to be what makes us move forward in the tournament.”

On a personal level, Gaudreau thinks that the biggest improvement that he needs to make this year is in the defensive end. Though he undoubtedly has displayed prowess as a prolific forward, Gaudreau has not developed as much as he would like as a defender. He said that, in particular, he needs to work on blocking more shots and making more plays in the corners and along the walls in the defensive zone.

NOV. 2, 2012

APRIL 7, 2012 1

Gaudreau, along with sophomore Bill Arnold, made the 29-man preliminary roster for the 2012 U.S. Junior National Team.

DECEMBER

7

FEB. 13, 2012 2

DEC. 22, 2011

OCT. 8, 2011

OCTOBER

5

GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

DEC. 5, 2011 OCT. 7, 2011

“I’ve always loved playing with him. I mean, he’s my brother.”

2

Notched his 20th goal of the year capping off a 4-0 BC victory over Duluth in Worcester to send the Eagles to the Frozen Four.

OCTOBER

Tallied a then career-high five points, including two goals and three assists against Dartmouth.

NOVEMBER

OCT. 19, 2012

Knocked a loose puck out of midair into the net three and a half minutes into overtime to complete a BC comeback past UMass after entering the third period down 3-0.

OCT. 22, 2012

Named Hockey East player of the week for his play in the UMass win and for notching a goal and an assist against Northeastern.

DECEMBER DEC. 4, 2012

Named Hockey East player of the month for November after recording 14 points in seven games, scoring a point in each one.

The wealth of experience that Gaudreau has gained both in collegiate play and outside of it will help him along as he looks to improve defensively.

In Ufa, Russia last year at the World Junior Championships, Gaudreau led the U.S. team with seven goals and tied for first on the team with nine points. His efforts helped the team secure a berth in the finals and a 3-1 win over Sweden.

“I know we don’t play too many [European players], but they’re really creative with the puck and what they do in the offensive zone, and I know my defense really has to be better, and just seeing that, how offensively talented they are, it’s been helping me out on my defensive side,” he said.

On top of that, Gaudreau has attended the Flames’ development camp for the past three years and played against players that are years older than him and already playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) and NHL. Not only can that help him with his game, but the experience that he takes from watching those players can also help him to become more of a leader on and off the ice as he sees the examples set forth by players with more experience.

While defensive progress is much on his mind, Gaudreau hasn’t forgotten his primary role on the team—generating points. This year, he’s set up for success and is playing on a line that could prove lethal.

“It’s me, Kevin Hayes, and right now a freshman Austin Cangelosi,” Gaudreau said. “He’s a really young, talented player, he played in the USHL last year, and he’s doing really well so far. It’s going to be fun to play with Kevin.

I’ve been here for two years now and I don’t think I’ve ever played a game [on the line] with him, so we’re really looking forward to it.”

Last year, Hayes finished the year tied for fifth in points with 25. On the line, the senior is the figure of ultimate experience as Gaudreau makes his transition and Cangelosi brings fresh talent.

With a highly skilled freshman class and veteran leadership tying it together, the Eagles have high hopes for this season. Ideally, they would return to the Frozen Four.

Though the tournament is always an exciting opportunity, this year’s holds special value to Gaudreau, and he hopes to attend it with his team for the second time.

“Its in Philly this year,” he said, “and that’s about 20

minutes from where I live. I have a whole bunch of family and friends that are coming out to watch us. I mean, it’s the Frozen Four and you should be excited about it no matter what, but since it’s kind of close to my hometown I’m going to have a lot of friends and family there so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Perhaps another Hobey Hat Trick will be in the cards for Gaudreau as he stages his homecoming, but the junior doesn’t have it set as a priority. Rather, he is focused on getting the entire team to Philly and winning a national championship. Any personal awards, though they are in the back of his mind, would simply be an added bonus.

If Gaudreau wants to lead his team to such success, it will take an enormous commitment on and off the ice, not only to improving his own game, but also to motivating his team, both through his offensive success and through the less tangible leadership that can be as simple as speaking up in the locker room or on the bench.

He needs to lead by example—playing hard, working out hard, doing what it takes to improve personally, and carrying himself with confidence off the ice. He has already made a good start as he dedicates himself to becoming a more well-rounded player. He sees practice as the time to do that, and that means supplementing that time with extra reps after practice in order to maintain and grow his offensive prowess.

“Our team goal is just getting better every day,” he said.

“Getting better every day is obviously going to make us a better team, and hopefully ultimately get us to the Frozen Four and hopefully win a national championship.”

Making the transition from kid-wonder to a leadership role does not happen overnight. This season will be a big test for Gaudreau as he plays what could be some of his last games in a BC uniform, but if he succeeds, he will have set the tone for years ahead as the young team learns from his example.

Standing still on the ice, Gaudreau doesn’t look like anything special. Sitting in the locker room, you may not hear his voice. Put a puck on his stick and he becomes an offensive powerhouse, but in his final seasons as an Eagle, he needs to be more than that. 

MAR. 20, 2013 7

Earned the title for Hockey East regular season scoring champion with 36 points on 12 goals and 24 assists, leading the nation in points per game with 1.48. Named Hockey East player of the year.

HOCKEY

EAST SCORING CHAMPION

Goals Assists

JAN. 5, 2013

Won a gold medal with the U.S. National Team in a 3-1 victory over Sweden in Ufa, Russia, finishing as the leading goal scorer in the tournament and tied for fifth in points with nine.

JAN. 19, 2013

Matched a career high with four assists in a 9-3 win at Northeastern.

JANUARY

MAR. 9, 2013

Posted a career-high six points on two goals and four assists to lead BC to a 7-2 win over Vermont.

MAR. 30, 2013 6

Scored the only goal in BC’s 5-1 loss to Union that knocked the Eagles out of the NCAA tourney.

FEBRUARY FEB. 11, 2013 5

Scored twice and tallied an assist as BC beat Northeastern 6-3 to win the Beanpot again.

MARCH

APRIL APR. 2, 2013

Won the Leonard Fowle award for the region’s most valuable player.

APRIL 7, 2013

Named a Hobey Baker award hat trick finalist.

APRIL 15, 2013 Announced his return for his junior season.

“The way we ended the year, it was pretty upsetting we didn’t get to go back to the Frozen Four. I really wanted to get another chance to do that.”

6 THE HEIGHTS OCT. 10, 2013

NATIONAL

HOCKEY PREVIEW FEATURE

NATIONAL

NATIONAL

NATIONAL

NATIONAL

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

1949

2001

2008

2010

2012

BERNIE BURKE

SCOTT CLEMMENSEN

JOHN MUSE

JOHN MUSE

PARKER MILNER

MEN’S HOCKEY

MEN’S HOCKEY

MEN’S HOCKEY

MEN’S HOCKEY

MEN’S HOCKEY

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Freshman goalie Thatcher Demko looks ahead with an eye on the past

BY AUSTIN TEDESCO Jesse Acciacca has been airbrushing goalie masks for the Boston College men’s hockey team for more than 10 years. Players usually scribble out a simple drawing with the BC logo, school crest, an Eagle, and a request for either a white or a maroon base, and Acciacca handles the rest himself.

This wasn’t the case for Thatcher Demko. BC’s incoming freshman goalie—the youngest player in college hockey this season—emailed Acciacca a full computer-generated rendering of what he wanted.

There’s the crest on the left, the logo on top, and a ripped, screeching eagle on the chin, but there’s also more. A row of runners, filled in with an American flag, make up the right side of the mask in between banners reading “Boston Strong” and “April 15, 2013.” The base is a rarely-used champagne gold.

On the back plate rests an illuminated picture of the NCAA championship trophy surrounded by the four BC goalies who have raised it—names Demko can rattle off in a second: Burke ’49, Clemmensen ’01, Muse ’08 and ’10, and Milner ’12.

Around the trophy representing his goal for the future, Demko placed his past. The logos for his hometown team in San Diego, his USHL squad in Omaha, and the U.S. national development team circle the trophy, along with the logo for the foundation started in the memory of his friend Ian Jenkins, a goalie who passed away at the age of 15.

Demko has a respect for history, and that’s not surprising. His wild history is what got him to Chestnut Hill fighting for a starting goalie spot months before his 18th birthday.

There are only five sheets of ice in San Diego, and one of them is rarely used for hockey. This didn’t bode well for Demko’s father, Brenton, and his dreams of having a son play his favorite sport.

Brenton used to joke around with Demko’s mom, Danielle, saying, “We’re only going to have boys, and they’re all going to play hockey.”

Danielle always responded by asking what if they wanted to play the flute, like she did when she was growing up.

“I don’t care what he does after practice,” Brenton would quip back.

Despite his California upbringing, hockey is practically in Demko’s blood. His father shares dual-citizenship between the U.S. and Canada, and Brenton remembers watching Jim Craig, the 1980 Team USA gold medal goalie from the Miracle on Ice team, play for the Atlanta Flames when he was growing up. One of Brenton and Danielle’s first dates was at an LA Kings game with seats right up on the glass.

“I think he was trying to sell me on the sport,” Danielle said.

When Demko was born, his father was a huge Kings fan and regularly had their games on. One time Demko pointed at the TV and said he wanted to try it, so his dad got him a little puck and stick to hit around the living room. Sometimes Brenton would try pulling Demko around on two rollerblades, but he wasn’t very good.

Then, one day when Brenton was ready to give his son another chance at skating on the blades, the phone rang. Brenton went to answer it and came back to find a three-year-old Demko pushing himself around on just his right skate. Danielle and Brenton let Demko ride around for 20 minutes before switching things up, letting their son use just the left skate.

Brenton and Danielle divorced when Demko was about two-and-a-half, but the two remained close throughout his childhood.

“We traveled together for years and hockey, almost in a crazy way, kind of kept our family together,” Danielle said.

Major decisions were made as a group, up until the point when Demko felt confident enough to make them on his own.

Twelve years later, the phone rang again. Danielle, a former volleyball player at Arizona State, was 45 minutes away from coaching a match for her juniors team. A call from her son was the only thing that could possibly distract her while her girls warmed up.

It was a Wednesday before Halloween of 2010, and Demko was playing with the 16 AAA Jr. Kings team in LA. The USHL Futures draft had come and gone that year, and no team took the 15-year-old.

Although he had already shown tremendous talent in the net, the draft happened right around the time of a massive growth spurt.

USA NATIONAL U18 TEAM Demko said he was shocked when he got the call to join the national team, but he excelled at goal and it helped him earn his spot at BC.

Career Stats GP

MIN

W

L

T

SOL

46

2593:18

30

9

4

0

SOG

SV

GA

GAA

SV%

SO

996

906

90

2.08

.910

6

2013-14 Boston College Helmet

Danielle recalled her son complaining after one game that he’d stick his leg out to stop a puck like he’d always done, but his limb was jutting outside the post, leaving a wide gap for an easy score.

Now Danielle found herself locked in a bathroom and she couldn’t believe what her son was telling her.

“Mom,” Demko said,” Omaha’s calling me.”

There were some rumors flying around that the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, who had protected Demko, were working on a trade that would open up a roster spot at goal. Brenton followed all of it, and when the Lancers officially showed their interest he was on board. He liked the organization and thought it would be a good opportunity. Brenton, Demko’s advisor, and Bliss Littler, the Lancers’ head coach at the time, agreed that Littler should make the call to Demko so he could get his first taste of how junior hockey worked.

Demko called Brenton right after and the first thing he said was, “Dad, I’m moving to Omaha.” His father was slightly taken off guard, but it was nothing compared to Danielle’s reaction.

“Woah woah woah woah woah,” she thought. She told Demko she needed to call Brenton. She needed to call their advisor. She needed to call the coach before she sent her 15-year-old son off to play with 20-year-old men.

Demko didn’t say a word. He let his mother go on and on until she was finally done.

“Mom, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Demko told her when she finished freaking out.

“Make whatever calls you’ve got to make. I’m going to Omaha.”

Two days later, Danielle and Brenton helped Demko pack up in LA and they were all in Omaha

by Monday.

Now with a premier junior hockey team, ice time was no longer an issue like it had been back home.

CAREER GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE

1st 4th

CAREER SHUTOUTS

CAREER SAVE PERCENTAGE

6th 1st 1st 1st

SEASON GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE

SEASON WINS

SINGLE SEASON SHUTOUTS

“Trying to get ice time in San Diego for a goalie is insane,” Danielle said. “Thatcher’s story is so off the charts unusual.”

Brenton used to drive Demko two hours to LA and two hours back for a one-hour lesson. He did an inter-district transfer his freshman year of high school, which gave him more practice opportunities. He’d get driven to school at 8 a.m., stay for three hours, take public transportation over to the rink, get on the ice for an hour and a half, take public transportation back to school, get a few more hours of studying in, and then take a bus back to the rink for more practice.

He had monthly conference calls with a sports psychologist starting at the age of 12 to work on visualization and mental strength, taking notes and absorbing as much as he could. Whenever Demko was in a different place for hockey—Michigan, Canada, Massachusetts—Brenton would look up the best goalie coach in the area and get his son a lesson.

But it wasn’t Brenton forcing the game on an unwilling son. Demko loved it, and Brenton was following through on a deal he made early in his son’s life.

“If you put in the effort and have fun and show that you’re doing all the extra things between practices and you have the dedication,” Brenton told him, “then I’ll do my part.”

“He was always there for me,” Demko said of his father. “Never complained. I guess that just made it a lot easier for me to keep my love for the game when I was little.”

His mother put it best.

“If he was thirsty,” Danielle said, “Brent freaking gave him water.”

Although hockey was a priority for the family, it wasn’t the only one. “[Brenton] loves his son, and always growing up hockey was not more important than Thatcher’s character and his grades,” Danielle said. “He would

“I try not to think about [pressure]. There are a lot of other unbelievable players on this team. I don’t think the spotlight should be just on me.”

GRAHAM BECK / HEIGHTS EDITOR

always say if you don’ t have those two things it doesn’t matter what you do in hockey.”

Demko was supposed to stay in Omaha for three years, but then he did enough to get another call.

It was the call that, indirectly, sent him on his path to Chestnut Hill. That call was from Mike Ayers, BC’s new goalie coach this season, and it came with an offer to join the USA Under-18 national team, which Ayers worked for at the time. For Demko, it was a no-brainer. He was in.

After showing some interest early, BC cooled off on Demko after 2015 goalie Chris Birdsall committed to the Eagles. Demko was devastated when he found out, and canceled an upcoming visit with what was his top school. With the help of his family, he shifted his focus to other options like Cornell, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Denver.

But Demko’s play with the national team last fall changed the minds of the BC coaches. Through 45 appearances with Team USA, Demko posted a record of 31-9 and set the record for the program’s single-season goals against average with 2.06. In late October, the team forced a 2-2 tie with a topranked Minnesota squad in what was one of the best games Brenton had seen his son play. A few days later, Demko’s team defeated Dubuque, an undefeated USHL team, 2-1 as he stopped all three chances in the closing shootout.

BC contacted Demko’s advisor after the impressive display, hoping there was a possibility he could accelerate and come in as a 2013 goalie to join the competition trying to replace Parker Milner. The family talked about it and, after Brenton spent a few weeks making sure the academic side could work, decided to make up that canceled visit.

On the December weekend of Demko’s 17th birthday, Team USA beat Merrimack in front of BC head coach Jerry York and assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh on Saturday and tied then-No. 1 New Hampshire in front of BC assistant Greg Brown on Sunday. BC offered Demko, now the No. 1 goalie recruit in the nation, during his visit on Monday.

“It was kind of a whirlwind thing and it’s crazy that it’s all come together like this,” Brenton said.

“I pinch myself daily.”

Demko told all of the schools interested in him that he wouldn’t decide until Christmas time, which was two weeks after his BC visit, but less than six days later he couldn’t wait any longer. BC was where he needed to be, and after he committed there was only one thing standing in the way of him getting there—his senior year of high school.

Team USA earned the silver medal in Russia at the U18 World Championships last April. When Demko got back home he had from May 1 to Aug. 1 to finish five classes—including Spanish, two British literature courses, and multicultural literature—and become eligible for the 2013-14 college hockey season.

Brenton took Demko to Tahoe for a week and he studied six hours a day throughout the whole vacation. Danielle took him to Hawaii for 10 days, and Demko sat on the sand with his laptop, banging out papers while his family played around in the water in front of him. On the Fourth of July, he got up at 8 a.m. and worked until 3 p.m. finishing one paper.

“It was awful,” Demko said. “It was definitely a grind, but absolutely worth it.”

“If the reward was not having the opportunity to play at Boston College or one of the top level programs,” Brenton said, “there is no way in a million years I would ever put my kid through that.”

Demko finished on time and is now wrapped up in a three-way race for BC’s starting goalie spot with juniors Brian Billett and Brad Barone. Billett is expected to start tonight at Michigan.

“I try not to think about it,” Demko said of the pressure and attention surrounding his arrival on campus. “There are a lot of other unbelievable players on this team. I don’t think the spotlight should be just on me.”

“The decision on whether or not he’s playing is completely out of his control,” Brenton said. “All he can do is bust his tail every day in practice and work hard to get better where the coach has to put him in because he’s performing.”

Luckily, his parents are used to planning trips without knowing if their son will be playing.

The national team never said a word about who would start.

“Living so far away,” Brenton said, “you just have to schedule your trips and hope he’ll be in the net when you get there.”

Whenever Demko gets his chance to command the Conte Forum net, he’ll have an illustrious history hanging in the rafters above him. That history will also rest on the back plate of his helmet—right where it belongs. Consistently in the back of his mind reminding the young goalie of what came before him, but not clouding his vision for a bright future. 

OCt. 10, 2013 THE HEIGHTS 7

hockey preview Projections

Team Projections

The Boston College women’s hockey team is looking to make it back to the Frozen Four after an overtime loss to Minnesota in the semifinal game. Below are projected lines and defensive pairings for 2013-14, and a recap of the opener.

first line Taylor Wasylk Senior Hometown: Port Huron, MI Height: 5’10”

Kristyn Capizzano

#9

Freshman Hometown: Oakville, Ont. Height: 5’2”

#7

Hayley Skarupa Sophomore Hometown: Rockville, MD Height: 5’6”

#13

second line Dana Trivigno Sophomore Hometown: Setauket, NY Height: 5’4”

Kate Leary

#8

Junior Hometown: Seabrook, NH Height: 5’2”

#28

Melissa Bizzari Senior Hometown: Stowe, VT Height: 5’6”

#4

third line Andie Anastos Freshman Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI Height: 5’8”

#23

Haley Mclean Freshman Hometown:Howell, MI Height: 5’1”

#22

Stephanie Lemieux Freshman Hometown: Sewickley, PA Height: 5’11”

#10

fourth line Erin Kickham Junior Hometown: Needham, MA Height: 5’5”

Meghan Grieves

#3

Sophomore Hometown: Cary, NC Height: 5’8”

#17

Julie Fish Freshman Hometown: Franklin, TN Height: 5’4”

#18

defensive pairings Meagan Mangene Senior Hometown: Miller Place, NY Height: 5’6”

Kaliya Johnson Sophomore Hometown: Chandler, AZ Height: 5’7”

#23 #3

Emily Pfalzer Junior Hometown:Getzville, NY Height: 5’2”

Lexi Bender Sophomore Hometown: Snohomish, WA Height: 5’8”

#22 #17

Emily Field Junior Hometown: Littleton, MA Height: 5’6”

Jackie Young Senior Hometown: Medford, MA Height: 5’7”

#10 #18

BC vs. Maine

Emily Fahey / heights Staff

The Eagles took an early 2-0 lead in the first period against Maine and didn’t let up from there, earning a 5-1 victory to kick off the season.

Sophomore forward Haley Skarupa led the way with two goals and an assist. Senior goalie Corrine Boyles allowed just one goal in the game.

game score

top performers

period 1 Boston College 2 Maine 0

period 2 Boston College 1 Maine 0

period 3 Boston College 2 Maine 1

final Boston College 5 Maine 1

haley skarupa

andie anastos

corinne boyles

2 Goals 1 Assist

1 Goal 1 Assist

1 Goal Allowed 18 Saves

8 THE HEIGHTS OCt. 10, 2013

hockey preview Feature

Ready for revenge After losing to undefeated Minnesota in the Frozen Four last season, the Alex Carpenter-less Eagles are excited to be back on the ice, steeped in talent, and are determined to earn a shot at redemption BY Connor mellas, heights editor

Dana Trivigno (8) Lexi Bender (21) Haley Skarupa (22)

Emily Field (15) Emily Pfalzer (14) Melissa Bizzari (4)

Corinne Boyles (29) Meagan Mangene (24) Taylor Wasylk (9)

W

hen a hocke y team prepares for the start of a season, a familiar recipe is usually followed. Practices are held, conditioning is endured, plays are learned, lines are formed, and team bonding is encouraged. This year, to facilitate the relationship-building process, the Boston College women’s hockey team added helpings of water, sunshine, barbeque sauce, and fresh apples.

“We had the whole team over for a day, and we hung out on the water and had some barbecue, and hung out and got to know each other,” said junior forward Emily Field.

“And then, we also went apple picking.”

So far, the extra ingredients seem to be working, because the Eagles are focused, excited to be out on the ice, and 1-0.

“This is the first year that I’ve wanted to be around the team all the time, and I think a lot of people feel that way,” Field said. “We all have fun together, and I think we have a very good sense of community on our team, and I think that says a lot about the leaders on the team.”

Coming off of a 27-7-3 season and a trip to the Frozen Four, the Eagles are seated near the top of most national preseason rankings and are rated neck and neck with Minnesota, the undefeated (41-0) national champions that ended their season last year. According to head coach Katie King Crowley, this BC team has even more talent than last season’s squad.

“I think our team overall, I think we’re deeper than we were last year,” Crowley said. “Offensively I think we have a lot of kids that can put pucks in the net. I think our goal scoring will probably be spread out a little more than it even was last year and we had a decent spread last year. I think our kids are ready to go.”

If the Eagles are going to be as successful as last season, depth will be key. In 2012-13, junior forward Alex Carpenter scored 32 goals and had 38 assists, a total that accounted for 70 of the Eagles’ 410 points. This season, Carpenter is off playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team in the Olympics.

“I think it’s really difficult obviously to replace 70-plus points, but I do think we can do it by committee a little bit and we’ll see kind of who steps up and wants to take the reins of having more points,” Crowley said. “And I think we have that in some of our younger freshmen forwards and obviously we have Skarupa and Fields and [Dana Trivigno] back, who I think can do big things.”

In the 2012-13 season, sophomore forward Haley Skarupa scored the second-most points on the team with 24 goals and 53 points. Field finished just behind her with 16 goals and 45 points, and Trivigno had 13 goals and 29 points.

Skarupa and Field are excited by the team’s outlook this season.

“I think our practices have been really sharp, I think the freshmen bring a lot of energy and [so do] the defense and forwards and everyone,” Skarupa said. “It’s going to be a very fun year. I’m excited.”

“I think right now we’re working together pretty well and you can start to see the lines coming together,” Field said.

Emily Fahey / Heights STaff

She then pointed out what she considers the team’s biggest strength.

“We’re pretty quick, I think. We’ve always been fast, but I think this year we’re four-lines fast, as opposed to just one or two lines, and including the defensemen as well.”

Some of the new additions to the offense will be freshmen forwards Steph Lemieux, daughter of NHL Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux; Kristyn Capizzano, captain of Canada’s Under-18 gold medal-winning team at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championships; and Haley McLean, scorer of the game-winning goal against Western University in the Eagles’ preseason game.

At the other end of the ice, defensive rock and senior goaltender Corinne Boyles said she feels confident about the squad.

“I think the team looks great,” Boyles said.

“Everybody is still getting to know each other, but I think the lines are starting to flow and you

see passes and connections being made that are great.

“I think our strength is our speed this year,” she said, echoing Field’s sentiments. “They’re kind of cracking down on the rules as far as how the game is played and there is not going to be as much clutch and grab, so our speed will certainly help us draw penalties and big opportunities from that.

And being fast is always an advantage.”

This past season, Boyles led the Hockey East with a 1.83 goals-against average (GAA) and a .927 save percentage. Her .804 win percentage was the fourth highest in the nation.

With some young defenders in the mix, a goaltender as experienced and talented as Boyles will be paramount for the Eagles.

“I think now the big difference is I’ve stopped worrying about the little stuff,” Boyles said. “Freshman year, everything was a concern, you wanted to make everyone happy and just do everything right

“I think it’s really difficult obviously to replace 70-plus points, but I do think we can do it by committee.”

- Katie King Crowley, women’s hockey head coach

Starting anew Forward Alex Carpenter was the Hockey East scoring champion as a sophomore last serason as well as a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award. She will not be with the Eagles for the 2013-14 season, as she joins for BC players Kelli Stack and Molly Schaus on the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Carpenter Rest of team

Points 70 371

Goals 18 127

Assists 17 222

Shots 51.3 1246

Carpenter made up a significant amount of the BC offense last year. Haley Skarupa, Taylor Wasylk, and Melissa Bizzari all stepped up in the opener against Maine, a 5-1 BC win, in her absence.

… But at this point it’s like a level of comfort where I know what I have to do, and that allows me to be that much more confident, and I certainly feel like my teammates have my back, which is huge.”

One of the players watching her back—and anchoring the blue line in front of her—is senior defenseman Meagan Mangene.

“Practices have been good with the defense, [assistant coach Courtney Kennedy] has been working us hard, and it’s just getting to know, especially with the freshmen, getting to know our style of play in the defensive zone,” Mangene said.

The Eagles play a difficult-to-master, manon-man defensive scheme, but Mangene said its upside is worth the learning curve.

“It’s a pretty hard style, but once you get it down it works,” she said.

In order for the system to work, Mangene said, “you have to hold each other accountable and trust each other.”

After their heartbreaking 3-2 overtime, seasonending, semi-final loss to Minnesota last season, the Eagles have high expectations for the 201314 campaign—and while they’re only one game into the season, Crowley’s girls have started on the right foot. BC dominated Maine on Sunday, beating the Black Bears 5-1 at home.

Two goals and an assist from Skarupa led the way as the Eagles forced Maine goaltender Meghann Treacy to make 39 saves, while limiting Boyle’s exposure to 19 shots faced.

BC’s other goals were freshman powered— Capizzano, McLean, and forward Andie Anastos each scored their first regular-season goal for the Eagles.

Now, BC will look to keep the momentum rolling.

“We’ve had some pretty successful years in the past, but I know from talking with our kids and talking about their goals we want to come in first in Hockey East. That’s something that we’ve never done before so that’s kind of, I think, a big goal for us,” Crawley said.

“And then after that, you know obviously the Hockey East Championship and our ultimate goal is to get back to that Frozen Four and to win a National Championship,” Crowley continued.

“That’s something that’s on our plate and we’re hoping to get back there, but we realize that it takes baby steps to get there and we’re a long way away from that.”

For Boyles, the 2013-14 season means a final shot at a national title.

“The main goal has to be that national championship,” Boyles said. “We’ve come so close three years in a row.”

BC is a championship-caliber team filled with talent, chemistry, and energy. Yet despite these valuable qualities, there is an additional ingredient—other than barbecue and apples—that makes the Eagles especially dangerous: a burning need for redemption.

“We’re going to get revenge on Minnesota, BU, Northeastern,” Field said.

“We’re going to get revenge on everybody,” Boyles echoed.

“We’re going to get revenge on everyone,” Mangene confirmed.

Then, Fields sealed the deal with a promise.

“Watch out, we’re coming after you.” n

A2album review

panic! at the disco

The Heights

Thursday, January 17, 2013

darkness descends on the group’s latest album, page c5

album review

wiley’s follies

the former disney channel star grows up with a provocative new album that’s sure to turn heads, PAGE C5

the prophet kanye

the transfiguration of a producer-turned-rapper, page c4

‘bangerz’

N W O D T U H S E R U T POP CUL see shutdown, c3

MAGGIE BURDGE / Heights PHoto illustration

THE HEIGHTS

C2

KEELEY’S CORNER

Live long and prosper

Thursday, October 10, 2013

SCENE AND HEARD

BY: BRIDGET GALVIN

SEAN KEELEY “I hope I die before I get old,” sneers Roger Daltrey in a famous line from The Who’s classic “My Generation.” It’s an iconic moment in the song, perfectly summarizing the ’60s generation’s scornful rejection of their parents’ values.

At the same time, though, Daltrey’s lyrics contain repercussions extending far beyond his generation. Musicians have always harbored anxieties about growing old, stale, and tired. The conventional wisdom goes that artists produce their greatest work when young, and that after a certain point it’s all downhill. Perhaps this assumption is made for good reason—a look at The Who’s phoned-in 2010 Super Bowl halftime performance suggests why.

But in any case, the fear of aging lies just beneath the surface of all kinds of songs: think of The Beatles’ “When I’m 64,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Old Friends,” or Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days.”

Or, if you prefer, think of a New Zealander named Ella Maria Lani YelichO’Connor—or, as she is better known, Lorde. With the success of her chart-topping single “Royals” and the release of her acclaimed debut album Pure Heroine, Lorde has been the talk of the proverbial town, and with good reason. She’s a refreshingly unguarded celebrity who marches to the beat of her own drum.

She’s unafraid to knock Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift down a peg in interviews, or to turn down a tour offer from Katy Perry.

More importantly, her music displays obvious talent, as it stirs soul, electropop, and hip-hop influences into a stylistic mix that is popular enough to hit the charts but unique enough to resist easy classification. And Lorde’s lyrics offer far more insight than the he-loves-me/he-lovesme-not cliches of Swift and her contemporaries. She even cites literary figures like Raymond Carver and Tobias Wolff as inspirations for her writing—hardly typical influences for a burgeoning pop star.

Oh, and did I mention she’s 16 years old?

Lorde seems to have tapped into the youthful wellspring of musical invention rather early, but she’s already fearful of the future. While listening to Pure Heroine (a stellar album, by the way), one line uttered at the end of the track “Ribs” stuck out to me like a sore thumb: “It feels so scary getting old.”

Why on earth would a teenager be experiencing fears about aging? Perhaps it’s because such anxieties are built into the very fabric of pop music, an industry always on the hunt for the newest young talent, the Next Big Thing. But it seems to me that this blind preference toward youth, and the assumption that artists peak young, ignores the virtues of artists with deeper roots.

Last December, I got a glimpse of this for myself when I saw Leonard Cohen’s concert at the Wang Theater in Boston.

Cohen released his first album in 1967 and is currently 79 years old, but the man I saw was no aged relic. From the instant that he ran on stage and dropped on his knees to sing “Dance Me to the End of Love” in his unmistakable baritone, Cohen had the entire crowd energized. He played for three hours, reshaping old classics with the help of his dedicated band and working in new material from his 2012 album Old Ideas. Many of Cohen’s songs explore deep, dark currents of human experience, including aging (“My friends are gone and my hair is grey / I ache in the places where I used to play,” he sings on “Tower of Song”). Quite simply, these are songs that Cohen couldn’t have written as a younger man—they are graced with a wisdom and maturity only available to the aged. Far from being gloomy, though, Cohen’s performance was carefree and charming. As he exchanged witty banter with the audience and bowed deferentially to every outburst of applause, Cohen was the embodiment of gratitude, a man thankful to be reflecting on his long life and career with a supportive crowd.

Cohen is far from the only artist to explore fruitful new avenues in his later years. Johnny Cash could not have recorded “Hurt” in the ’60s without the years of drug abuse and regret evident in the 2002 recording. The Bob Dylan of “Blowin’ in the Wind” could never have written his 1997 album Time Out Of Mind, a swampy blues masterpiece about lost love and mortality.

So, Lorde, heed some friendly advice: first of all, you are 16. It might be a little early to be having an existential crisis about aging. And second, don’t fear the wrinkles. Getting old may be scary, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing—you can live long and still prosper.

Sean Keeley is the Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

2. JENNERS SEPARATE

1. ‘SNL’ SHOW STOPPER

In honor of the turmoil of the government shutdown, who would be better on Saturday Night Live then Miley Cyrus?

Besides performing “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop,” and talking to her old self, she also appeared in a parody of the government shutdown. In the persona of Michele Bachmann (with Taram Killam’s body rolling in tight, white pants as John Boehner), she sang about the government. Featuring gyrating and dancing elephants, “We Did Stop” was a huge hit.

It is now official: Kris Jenner and Bruce Jenner have finally separated. After watching them continuously fight and bicker on live television and with Kim sticking around with baby North, the Jenners have finally called it quits after 22 years of marriage. “We are living separately and we are much happier this way,” they told E! News. Bruce and Kris had Kendall and Kylie together and each have four children from their separate marriages.

4. MCCARTNEY MAGIC

Tuesday night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Paul McCartney came to visit. He is releasing a new album called New, so of course, there was a skit. After accidently bumping into each other they switch accents. With much hilarity, Jimmy pronounced “twerking,” “Honey Boo-Boo,” and other nonsensical worlds while Paul made his best impression of Jimmy’s nasally voice until they “butt heads” and fix their voices. As always, Jimmy is able to create short, hilarious skits with his celebrity guests without taking it too far.

3. A FLIRTING FAILURE

5. A ‘GLEE’-LESS TRIBUTE

If you ever had trust issues about why not to give someone your number, this is one of them. One day at Starbucks, a barista named Brody was continuously flirting with model Piper Kennedy. When she finally give him her number, the next day he sent a 15-second video selfie of himself smoldering with Drake in the background. Piper sent it to friend DJ Ben Roc and spoofs started rolling in with the hashtag #starbucksdrakehand online.

Tonight, the Glee cast will finally say goodbye to Cory Montieth’s character Finn Hudson. In the trailer for the upcoming episode called “The Quarterback,” the cast remembers Montieth throughout the show. It begins with the kids creating a shrine for Finn’s death with clips of Rachel and Kurt crying. An emotional version of “Make You Feel My Love” is also in the background, making this the most depressing episode of the fall TV season.

@LORDEMUSIC (LORDE, MUSICIAN)

“WOW, NUMBER 3 RECORD IN AMERICA, IN EXCELLENT COMPANY! THIS IS SO SPECIAL.” @NATHANFILLION (NATHAN FILLION, ACTOR, ‘SERENITY’) PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

Modern rappers like Danny Brown (above) and Kendrick Lamar embody hi- hop’s movement towards the realm of the theatrical.

The evolution of hip-hop freestyling DMITRY LARIONOV The evolution of freestyle as an improvisational art is married to the development of hip-hop as a genre. And while the purpose of this art has changed, its inspiration has not. Anybody that criticizes rappers today for delivering pre-written verses in an opportunity to flash their capacity for spontaneous wit is missing the point. Let’s go to the beginning.

In the early 1970s, the Jamaican community began to establish their signature dancehalls in the Bronx. These spaces quickly became a venue for the popular dub, soul, and funk grooves of the time—a place for the largely insulated urban community to engage in dance and drinks. It was also the birthplace of hip-hop as we know it today. “Toasting” was a common method used by DJs to interact with the audience—they would cut out the track and shout-out the club owner, highlight talented dancers, plug themselves or their booking agent, etc.

The technique was used to develop a relationship between the DJ and the audience, and was highly improvised based off of the energy of the night and the present crowd. With the invention of the turntable and the creation of “looping,” DJ-ing became too complicated to simultaneously “toast” and spin. A separate emcee was hired to “toast” the audience while the DJ spun and mixed the tracks, and so “rapping” was created

by a man (Coke la Rock) talking to a very different audience each night over a consistent, repetitive beat.

Take a look at early acts like Public Enemy or N.W.A. The hype was never about the lyrics with them, it was about the fact that they were speaking at all. The performance was carried by the energy of the dancehall and an entire community that these people were bringing into the mainstream. The songs spoke to so many people because of their unlikely existence.

Now, the emphasis is on the voice with which rappers speak. Think of Kendrick and Danny Brown—two up-and-comers whose work is at an almost-schizophrenic level of detail. The voices they use not only represent the dimensions of their psyche, but the many voices of the community that they grew up with. Hip-hop has moved, and continues to move, toward the theater.

Does Rick Ross actually hang out with tiger cubs? Does A$AP Rocky have his secretary pencil in a time to drink champagne in a gold bathtub filled with stacks of money, while two girls menage in the background? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that these displays of impossible opulence make the rappers inauthentic.

The aesthetic they choose to portray is an expression of the world they try to create through music. The product we buy is the performance—the music is only a component of that.

Kanye West—a man who has devoted his life to performance art—has brought

theater into his stage shows. When asked to phone in a show at some hotel in Atlantic City, Kanye decided to make a fully immersive experience. Through the use of surround sound and projections, costumes (straightjacket and a mask), and even props (falling snow), he supported the aesthetic of his album Cruel Summer with a multi-sensual reality.

West recently argued that “hip-hop is the new rock and roll.” I say it’s the new theater. Music may be the body, but the lifestyle is the lungs of the performance.

Whether that performance is to break racial stereotypes or to refashion the black American man as a “new god” or what not—freestyle today can be broken into its component words: free style. As rappers increasingly liberate themselves from the “thug” persona, as it becomes cool to like art and fashion and express sensitivity or remorse, we come into a “free style.”

So, when a rapper goes onto Hot 97 or Westwood or whatever medium, what should be judged is their ability to leverage their public persona, their personality, and what they represent for the community into a coherent framework. It’s not “give me some spontaneous thought,” but “show me your character—who you are and what you stand for—in 32 bars.”

Dmitry Larionov is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

“ME TO GUY IN SERENITY SHIRT- NICE SHIRT. GUY- HEY! YOU’RE IN THIS! I ALWAYS HOPED THIS WOULD HAPPEN! ME- KEEP HOPE ALIVE.” @BJNOVAK (B.J. NOVAK, ACTOR, ‘THE OFFICE’)

“INSTAGRAM VIDEO: THE BEST APP FOR MAKING YOU THINK THERE IS A GHOST IN YOUR PHONE”

@AZIZANSARI (AZIZ ANSARI, COMEDIAN, ‘PARKS AND RECREATION’)

“LOVED GRAVITY BUT DISAPPOINTED I DIDN’T EVEN GET TO AUDITION FOR THE ROLE OF THE GOOFY INDIAN ASTRONAUT. #MYWHEELHOUSE (CC @ ALFONSOCUARON)”

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

THE HEIGHTS

C3

POP CULTURE Spending Cuts

BY: SEAN KEELEY ARTS & REVIEW EDITOR, ARIANA IGNERI ASSOC. ARTS & REVIEW EDITOR, AND JOHN WILEY ASST. ARTS & REVIEW EDITOR With the showdown over Obamacare in Washington turning into a prolonged government shutdown, the country is tightening its financial belt: furloughing employees and suspending non-essential services in its attempts to deal with absent funding. This week, in the delusional spirit of our current Congress, The Scene chooses the celebrities, publications, and trends we would like to cut from our national pop culture. It’s an ideological battle we can’t win, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try. Welcome to the Pop Culture Shutdown.

Furloughed Employees JAMES CAMERON Admittedly, James Cameron hasn’t been a very visible presence on the pop culture scene since 2009, when Avatar destroyed box office records by remaking Dances with Wolves with digital blue aliens. But that’s because he is busy toiling away and squandering money on three, yes three, new Avatar sequels set to take over our screens beginning in 2016.

Cameron has undeniable talent as a filmmaker, but he’s beginning to suffer from the George Lucas syndrome, pouring obscene amounts of money and effort into a single blockbuster franchise at the expense of other projects. Is anyone really excited about the prospect of three Avatar sequels? Despite its massive financial success, the movie hasn’t left a lasting mark on pop culture, and I’ve never met anyone who feels passionately about it. But Cameron still thinks he’s king of the world, and in a Hollywood where bigger is always better, he’s allowed to go on acting like it.

It’s time to lay him off and have him re-consider his career choices. –S.K.

JUSTIN BIEBER Ever since Justin Bieber was launched from YouTube obscurity to international fame in the late 2000s, not a week has passed without the Canadian singer making some sort of headline. He’s taken the pop scene by storm, with his essentially DIY success story, but it seems like somewhere in between releasing his innocent debut single “One Time” and having his pet capuchin monkey confiscated in Germany this March, Bieber lost his way. Last year Forbes named him the third most powerful celebrity in the world—there’s no denying Bieber’s achievements. And honestly, why not commend them? The 19-year-old is pretty talented. The problem with Bieber, though, is how he’s dealt with his quickly acquired star status. His drug charges, paparazzi altercations, and reckless behavior accusations have nearly eclipsed any serious attention given to his music, which has become an unwieldy issue in and of itself—10 new songs in 10 weeks? That’s just way too much Biebs. –A.I.

JAY Z He’s got 99 problems, and, God help him, they all somehow ended up on his most recent album Magna Carta Holy Grail. If Mr. Jay Z does indeed run this town, why did he turn to a massive corporation like Samsung to sell the record? Few could deny Jay Z his place among the most influential rappers of all time. His career has endured for decades, and in hip-hop, his net worth is second only to Diddy.

But he is not young forever. If his heavily domesticated, Church cookout-friendly contribution to Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie” wasn’t enough of an indicator, his recent lyrical condemnations of hashtags, Instagram, and retweets confirms it—Jay Z is such a dad. By all means, Mr. Carter, treat yo’ self: buy some ill-fitting sweaters, grow a mustache of distinction, get a little freaky with the History Channel—you earned it. This 43year-old rapper needs a season off to get his dad on, and his music off the radio long enough to recollect himself. – J.W.

Non-Essential Services MTV Once upon a time (read: the 1980s), the channel known as Music Television lived up to its name, pioneering the art of the music video and broadcasting concerts and music documentaries. Fast forward to the 2000s, though, and MTV became a promulgator of lowest-common-denominator reality shows that cater to our culture’s worst instincts. The channel that once served as a springboard for genuine talent came to lionize the likes of Snooki, Paris Hilton, and the spoiled brats featured in My Super Sweet 16, none of whom would have had any claim to fame if MTV hadn’t given them a national spotlight to indulge their bad behavior. I’m told there’s a perverse pleasure in watching dumb, shallow, rich people make fools of themselves, but when such antics take attention away from genuinely talented artists, we have a problem.

Of course, the prospect of MTV going away is about as likely as Obamacare’s repeal—it’s just not gonna happen. –S.K.

PEREZHILTON.COM With his infamously successful blog, Perez Hilton has situated himself at the forefront of celebrity gossip coverage.

He’s a self-made icon, an outsider who squeezed into the entertainment scene by relying on the shock value of a shameless angle. Dramatic and sensational, his style has both attracted readers and been criticized for its biases, creating him as many enemies as it has fans and placing him at the center of numerous lawsuits and feuds, including those with Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga. Posting scandalous photos and stories, Hilton’s website seems to be less of a reliable media outlet and more of personal tool used to instigate trouble. Hilton has proclaimed himself to be “The Queen of All Media,” unapologetically tracking stars for more than a decade now, but it may be time the pop culture world took back their kingdom and kicked him off his royal throne. After all, how much power should be granted to someone who bases his alter-ego name off celebutante Paris Hilton’s?

The answer: much less. –A.I.

ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE It doesn’t take a horticulturist to notice Rolling Stone has gathered an awful lot of moss. I have nothing but respect for your 24-year in-house film critic Peter Travers’ sweet Mr. Rogers persona, but please, don’t pretend he’s still doing his job. The poor bloke appears to be scared witless each month when you roll him in front of the camera for his “At The Movies” webcast—like he just woke up from a 30-day nap with only enough time to read the IMDb summaries for the movies he was supposed to be reviewing. Also, I have no problem with a publication willing to create controversy, but your recent cover of Boston bomber Dzhokhar Ysarnaev seemed to be more a business ploy than a journalistic statement—a cheap, surface effort in saving your ever-declining print edition. Rolling Stone is a household name, the most prolific publication in music over the past 46 years—this has been your privilege, not your right. –J.W.

SUPERHERO MOVIES

In 2013, perhaps it’s time to acknowledge that the superhero thing is getting a little old. Summer 2012 may have been the peak of superhero movie fever, with Christopher Nolan capping off his Dark Knight trilogy and Joss Whedon bringing together the Avengers, not to mention a Spider-Man reboot. But no, there’s more on the way. Get ready for Batman vs. Superman, where Ben Affleck follows his Best Picture victory for Argo by donning a Batsuit! And Guardians of the Galaxy, featuring Bradley Cooper as a genetically engineered raccoon! (Yes, really.) And—wait for it—the much-anticipated Ant-Man! The studios are clearly scraping the bottom of the barrel in an attempt to resurrect old comic book properties. What’s worse is how Hollywood’s most talented stars get sucked into the whole machine. Fans grew giddy in September when it was rumored (falsely) that Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston might play Lex Luthor in as many as six Superman movies. He’d do a fine job, but do we really want one of our finest character actors tied down as a comic book villain for the next decade? I know I don’t. If Hollywood cut down the number of superhero flicks and directed some of that money and star power elsewhere, we would have a much more balanced pop culture budget. –S.K.

TALENT SHOW COMPETITONS Competition is healthy. Like everything, though, it’s only good in moderation—in balanced doses— and the rising trend of talent competition shows is everything but that. When American Idol aired in 2002, it topped television ratings for six consecutive years, sparking a rampant increase in similar reality programming. The country was captivated by this new idea that gave them the power to help chose the next biggest names in the music industry. Capitalizing on this fad, producers in the U.S., as well as those abroad, created programs like The X Factor and, most recently, The Voice. Competition shows based on other skills, such as dance, fashion, and cooking, have also become immensely popular during the last 10 years. America’s Best Dance Crew, Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent, America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, and Top Chef are just a few. The list is exhausting. As a culture, we’ve become obsessed with pitting talent against talent for a cheap hour or so of trite entertainment value. Our reality has never been more fake, however—because, contrary to the programming on television, not everything in life is a contest. – A.I.

THE BOY BAND One thing—the “Boy Band” should have been effectively retired in 2002 with the dissolution of ‘N Sync.

Had the entire world agreed upon this, perhaps we would have fond memories still of a silly era when we forwent intelligent music in lieu of turning to concrete hairdos and computer-sweetened harmonies. Boy bands, the one thing that should make you beautiful is the depth of music, not little things like silly boy band marketing. Acts like you are burning up. While boy bands might still be around in the year 3000, when you look me in the eyes, you can’t tell me any one band in this genre is at all artistically sustainable. Just look at the Backstreet Boys—the transition from boy band to man band has hairied their chests and starved their music. In October of 2001, they released The Hits: Chapter One. Twelve years later, we’re still waiting on chapter two—which is expected since they broke up in ... wait, they never broke up? Well, that’s wildly uncomfortable. Sorry Backstreet Boys. Anything to keep Nick Carter off the streets, I suppose. When the boys turn to men, perhaps it’s time for some new kids on the block. And let’s rid ourselves of the nonsense, and call “boy bands”—and “girl bands”—what they historically have been called: “bands.” Just bands. –J.W.

THE HEIGHTS

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

WILEY’S FOLLIES

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK BY DMITRY LARIONOV

Banks shows us ‘What it Feels Like’ in new video TITLE: “This is What it Feels Like” ARTIST: Banks DIRECTED BY: Ellis Bahl WHY: With her new music video, the singersongwriter delivers a sensual and moody performance

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Banks, with her new music video for “This is What it Feels Like,” builds upon the black and white aesthetic she’s developed throughout her career. Shot largely in a dark grey color scheme courtesy of director Ellis Bahl, the music video finds her twisting through a bare room under a storm. Banks grabs at the air as if to slow the vertigo of her mind, while the sheets beat ghoulishly against the bed and objects animate themselves around her.

Whereas The Weeknd’s music deals with the desolation of a post-sex hangover, Banks brings us into the moment with her as it’s happening. And yet, the visuals suggest that very little of her is actually present. She finds loneliness in the intimacy of human experience and discontent in the domestic sphere to which she is confined. The room begins to spin as the music reaches a crescendo. Banks’ movements become even more exaggerated in ecstasy. At this point, the visuals are at their most desolate and most striking.

And still, I want to marry her. I love you, Banks. I love you so badly. 

FASHION FORWARD

Keeping yourself on your toes Pointe shoes exemplify the fashion-functionality dilemma

THERESE TULLY It has been a rough week for my feet. After 14 years of ballet training, it is hard for me to admit this. My toes have been calloused, bruised, broken, and bleeding on more than one occasion. Nails have fallen out, and feet have held the impression of the ghastly, beautiful pointe shoe for hours after my final curtsey during reverence. It took years of work and proving of myself and my strength to earn those coveted pointe shoes, as all young ballerinas know. I will always remember heading to In the Spotlight, my favorite dance store, and getting fitted for my pair. They were Bloch’s, size and style: 4B Sonata with a 3/4 shank. They instantly crushed my feet, but I never wanted to take them off. I pranced around the store with my class of other young ballerinas, and Mrs. Del Guercio, who had been teaching me ballet since I was four years old. She hugged me, and I knew I could withstand this particular pain in my feet forever.

Although I have saved every pair of pointe shoes that I ever loved, wore in, and ultimately gave out on me during their slow and painful death, I have taken a break from dance during my time at Boston College, after finding that my schedule quickly filled up, and that ballet would have to be a passion I returned to whenever possible. Although my feet have been relinquished from their pointe shoe captors, they have hardly found any relief. I continue to torture them, and no matter how badly I blister, I can’t stop.

Two new pairs of flats brought blisters in minutes this fall, and I spent the rest of those days in a semi-paralyzed state. I limped from building to building, knowing that the beauty of the shoes was clearly worth it, and would hopefully distract from my shuffling steps. The pain was very real, and I couldn’t think of anything other than exactly how long it would be and exactly how far I would have to walk until I could free my toes from their pretty prisons. On a separate occasion this fall, I pulled out a pair of black patent oxford flats from my closet, found that they would perfectly compliment my outfit, and then wondered why I rarely wear them.

When I was about four steps out of my dorm, I remembered why. My feet were screaming in pain, but I was running behind schedule (which seems to be an all-too-common theme this semester), and there was no time to turn back. My fate was sealed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Then, there is a great pair of maroon heels that sit taunting me in my closet. They push my arches to unheard-of extremes. The pain: instant. The shoes: fabulous. When I submitted to them this weekend, I am ashamed to say, I showed my true weakness. I knew that all of my ballerina teachers of the past would be ashamed of my lack of effort as I briefly walked down Comm. Ave., heels in hand. During the recuperation period, my feet longed for the comfort of my worn-in Tom’s every day, but I rarely gave in to their cries.

How far are we willing to go for fashion? When does the pain of a great shoe outweigh its inherent beauty? I find myself wondering this every time I strap on a particularly fabulous but deadly pair of heels, or a great headband that will inevitably give me an instantaneous headache, or that great sweater that is also incredibly itchy. These are all things I own, and continually put on my body, willingly. Am I sick? Or just passionate? Where do we draw the line?

Whenever I want to submit to the call of my yoga pants, my oversized sweatshirts, my sneakers, and my loose messy buns, I think back to ballet class—the leotards and tights topped off by the most perfectly destroyed pointe shoes laced tightly around my ankles, soles blackened, the satin of the toe box fraying and ripping off, revealing the layers of construction beneath. I think back to things called “Ouch Pouches” and boxes of soft lambswool meant to cushion my toes, even just a bit, from the shiny hardwood floors beneath. No amount of padding or protection helped to ease my aching feet, but as I looked in the mirror of the small dance studio, I knew that the pointe shoes were doing something beautiful, that they had a magic all their own.

I ache to have ballet back in my life, but for now I can suffer the tortures of a pair of too-tight ballet flats, a chafing ankle strap, and a pointy toe that squishes my toes in a far too familiar way.

I can submit to these pains, these bruises, and these blisters, because I know that they are a work of art—that they are something beautiful. And if nothing else, they will keep me on my toes.

Therese Tully is a senior staff columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at arts@ bcheights.com.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

Pointe shoes cause both excruciating pain and graceful beauty, embodying a fundamental dilemma: how far are we willing to go for the sake of fashion?

THIS WEEKEND in arts

BY: ARIANA IGNERI | ASSOCIATE ARTS & REVIEW EDITOR

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

1. TRIDENT BOOKSELLERS & CAFE (FRIDAY, 10/11 8:30 P.M.)

3. WATCH-A-THON CULT CLASSIC MARATHON (SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 10/12 & 10/13 12 P.M.)

5. JOHN SINGER SARGENT WATERCOLORS (OPENING)

The Boston College English Association is hosting an evening of trivia, food, and literary conversation at the Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Newbury Street.

A group of students will be leaving campus at 7:45 p.m. from the main gate bus stop. All are welcome.

For more information, contact bcenglishassn@ gmail.com.

2. AMY SILLMAN: ONE LUMP OR TWO (ONGOING)

A prestigious modern artist, Amy Sillman is presenting a 90-piece collection at the Institute of Contemporary Art. The exhibit, titled One Lump Or Two, tracks her stylistic development, which evolved from drawing to painting to moving images and from figuration to abstraction. Admission to the ICA is free with a student ID.

The Brattle Theater in Cambridge is presenting a weekend-long, movie-marathon fundraising event from noon until midnight. Six different films will be screened each day, including Beetlejuice and The War of the Worlds among many others. All-day student passes are $30.

The MFA is showcasing a display of works by painter John Singer Sargent that is as daring and experimental as it is brilliant. Produced at the peak of his career (from 1902 to 1911), his featured watercolors depict landscape, labor, and leisure scenes. Museum admission is free with a BC ID.

4. THE NAKED AND FAMOUS CONCERT (SATURDAY, 10/12 6 P.M.)

An alternative-rock band from New Zealand, The Naked and Famous will be playing a show at the Boston House of Blues to promote the release of their latest record, In Rolling Waves. General admission tickets can be purchased online for $25.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

West of Nazareth

JOHN WILEY John Legend, Big Sean, Lupe Fiasco, and now Pusha T—through Kanye all things were made.

“He’s a jackass,” President Barack Obama said.

“Kanye West is a child of social networking and hip-hop,” Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground said.

“He called me a racist,” former President George Bush said, “and I didn’t appreciate it then. I don’t appreciate it now.”

West is an interrupter—at award shows and elsewhere. To an ungodly degree, this man has tortured and sabotaged his own career, continually attempting to make himself unintelligible to the masses. He’s our self-declared “Socrates,” this mysterious, offending character, redefining inappropriate—saying that he himself is Christ the King—the new god of the Old Testament, laying waste to own his creation, so to renew it.

How did the college dropout—turned sound engineer, turned producer, turned rapper, turned media icon, turned controversy, turned anti-celebrity, turned father—move from “Jesus Walks” to “I Am A God?” For Kanye so-loved rap music, he changed it entirely.

West is a self-proclaimed “architect” and “world–builder,” a son of Chicago and the civil rights movement, his father a former Black Panther and his mother an English professor. “At the tender age of six she was arrested for the sit in,” raps Kanye of his mother Donda West. “With that in my blood, I was born to be different.”

In the beginning was the man. Kanye started producing at age 18 for little-known Chicago rapper Grav on Down To Earth.

At age 20, he dropped out of Chicago State University to further pursue this career in music, struggling to establish himself through these smaller, local projects—until 2000, when West made his first break, landing a job as producer with Rock-A-Fella Records.

Through Rock-A-Fella, West proved his hand steady as the genius behind the drafting of Jay-Z’s 2001 record The Blueprint. The 24-year-old Chicago native’s work with the Brooklyn hip-hop magnate stands as a first miracle in what would prove an extensive hip-hop ministry.

Conflating the cool of Jay-Z drug-dealerturned-rap-mogul persona with a bubbly hook sampling The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” The Blueprint’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A)” broke in at No. 8 on the Billboard charts. West was the author of this new sound, this radical departure from the canned beats of conventional rap saturating record shelfs at the time.

West’s early innovation was in breaking the insularity of a genre, infusing the grandiosity of Motown into the mainstream, seeing to the expansions of hip-hop’s horizons.

Kanye’s emergence as a rapper was seemingly by act of God. Falling asleep at the wheel of his Lexus driving home from a marathon studio session, the producer almost literally worked himself to death in October of 2002. From his hospital bed, he wrote “Through the Wire,” three weeks later recording the single with his jaw still wired shut from injury—this miraculous story thrusted West into the national radar, and bubble wrapped his first record, The College Dropout, with studio approval.

“If I talk about God my record won’t get played,” raps West in “Jesus Walks,” the third single off Dropout ironically played around the country, peaking at No. 11 on the Hot 100.

It was a long road out of Eden for West, who seemingly had a divine hand directly in his superstardom. Days after the release of his second album, Late Registration, West stirred a nation in September of 2005, declaring in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” And in 2009, West made national headlines again after interrupting pop singer Taylor Swift as she received her first VMA. Controversy laid waste to West’s record sales. In 2010, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy—which has received the most critical acclaim of his work—sold less than each of his four albums before it.

Of course, the irony of West’s “decline” was he was outselling near everyone as it was happening. During this period, the Chicago rapper was supernova, energized by implosion.

Why can’t West stay down? The more unlikable he comes across as a person, the more irresistible he grows as an icon.

The Kanye West DNA is that of a producer—he just happened to be one of the best rappers of a generation. In 2013, West is outshining his mentor Jay-Z, but not because of his work as a rapper. He’s produced three of the year’s most important hip-hop albums: his album Yeezus, John Legend’s Love in the Future, and now Pusha T’s My Name is My Name—the only one he wasn’t executive producer on was his own.

His place and position in history is that he will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade. He will be the loudest voice— or so this is what he says about himself.

If you bother to believe him, maybe the god claim isn’t too far off either.

John Wiley is the Asst. Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

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Disco goes dark with electronic aesthetic on new album

BY LUIZA JUSTUS Heights Staff Panic! at the Disco took the world by storm in the mid-2000s with their unique, pop-punk repertoire which had just enough tones of emo to match the era. Known for their exceedingly wordy song titles and teen-angst vibe, the band has just released their fourth album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, almost 10 years after the band’s inception.

The new album is definitely a jump from their older material.

It sounds a lot more brooding and introspective, the songs are slower and have a sinister aesthetic that ties in very well to the lyrics, which are ominous but still romantic.

The first single released from this album was “Miss Jackson,” an upbeat anthem very reminiscent of the band’s older style.

The influences drawn from Fall Out Boy are palpable in this tune, but when listening to the album as a whole, it almost feels out of place. The other songs carry a mysterious and darker mood, while “Miss Jackson” sounds optimistic and prompts you to sing along.

The album’s second single, “This is Gospel,” which was released a few weeks ago, pertains a bit more to the album’s general

tone. The heavily auto-tuned introduction serves a stylistic pur p ose, making the vo cals sound heavy and mechanical, and the arena-rock-style dramatic chorus makes the track feel epic and grandiose.

It is important to note that the style shift the band has gone through does not make it lose its essence in the least. Instead, it shows that they were able to grow and change just as the times did. They experiment with mixing different styles, which is exactly what makes music interesting in the first place. In their new album, Panic! At the Disco has an ’80s synth pop influence mixed with the millennial rock they have always been known for.

The heavier tone of this album goes to show that the band does well in showing growth and that they are not afraid of change.

The most notable track in the album has to be “Casual Affair.” Placed near the end, the song starts with an electronics ounding intro duc tion that mixes distorted guitars, a violin, and synthesizers. The slightly s y ncop ate d rhy thm i s a bit reminiscent of a dubstep-style progression, which adds to the unconventional yet ultimately pleasant style of the song. Although it is not an upbeat tune, it matches perfectly with the

CHART TOPPERS TOP SINGLES

1 Royals Lorde 2 Roar Katy Perry 3 Wrecking Ball Miley Cyrus 4 Wake Me Up Avicii 5 Hold On, We’re Going Home Drake 6 The Fox Ylvis 7 Holy Grail Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake

TOO WEIRD TO LIVE, TOO RARE TO DIE! PANIC! AT THE DISCO PRODUCED BY DECAYDANCE RELEASED OCT. 8, 2013 OUR RATING B+

PHOTO COURTESY OF DECAYDANCE RECORDS

‘Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!’ is Panic! at the Disco’s intelligent reemergence into the alternative scene.

TOP ALBUMS

band’s new aesthetic.

The lyrics in the songs all relate to each other in one way or another, drawing commonly from themes of love and death, separately or together, for example in “Girls/ Girls/Boys” or in “Far Too Young to Die.” The use of the ideas of love and death suggests a discussion of life’s absolute extremes—the best and the worst, which are so often tied together.

1 The 20/20 Experience: Part 2 of 2 Justin Timberlake 2 Nothing Was the Same Drake 3 Pure Heroine Lorde 4 Crash My Party Luke Bryan 5 Redneck Crazy’s Tyler Farr

Even though it is not an upbeat album that prompts you to sing along, the band explores new horizons with their latest material. One or two songs may seem out of place because of the brooding and serious aesthetic of the others, but in general they are successfully able to integrate several different styles into their music, and for that the audience will be grateful. The

album’s concluding song “The End of All Things” is the most melancholic of them all, which is ironic because it is absolutely a love song. It sounds sad, but the lyrics indicate a love so strong it can surpass anything, a love that is so complete that the person could die and that would be fine.

The final line fits in perfectly with the whole album: “Lay us down, we’re in love.” 

Source: Billboard.com

Cyrus gets serious with ‘Bangerz,’ shedding Disney Channel image

BY JENN SUH

For The Heights Ever since Disney Channel aired its last episode of Hannah Montana back in 2011, Miley Cyrus has been slowly but surely trying to shed off the bubbly, in-

nocent image of her TV character. America may still be getting used to her new Pilates body, buzz cut, and wardrobe, but one thing is for certain with her new album, Bangerz: the old Miley is not coming back.

Based on her previous albums,

Breakout (2008) and Can’t Be Tamed (2010), Miley indisputably belonged to the pop genre. Her hit singles—“Party in the U.S.A.,” “7 Things,” “See You Again,” and “Can’t Be Tamed”—had the usual beats and choruses of pop songs.

Bangerz, however, falls into a dif-

BANGERZ MILEY CYRUS PRODUCED BY RCA RELEASED OCTOBER 4, 2013 OUR RATING A-

PHOTO COURTESY OF RCA

‘Bangerz’ is far from Montana, an evolved record deviating wildly from Miley Cyrus’ previous musical endeavors.

ferent category that is a combination of pop, country, hip-hop, R&B, and Motown. This new genre Miley has created is odd and different, and this description may be exactly what she wants people to think of when they listen to her album. Miley wants to be different, and she’s not holding back.

While Bangerz is glazed overall with the young and carefree attitude that Miley has always portrayed throughout her career, the album is a complete break from her days performing as Hannah Montana on her Best of Both Worlds Tour. Her new songs are bound to shock, confuse, and entertain America, and best of all, they’re catchy.

With “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop” at No. 3 and No. 7 on iTunes Top Songs, be prepared to listen to much more of Miley Cyrus on the radio for the next several months.

The first track, “Adore You,” is a relatively calmer song compared to the rest of the album and contains more of Miley’s music style from her previous albums.

As she sings, “When you say you love me / Know I love you

more / When you say you need me / Know I need you more / Boy, I adore you,” it is clear that Miley’s voice has grown into a more mature sound with more fullness and depth. Even the haters can’t deny that Miley has a solid singing voice without the teenage, nasally voice that once overwhelmed her songs.

The first track deceives, however, for the mood quickly transitions into a jumble of slurred words, quasi-rap, angry lyrics, and f-bombs that are almost too much to take in, as most likely no one expected such a sudden change in Miley ’s work . Only Miley herself can explain who or what influenced her to include these new elements uncharacteristic of her previous work into Bangerz, but one thing is clear—Miley is good-girl-gone-bad. “Love Money Party (feat. Big Sean)” and “Do My Thang” epitomize these changes in her music, as she sings with her usual Southern accent, but there is a hint of Miley trying to have the voice of a rap or R&B singer as she sings “Bang bang, Imma shoot ‘em down baby.” The result is an interesting combination that

is neither southern nor rap nor R&B—it’s simply the new Miley.

Other artists who have also collaborated with Miley on her album are Britney Spears, Nelly, Future, French Montana, and Ludacris. “FU (feat. French Montana)” is one of the catchier songs filled with anger and bitterness that Miley feels toward Liam Hemsworth, her ex-boyfriend with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship. The beginning of the song is similar to that of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” as Miley’s voice enters the song at full speed. Fueled by emotion, Miley shows off her true vocal talents in this song as she reaches the high notes without nearly shouting like she once did.

Bangerz is proof that Miley has the potential to blossom into a new artist unassociated with Hannah Montana. She took a risk by drastically changing her style of music, but it was a risk that allowed her to showcase her diverse abilities as an artist.

While she may like to have a little too much fun twerking, Miley is a serious artist with a bright future ahead of her. 

Creative forces are unbarred in Cage the Elephant’s ‘Melophobia’

BY RYAN SCHMITZ Heights Staff When one thinks of where the best progressive alt-rock is coming from these days, the state of Kentucky is likely not first on the list. Cage the Elephant is the exception to the rule, putting out blistering new head-bobbing tracks on their new album, Melophobia. Drawing on the psychedelic music of the ’60s, Cage the Elephant went on a strange and exciting tangent on their latest record with an eclectic mix of sounds, employing all kinds of instruments that you rarely hear from a rock band and using sudden dramatic changes in their songs to keep the listener excited and interested.

Cage the Elephant is a major part of the growing movement of rock bands whose slogan has to be something to the effect of “bring back the blues!” Bands like The Black Keys, The Wild Feathers, and Cage the Elephant are all members, to some degree, of the new school classic-rock

genre, using old bluesy guitar riffs that sound like they could be found in an Eric Clapton or Led Zeppelin song. Anyone out there wondering “why they never make music like they used to” should definitely check out Melophobia.

It has enough Beatles, Byrds, and Led Zeppelin influence on it to leave everyone satisfied, and there is even some Warren Zevon, “Werewolves in London”style howling to be found.

The distorted vocals and strange sounds coming from the instruments bring up memories of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, giving the album an incredibly authentic “summer of love” feel to it—and if you listen carefully you can actually hear the words “strawberry fields” mentioned on the song “Hypocrite.”

Every track has a different experimental feel to it. Some start off a little more relaxed, while others explode immediately with eyeopening drum intros. Eventually, though, almost every song speeds up to take the listener on a serious

ride. In “Black Widow” the banging drums that kick it off immediately grab your attention.

Once the distorted guitar and strangely dark lyrics come into the picture there is no turning back—the band has you completely wrapped up in their wild and unpredictable sound.

The second to last song of the album, “Teeth,” is possibly the strangest of them all. It is a heavily distorted psychedelic message to the listener. In it the singer, Matthew Shultz, speaks to the audience, asking questions only to stop whatever they were going to answer with the command, “shut up and dance.” At the conclusion of the song is a vivid, Jim Morrison-like poem about the demands of the world. The entire song is dark, twisted, and unbelievably exciting. Then out of nowhere the poem ends and out comes the closing track of the album like the sun after an intense rainstorm. A soft acoustic guitar suddenly picks up and sets off the perfect answer to the songs that precede it. The song offers a

sort of redemption, and the lyrics make it sound like whoever wrote these songs, especially “Teeth,” is going to be alright.

This album is absolutely not for everybody. Shultz’s voice is not always easy to get used to—it has a similar sound to Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. There

are virtually no elements of pop to be found on Melophobia—it is a wild experimental ride with songs that are almost comical in how weird they can be. Really, this album is one giant call back to the ’60s-era psychedelic movement with some British invasion punk thrown in for good mea-

sure. No album is going to appeal to everybody, and while this one is certainly no exception, it is a great example of how really good music is still out there. Melophobia scores high marks for being different while still sounding like something you could hear on classic-rock radio. 

MELOPHOBIA CAGE THE ELEPHANT PRODUCED BY RCA RELEASED OCT. 8, 2013 OUR RATING A-

PHOTO COURTESY OF RCA

Kentucky alternative group Cage the Elephant unleashes its eclectic sound in its ambitious new record ‘Melophobia.’

SINGLE REVIEWS BY ALEXANDRA COYLE Amos Lee “The Man Who Wants You”

Justin Bieber “Heartbreaker” Beliebers fear not, Justin Bieber is back with another single. Moving farther away in style from his hits such as “Baby,” Beiber’s new single “Heartbreaker” focuses more on the singer’s vocals with limited instrumentals in the background. Bieber’s more mature approach pays off in this single and may have the ability to broaden his fan base.

Amos Lee’s new single features more instrumental backing than his prior albums, creating a soulful, rock sound. Electric bass, piano, and percussive drums accompany his sweet vocals and honest lyrics, producing a laid back feel that Lee is known for. This single’s ability to crossover multiple genres such as rock, folk, and country make it a worthwhile listen.

Lady Gaga “Aura” Lady Gaga remains enigmatic in this single.

Awkward laughter starts “Aura,” and Lady Gaga’s attempt to recreate her past hit seems to come up short. Gaga’s talent only comes out in the track’s choruses. The uncreative verses with lyrics on murder juxtaposed with vocally rich choruses create a disjointed single that probably won’t get airtime in the Mods.

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THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, October 10, 2013

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, October 10, 2013

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THIS WEEK IN...

BY TRICIA TIEDT | METRO EDITOR

EDUCATION

POLITICS SPORTS CUISINE

MBTA

MIT hosted its largest-ever hack-a-thon last weekend, bringing over 1,000 students to campus for 30 full hours of technological creativity and design. The event, officially titled HackMIT, included students from 250 universities around the world. Two student-run organizations, TechX and StartLabs, were responsible for its production. The $4,000 grand prize went to Lightboard, a program that allows users to draw 3D shapes on a computer screen with only the use of their smartphone flashlight. Second place was awarded to Images as Text, an extension app designed for Google Chrome capable of converting all the text in online images into words that can be copied, highlighted, and edited as normal text. MIT’s hack-a-thon holds serious weight in the innovation realm: over 3,000 applications were submitted within the event’s first four days of registration.

On Tuesday, both President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner released statements regarding unwillingness to budge on the issues causing the government shutdown. In a press briefing, Obama openly agreed to negotiations with the Republicans, as long as they first reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling to prevent a looming default.

“The only thing I will say is that we’re not going to pay a ransom for America paying its bills. That’s something that should be non-negotiable,” Obama said. Boehner soon responded to the president’s address Tuesday morning: “At times like this the American people expect their leaders to sit down and have a conversation. I want that conversation to occur now,” he said.

“What the president said today was if there’s unconditional surrender by Republicans, he’ll sit down and talk to us.”

Today marks day nine of the shutdown, with no apparent end in sight.

The MBTA has announced the winner of its map redesign competition, which launched in April.

Mikheil Kvrivishvili, an interactive and graphic designer from Moscow, submitted the winning map. Over 17,000 votes were cast among the top six designs, selected by MBTA officials. Kvrivishvili’s entry, titled ‘Map 1,’ received 6,000 of those votes alone. The New Perspectives MBTA Map Re-design Competition launched in April with the intention of rider participation—anyone interested was invited to send in their design of the T map. Kvrivishvili’s entry includes more information than the current map, marking all Green Line Stations as well as the Silver Line connections.

The design has also been deemed more aesthetically pleasing than the current map, using more vivid colors and an enlarged size to make the signage clearer.

The new maps will first be implemented in new Blue and Orange Line stations set to open within the next year.

The Red Sox are headed to the American League Championship Series after beating the Tampa B ay Rays Tuesday night. With a score of 3-1, the Sox won the fifth game of the Division series at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, Fla. They narrowly missed a sweep, losing Game 3, 5-4, to a walk-off homerun on Monday night. Game 1 of the ALCS will be Saturday at Fenway Park against either the Oakland Athletics or Detroit Tigers . That series is currently tied, 2-2, with Game 5 being played tonight in Oakland, Calif. “I don’t care who we play.

I know we’ll be ready,” said David Ortiz to The Boston Globe, after winning Game 4 on Tuesday. “I’ll tell you what, this team isn’t stopping.” This is the first appearance at the Red Sox will make at the America League Championship in five years.

USA Today has provided concrete proof of the far-reaching opinion that Boston’s seafood is the best nationwide. On Monday, the newspaper released the results of their Reader’s Choice Contest, naming the 10 Best Seafood Restaurants in America.

Legal Sea Foods, known as the top seafood chain in the country, took the No. 1 title of Best Seafood Restaurant in America. With over 30 restaurants on the East Coast, Legal Sea Foods has steadily become the leader in the New England seafood industry since its foundation in 1950. Its new flagship restaurant on the Boston waterfront, known as the Legal Harborside, was named Best New Restaurant by Esquire Magazine. Union Oyster House, Boston’s oldest restaurant and a widely known tourist spot, ranked No 7 on USA Today’s list. The only other New England restaurant in the reader’s top choice was Mabel’s Lobster Claw in Kennebunkport, Maine.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Grill 23 proves itself delight

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

B Y Z ACHARY C OHEN For The Heights

HOUSE AD

When one searches the Internet for Boston’s best steakhouse, Back Bay’s Grill 23 and Bar comes up on all of the major reviewer sites.

Since 1983, Grill 23 and Bar has been raising the bar for what people should expect from a high-end steakhouse. This venue’s atmosphere is what you would expect for a restaurant of this caliber—30-foot ceilings, multiple types of utensils already pre-set, mahogany wall panels, shiny hardwood floors. The list goes on and on.

This place represents the epitome of class.

There were a few disappointments in the evening unrelated to quality of the food, such as the fact that a guest wanted scallops and they ran out—no restaurant should run out of inventory at 6:52 p.m. on a Saturday night.

The bread selection was quite impressive.

They had everything from a hard, flat cracker to soft pumpernickel.

One way to judge a good steakhouse is to see if they serve good seafood and salads alongside their succulent beef. For appetizers, then, one may want to order oysters, calamari, or a chopped salad.

These oysters were easily the best I’ve experienced in Boston. They were plump, clean-tasting, and slid out of the shells with ease. In addition, they were served with two different vinegar-based sauces that added to the already incredible experience.

The calamari was also quite good. It was fried well and served with a tangy marinara that made for an interesting taste. The salad was delicious and flavorful, generously filled with tomatoes, eggs, chickpeas, lettuce, radishes, cucumber, celery, and onions. Grill 23 nailed both the seafood and salad requirements.

For the main course, the creme de la creme of steaks was served: Kobe beef. Put simply, it was the best dish of the evening. Served medium rare, it was juicy and cut like butter.

This tender creation was topped with pleasing

peppercorn seasoning. I highly recommend this dish to anyone who has a craving for red meat.

The other entree ordered was a crab cake dish. It was very tasty as well. Served with a creamy sauce and bitter, shredded red cabbage, this fluffy dish was a good seafood alternative.

For those who do not like steak but still want to accompany someone who does, this dish will definitely satisfy.

LOCATION: 161 BERKELEY STREET CUISINE: Steakhouse SIGNATURE DISH: 10 oz. Kobe Cap Steak ATMOSPHERE: 10/10 AVERAGE ENTREE: $40 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: A These entrees were served with macaroni and cheese and sauteed spinach. The macaroni and cheese had a creamy consistency and a sharp taste that made this dish one of a kind.

Served with tender ham cubes, this side was a must. The sauteed spinach was smothered in oil and had a nutty taste, so rather naturally these elements make for a worthy side dish.

To end the evening properly, one has to try the pumpkin mousse—an original fall dish that pleases anyone with a sweet tooth. The airy texture and accompanying chocolatecovered graham cracker crust make this light treat enjoyable.

Despite the lack of scallops, the crab cake and superior-quality steak made up for the dilemma ten-fold.

Though servers failed to bring some food as ordered without a reminder, this place deserves nothing but praise. The high quality of the food, the fine decor, and the generally pleasant staff all mixed to create a pleasant experience that everybody deserves. 

The Heights

C8

Bookish Bostonian

Looking for the unexpected Ryan Towey I was running around the Reservoir when something strange happened.

I was on the dirt pathway near the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum when I saw a flash of silver and green—the T had passed just behind the museum.

I almost stopped my run in misunderstanding.

I had, if I think about it now, always understood in a geographic sense that the T travelled by this part of the Reservoir, but I had never actually seen or heard the T pass in that particular spot.

There was something about this unexpected sight that was such a strange disruption to my daily run (read: run that I may or may not take every other day at best.)

In a way, I was almost mad at myself for not having seen this very obvious aspect of my surroundings before.

Of course, it is not entirely my fault.

Perhaps the T had never before been passing at the exact moment that I passed that specific spot on my run, in which case I would not even be able to see the rails that would otherwise denote the T’s path.

There is something consistently strange about this in life—the way that two essentially unremarkable events will or will not occur at precisely the same time. My life would have gone on just as well without ever having definitively realized that the T ran just behind the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum.

But if I had not noticed this unexpected sight, I may never have taken a closer look at the architecture of the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, which, though I may never enter it, looks quite a lot like the architecture of Trinity Church and deserves a second look.

If my mind had not been awakened to the architectural similarities between Trinity Church and the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, however, I would never have looked to educate myself and find out that Arthur H. Vinal, the designer of the High Service Building that would ultimately become the Waterworks Museum, had indeed been inspired by the architect of Trinity Church, Henry Hobson Richardson, for whom the architectural term Richardson Romanesque is named.

Could I have lived without this knowledge? Yes. Is there something about me that loves knowing this essentially irrelevant fact? Absolutely.

It seems that one irrelevant collision between myself and the unexpected sight of a T led me to a collision with an interesting fact that I would otherwise not have found.

And I suppose that this is a fitting place for me to admit another way in which I try to learn from random encounters—I like peering over other people’s shoulders to look at what they are reading. It’s only creepy if they catch you.

(At least that is what I tell myself when I awkwardly try to avoid eye contact with the latest victim of my nosiness.)

I feel, however, that my desire to look at what other people are reading is not only healthy and justifiable, but also a great compliment—what better way to show you that I care about you than to express an interest in what you are reading? (Perhaps by backing off and minding my own business, I know. But let’s ignore that.)

There are things to be learned from friends—books that they have left on the table from the random Boston bookstore that they visited that one day.

Pick it up, leaf through the pages, and see what you can learn before they return to the room and find you standing a bit too close to their desk.

There are things to be learned from strangers—newspaper articles that they are reading on a bus or train as they travel to work. Catch the lede as they rustle the paper, and, if it interests you, go buy your own copy and stop making the poor guy feel uncomfortable.

And there is, apparently, something to be learned while running around the Reservoir.

So long as you’re willing to be surprised.

Ryan Towey is the Asst. Metro Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Non-profit helps homeless artist to find his way Bridge Over Troubled Waters staff helps Shukry Juma, 22, to develop as an artist

By Ryan Towey Asst. Metro Editor

When Elyse Bush, A&S ’16, was exploring her PULSE placement at Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a Boston organization dedicated to high-risk and homeless youth, she encountered something unexpected.

“I was touring their main center, and one of the things that struck me was the artwork on the walls,” Bush said. “It was so elaborate and it showed that the person who did it was extremely talented and intelligent.”

Bush, who works for a branch of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) called the Student Programming Council (SPC), is in part responsible for planning the upcoming event BC Street, scheduled for Oct. 18. BC Street will be making its second appearance at Boston College, and strives to create an urban, Bostonian vibe on BC’s own campus. When she saw the artwork on the walls, Bush instantly thought of this event.

“I wanted to bring that type of artwork to

BC,” she said.

Bush inquired about the artwork to Jennifer Cale, the PULSE coordinator at Bridge and one of the organization’s GED instructors.

“My main role is working with Bridge kids who are in the GED program,” Cale said. “But I am throughout the building quite a bit, which is how I found Juma.”

Shukry Juma, who has been in Bridge’s Transitional Day Program for about a year, is the artist who crafted the works that Bush noticed on her tour.

Referred to primarily as “Juma,” the 22year-old could not be more thankful to all that Bridge has done for him—especially giving him the chance to practice his craft.

When Juma wakes up on any given morning, he goes right to Bridge’s location at 47 West St. near the Boston Common, where he said that staff members “appreciated” his art and helped him to realize that his artistic pursuits are worthwhile.

Bridge began its social work in the 1970s, and began offering a transitional living program

in 1982 to help young people build job skills and save money in the hopes of transitioning to a life of independence. Even with the addition of Bridge, a transitional living program was offered by only nine agencies in the country at the time. In 1996, Bridge began its Transitional Day Program, which was designed to be a safe haven for homeless youth on a daily basis.

“Come to Bridge,” Juma said of his daily life.

“Do what I got to do, clean up, get something to eat, meet with other artists.” Juma especially enjoys talking to other artists at Bridge—an opportunity he said he would not have otherwise. Bridge also provides him with his artistic materials, such as paint and brushes.

“I really do appreciate it,” he said. “They do a lot for me.”

Cale, who works on the fifth floor of Bridge’s building, discovered Juma’s artwork when she would trek down to the second floor, where Juma spends most of his time.

“His artwork has kind of always been on my radar because he does a lot of mural work for Bridge,” Cale said.

When Bush and Cale asked whether or not Juma would be interested in working on a backdrop for BC Street, he did not hesitate.

“It sounded fun,” Juma said, “with the paint-

brushes and the paint cans and just being able to go at it. Plus, being able to get my work out there and having people see it.”

Juma was given materials to begin work on the backdrop for BC Street on Tuesday. Though Juma will be paid to complete the backdrop, Bush said that she “didn’t really consider it him getting something from us,” but instead sees it as BC receiving something from Juma.

“It’s a great thing for BC to experience the artwork of someone who is really in the midst of a life that most of us can’t really compare to,” she said.

Juma’s work for BC is not his only significant pursuit, however.

As part of a team of young Bridge participants, Juma entered a mural contest run by the National Clearinghouse for Families and Youth this past March. Their sketch won the contest, and they are now working to convert it into a full-scale and portable mural.

The sketch depicts an individual scaling the side of a pyramid toward a fountain of colors at the top, a representation of the journey to overcome homelessness.

“I am influenced by people around me and their situations,” Juma said of inspiration for his artwork. “Just everywhere.” n

Photos Courtesy of Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Shukry Juma (left), who often spends his days at the Bridge Over Troubled Waters headquarters, contributed to a contest-winning mural sketch inspired by experiences with homelessness (right).

Menino and candidates respond to school bus strike Bus Strike, from C10 to class.

While the inconvenience factor is obvious, the effects of the strike could run deep.

Teachers and schools are doing their best to maintain normalcy in the classroom despite the disruption.

Mayoral candidates John R. Connolly, BC ’01, and Marty Walsh, BC ’09, both took the time to respond to the bus strike.

“It is shameful for the school bus drivers union to use our children as pawns in a political game,” said Connolly, a Boston city councilor, in a statement. “This is about safety first and foremost, and it is totally unacceptable that our children were put at risk this morning, not to mention the impact on thousands of parents who will miss work.”

Walsh, a state representative and former union official who has been defined throughout the race as an advocate for

workers, echoed this sentiment in a statement of his own.

“Kids and parents must come first. This is wrong,” Walsh said. “The bus drivers have put our children in harm’s way. This is an illegal action, causing a huge disruption, and I call on the bus drivers to return to work immediately.”

City councilor and mayoral candidate John R. Connolly voiced the fears of many in the community. “Missing even one day of school is a real problem for our children who face a daunting achievement gap,” he said.

Tests and after-school events have been rescheduled in response to the strike.

Despite the efforts of Menino and Boston Public Schools Superintendent John McDonough, the effects of the strike could be felt throughout the greater city community as well. Safety of the students was a primary concern. According to The Boston Herald, the overtime costs for the

Boston Police Department had already reached $40,000 by Tuesday evening. In addition, many students missed class and parents stayed home from work because of the strike.

The strike stemmed from a conflict between the drivers and the transportation contractor, Veolia Transportation. The company went to Federal Court Tuesday afternoon to seek legal action that would bring the strike to an end. According to Menino’s office, they will continue to peruse all legal action possible.

The Boston Herald reported that judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. said he cannot rule to force drivers onto their routes until seeing their response to their own union telling them to return to work.

The Boston Globe reported that the grievances of the workers “included changes in their health care plan, payroll problems, and new procedures by Veolia.”

Veolia took over the bussing contract this

year. Other problems cited were the refusal to bargain with the union from Veolia, refusal to recognize their union and its officers, and refusal to follow the grievance and arbitration process.

Even though there has been unrest between the company and the union since Veolia took over in July, the spark that seemed to ignite the protest was the firing of a very popular bus yard manager in Readville.

Although busses began rolling again Wednesday morning, city officials were not appeased. According to the Associated Press, the dispute which sparked the strike was not settled. Drivers only agreed to go back to work once negotiations with their parent bus company, Veoila Transportation, Inc., were in place to discuss employee grievances. Officials have asked parents to remain alert and available to transport their children, should a conflict arise again. n

Achvr application includes goals that are specific to BC Achvr, from C10 Achvr helps users to accomplish their goals by turning personal bucket lists into a social experience and a game. It lets users list the goals they have already accomplished as well as goals they have for the future. The app suggests new goals by listing the most popular goals for all users. It also encourages users to explore new places in their area by suggesting the most popular local goals. The goals are separated into 15 categories, including “Food & Drink,” “Locales” and “Careers & Education.” They can be as lofty as “Climb Mount Everest” and “Visit Australia” or as simple as “Learn to Play Piano” or “Try Sushi.”

As the start-up is based in Boston and the cofounder is a BC alum, the app features some personalized Boston missions, including “Tailgate before and after a Boston College football game” and “Go to Afternoon Tea at Taj Boston.”

The different goals are all given different numbers of points, ranging from 10 to 1,000.

The app currently contains more than 9,400 achievements that users can add to their list and check off. To help users make their goals a reality, Achvr has partnered with other websites such as Living Social and Expedia to connect users to special deals related to the goals they want to achieve, such as a coupon for a percentage off of a meal at a restaurant

that a user has put on their list.

Another way that Achvr inspires people to go after their goals is by making it a more social experience. The app connects users to their friends on the app through Facebook or email. When you add a goal to your list, you are able to see other friends who have added this goal to their list and you can see your friends who have already achieved that goal. You can look at the number of points that your friends have on a leaderboard and compete against them to get more points and accomplish more of your goals.

The app is launching into public beta this week, and the Boston-based company is celebrating this launch with a “#72in72” weekend

in which the creators and users will be tackling 72 achievements in 72 hours around the city of Boston. Achievements include going to bars around Boston such as Frost Ice Bar and the Sam Adams Brewery; quintessential Boston activities such as visiting the MFA, touring Old Ironsides, and taking a Boston Duck Tour; and unique events such as Aerial Yoga, playing a game of Quidditch, and attending a performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. All Achvr users are welcome to participate in the “#72in72” weekend, which contains a few BC-specific achievements, including the goal of going to Eagle’s Deli, getting a drink at Mary Ann’s, and playing tailgating games in the Mods n

Wedding dress sale and MFA exhibit among awareness events Awareness, from C10 made going toward people affected by breast cancer. Brides Against Breast Cancer even provides a layaway option if a wedding is farther in the future. A portion of the money will be donated toward programs offered to victims and their families at no cost: children’s programs, support groups, and exercise and nutrition classes. The rest will go toward family camps for families dealing with cancer, Cancer Education Series, and Ask the Doctor. The VIP sale will take place on Saturday, Oct. 12 and costs $35 for the bride and one guest (each additional guest costs $20), and the general admission sale opens up for business on the following day and costs $7.

The athletically inclined—or those who simply love to dance—can show their support for their cause by attending the Third Annual DanceFIT Party in Pink Zumba for a Cure

Event on Oct. 16 at the gym’s studio in Brookline. Women and men are encouraged to dress in pink and to participate in zumba, salsa, and merengue classes organized by DanceFIT and the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer and taught by local instructors. A portion of the proceeds will go toward research for the cure, and those interested can go to the DanceFIT website to register.

Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts celebrates the month of October every year by illuminating its building with pink lights in order to raise awareness for breast cancer, but this year it will also feature a special “Think Pink” exhibit which will delve into the history and meaning behind the color pink, including its association with baby girls and significance for breast cancer awareness. The display will also feature pieces created by Evelyn Lauder, the woman responsible for choosing pink as the color associated with the disease. While the

exhibit will be available all month, Michelle Finamore, the MFA’s curator of fashion arts, will give a one-hour talk on the exhibit on Oct. 17.

In the interest of advocating for prevention, the Anna Jacques Hospital is offering an event they are calling “Pamper You Pink!”

This will give women over 40 who have never had a mammogram or who haven’t had one in three years or more the chance to be rewarded for getting screened. Just for coming in to get checked, these women get complimentary massages, refreshments, and chocolates. The “Pamper You Pink!” services will be available at Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport Oct. 17 and 19, and at Amesbury Health Center in Amesbury on Oct. 18.

The Third Annual Superhero Party will take place in Linden Square, Wellesley on Oct. 19. The family-style event will offer Halloween crafts, airbrush tattoos, gift bags,

and activities, and all ticket profits will go to the Ellie Fund. A week later, “Halloween for Hope” provides a more grown-up costume party at The Place in Boston. The event will have costume contests and complimentary drink tickets, and will donate all of its proceeds to the Ellie Fund.

Aside from all of these events, many Boston venues provide month-long opportunities to support the fight against breast cancer. The Handle Bar, a gym in Southie, is offering “Pedal in Pink” spin classes throughout October and donating half of the class fees to the Ellie fund, as well as 20 percent of revenue they make off of special pink merchandise. Howl at the Moon, located in the Financial District, has declared a “Drink Pink” Month, and will sell 24-ounce pink drinks all month with a portion of the proceeds going to the cause, as well as a “Howl at the Boobies” t-shirt, the proceeds of which will go entirely toward charity. n

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, October 10, 2013

C9

Remy pleads not guilty after girlfriend’s murder

THE HEART OF THE CITY

Taking the chance to turn left

Son of Boston Red Sox announcer asks that media leave his family some privacy

BY SHANNON INGLESBY Heights Staff Jared Remy, the son of Boston Red Sox announcer Jerry Remy, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering his girlfriend in court this past Tuesday. Remy was accused of stabbing his girlfriend, Jennifer Martel, to death in August. The alleged murder took place just a day after he was released on no bail for domestically assaulting his girlfriend, and was witnessed by Remy’s five-year-old daughter.

Many witnesses claim they watched Remy repeatedly stab Martel on the patio of their home. Investigators have recorded that a neighbor tried to intervene in the attack and police found his clothes were soaked in blood. In court, prosecutors described the attack as brutal and determined, “Remy assaulted Martel in the kitchen, living room, on a stairway and then pinned her to the ground on the patio where he stabbed her

several times. Neighbors who tried to help Martel were driven back when Remy slashed at them.”

According to Martel’s mother, Patty Martel, Jennifer Martel was planning to leave that evening when she knew Remy was released after the charge of domestic assault.

“She was planning her escape,” Patty Martel said on Tuesday. “She went back into the house to get her stuff when he killed her.

And that’s why he killed her. Because she had called the cops on him.”

Remy pleaded not guilty to the charge.

“How dumb would I have to be? I loved her. I still love her,” he said to The Boston Herald in his first interview since the attack. Later in the interview, Remy acted like he would be leaving prison soon when he said, “I know my life is going to suck when I get out of here.” He also mentioned that upon his release, he would refuse to see his mother and father.

TED FITZGERALD / AP PHOTO

Jared Remy (above center) stood next to his attorney Edward Ryan, Jr. at an arraignment.

Remy has a violent criminal history, including a total of 15 criminal charges since 1998, according to Waltham court records. He has been accused of assaulting five people—including four women—and was involved in at least three restraining orders, including one in which he was the plaintiff.

Jerry Remy, the suspect’s father, is not returning to the Red Sox broadcast next season. Remy’s father was not in court but most of Jennifer Martel’s family was there.

Noting the difficulty of Jared Remy’s court appearance, Remy’s lawyer said that his client “is an emotional mess.”

The debate for custody of Remy’s five-

year-old daughter Arianna is still ongoing.

Both Remy’s parents and Martel’s parents have petitioned for custody. “If she chooses to know me at some point and wants to see me, that’s fine,” Remy said in a statement. “If she doesn’t, that’s fine, too. I just want her to be happy. I love her. I want her to go to high school, I want her to go to college, I want her to have everything in life she deserves.”

Despite his refusal to see them, Remy also expressed regret over the pain this is causing his parents. “They’re very good people,” he said. “I wish the media would leave them alone. None of this is their fault. They don’t need to be dragged down in this, too.” 

Candidates tackle education and campaign spending Mayoral Race, from C10 by special interests or private agendas, we need to follow the example set by past campaigns here in Massachusetts and put a stop to spending by outside groups.”

Walsh responded by questioning Connolly’s consistency on the issue, pointing out that his opponent initially called the pledge a “political gimmick” and accepted outside money prior to changing his stance in August.

Another central focus of the election has been education, a cornerstone issue for the Connolly campaign. Connolly, prior to becoming an attorney, was a middle school teacher, and has continually pushed for extended school days and smaller school bureaucracies to better use funds for improving education.

Now, Walsh too has unveiled educa-

tion plans, announcing a proposal earlier this week that would work to decrease the number of students “falling through the cracks” in their first years of high school and increase parents’ involvement in education.

Both Walsh and Connolly will have the opportunity to outline their platforms for education, as well as other issues that the city faces going forward, in an upcoming series of televised debates.

After initially settling on three debates beginning Oct. 15, the candidates later agreed to a fourth debate focused on diversity at the behest of a coalition of civil rights groups and community organizations.

The coalition, which included the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and the Boston branch of the NAACP, told Boston.com that the ad-

ditional debate will ensure that issues such as equitable city services, persistent achievement gaps, and disproportionate levels of neighborhood crime will receive attention in the election.

The debate could also provide both candidates with a platform to reach out to diverse Boston neighborhoods that did not support them in the preliminary election. Walsh was already given a boost in recent days with regard to garnering minority votes, as former candidates Felix Arroyo and John Barros announced that they will endorse him in the final election, encouraging their backers to transfer support to Walsh.

The latest poll released by The Boston Herald and Suffolk University shows that Connolly leads Walsh by seven points—41 percent to 34 percent—with

23 percent of the 600 likely voters surveyed remaining undecided.

Of note is that, in the lead-up to the preliminary election, a Suffolk poll that pitted the two candidates head-to-head showed Connolly leading Walsh 44 percent to 29 percent, according to Boston. com. In the actual preliminary election, Walsh finished first with 18.5 percent of the vote, followed closely by Connolly with 17.2 percent.

The school bus strike that disrupted the commute for 57,000 Boston public school students Tuesday was one issue mayoral candidates. could agree on.

Both men, the final two candidates in the race to succeed outgoing Mayor Thomas M. Menino, denounced the bus drivers’ union, criticizing the politicization of innocent childrens’ educations. 

COLLEGIATE ROUND-UP

BY LAUREN TOTINO | HEIGHTS STAFF

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

University amends tuition roll in light of shutdown As the government shutdown continues, more than 25 out of the nearly 100 active-duty military service members enrolled at Northeastern University are affected by the Pentagon’s suspension of the Military Tuition Assistance Program, which these students rely on to help pay for their courses. According to Navy officials, tuition assistance cannot be authorized because the funds are appropriated by Congress and signed into law by the President.

This past Sunday, however, Northeastern President Joseph Aoun announced that the university would not charge enlisted students who rely on tuition assistance during the shutdown so that they can continue with their education. “We believe higher education has an obligation to contribute to the security of our nation, and to support the women and men of the armed forces who serve and protect us,” Aoun stated, after hearing reports from student service members that they should either backtrack

BOSTON UNIV. BU has introduced a new graduate certificate program with an interdisciplinary platform in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGS).

The program will allow students of all disciplines to discuss women’s issues from multiple perspectives. For example, an English student studying female authors can talk with a political science student focusing on the suffrage movement, or a theology student studying how gender and sexuality issues relate to organized religion, said Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) associate dean W. Jeffrey Hughes. Candidates in the program must take four courses focused on women, gender, or sexuality, with required courses that include the new graduate seminar Theories and Methods in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, which is an interdisciplinary, team-taught course offered by the MIT-based Graduate Consortium in Women’s Studies. Other course options include Women in the Muslim World, Gender and Judaism, and Gender in Literature and Film from GRS; Women and Film from the College of Communications; and Women and Health Policy from the School of Public Health.

their plans to enroll in classes beginning after Oct. 1, or withdraw from their current programs.

Aoun deemed the suspension of the Tuition Assistance Program “unacceptable” in a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, dated Oct. 6. Aoun went on to explain in the letter, “Our active duty military, Reserve, and National Guard members who put their lives on the line to protect us deserve far better from their country than to be prevented from accessing the higher education benefits they were promised.”

According to officials, other universities in the Boston area not experiencing the same issues due to differently structured academic schedules. While Boston College has an ROTC program, for example, students in the program do not have any classes that began after Oct. 1, so the shutdown does not affect these students in the same way as those at Northeastern.

HARVARD Last week Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and director and producer Steven Spielberg were among six recipients awarded Harvard University’s highest honor in the field of African and African-American Studies, the W.E.B. Du Bois medal, at a ceremony on Wednesday. The Hutchins Center for African and African-American Research, which presented the medals, awarded Sotomayor for being the first Latin American woman to serve on the high court, while noting that her frequent discussions about her upbringing help influence and inspire children trying to succeed in the face of adversity. The Hutchins Center cited Spielberg for his establishment of a foundation to record oral histories of those who survived the Holocaust and other genocides, in addition to his accomplishments in filmmaking. Medals were also given to senior presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett, playwright Tony Kushner, Georgia civil rights activist and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

MIT Researchers at MIT have recreated Mars-like conditions within a three-storytall cloud chamber in Germany by adjusting the chamber’s temperature and relative humidity to match conditions on Mars—effectively forming Martian clouds on Earth. Although it is difficult to know the precise conditions that allow the formation of these clouds without a direct sample from a Martian cloud, the researchers were able to create clouds at the frigid temperatures typically found on Mars, and discovered that they needed to adjust the chamber’s relative humidity to 190 percent as one of the conditions (much greater than cloud formation requires on Earth). Dan Cziczo, the Victor P. Starr associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at MIT, said the research group’s experimental results will help to improve Martian climate models, as well as scientists’ understanding of how the planet transports water through the atmosphere. Cziczo and his colleagues have reported their findings in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

MAGGIE POWERS Some runners are beautiful to watch. They lope gracefully, arms propelling them forward as if they are simply gliding over the pavement.

I am not one of these runners. My normal porcelain complexion turns the color of a stop sign, and I breath like a thoroughbred who has just run the Kentucky Derby, all while fighting to keep my arms from flopping in a way that resembles a T-Rex. In the past few weeks, my runs have been more difficult than normal.

Usually, I find my runs to be meditative at best and, at worst, I at least feel like I get a satisfying workout.

But lately, I have gained nothing but frustration and my strange stop sign/ Thoroughbred/T-Rex side effects.

On Friday, I laced up my sneakers with dread. I was exhausted from a long week of midterms and knew I was in for another battle around the Res. As I came out from behind Walsh something came over me and I decided to do something I had never done before.

I turned left.

Never in my time at BC have I gone the opposite direction around the Res. I know my route like the back of my hand, including the points where it gets difficult. Turning left made all the difference—my usual laps were flipped upside down and I finished my run with ease.

Inspired by this change in my workout, when I went to run on Monday, instead of taking my normal right out of campus to my path around the Reservoir, I turned left again—this time down Comm. Ave into the city.

There is a sense of productivity that comes with running from BC to Boston. You see so many characters and establishments that belong to Boston and are all just a few miles outside of our bubble.

That being said, the average BC student probably does not get into Boston enough (not a revolutionary comment in a Metro section, I know).

Even those who do go in frequently tend to hit the same predictable spots—Newbury St., Fenway, Faneuil Hall, and the North End, to name just a few.

We like predictability and routines. I ran around the same reservoir, in the same direction for over a year now, and never once considered the difference a change in direction or a change of routes could make.

Next time you go into the city, turn left.

I’m not asking you to literally become an ambi-turner (I know, you’ve been waiting for me to make a Zoolander reference since you read the headline). Rather, I encourage you to try the unexpected places.

Try eating out in the South End instead of the North End or going to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum instead of the MFA. Just the other weekend, instead of getting my Mexican food fix from El Pelon, I decided to explore some of my personal uncharted Boston territory—East Boston.

Angela’s Cafe was a little hole in the wall that served up an authenticity almost as delicious as the traditional food of Oaxaca itself. I was reminded that it’s the people who make the city so interesting. We often lose this by going to the commercialized or overcrowded areas that have become hallmarks of Boston. Little changes to the normal BC student’s repertoire of “Boston hot spots” can completely change your perspective on the city.

As BC students we need to continue to forge the link between our school and the city our name comes from.

A simple run reminded me how close we actually are. Boston is ours to explore, but even a city can become small if you are constantly returning to the same expected places.

Try turning left, it could make all the difference.

Maggie Powers is an editor for The Heights. She can be reached at metro@ bcheights.com.

METRO THE HEIGHTS

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

reast Cancer Awareness

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

Relying on the routine TRICIA TIEDT

Well, ladies and gentlemen, congratulations. We’ve done it again.

And by ‘done it again,’ I mean bury ourselves into the ground.

As mid-October approaches, the fact is as undeniable as the chill in the air: We are back on the daily grind.

After “a summer off,” filled with internships, part-time jobs, extra classes, traveling around the world, full-time jobs, and visiting various east coast destination spots, we all flocked back to Chestnut Hill to start yet another year of well, everything else.

Throughout September, as we made the adjustment back to campus, one phrase (or some variation) seemed to float throughout the student body: “I can’t wait to get back into a routine.”

We were all so eager to get a grip on everything, all at once: figure out our classes, establish our weekly lunch dates, start all our extra-curricular activities. For the ladies on campus, every plan made was a chance to break in that newly bought planner or agenda book, just waiting to be filled with the color-coding system of your choice.

And then, it was almost mid-October.

I’ll be the first to admit: I could not wait to find a routine. I’m a creature of habit: I eat the same foods, drink my coffee the same way (straight black, as only the real addicts do), run the same paths around campus, frequent the same study spot.

Until my days are nailed down to a T, my entire world feels in flux. There is ‘the schedule,’ and there is ‘being free.’ There is no in between.

Congratulations, Boston College. We did it. We are back in the routine.

Tell me, how’s it treating you?

Because, to be honest, I’m drowning.

And I know I’m not alone.

I don’t just know this from what I hear around the Rat, or the anxious looks I see in classes, or the frantic air that envelops the entire campus during midterms. I know this because it is the type of student BC attracts: the overeager, the overcommitted, the overachiever. We are too enthused to do too much and do it all exceptionally well.

The result? The overachiever has become overworked, overwhelmed, and overcome.

And what are we going to do about it?

Nothing. Because that’s who we are, and that’s what we do, and that’s how we operate.

Last February, I wrote a column in which I posed the question: “What have you done this week to set the world aflame?”

Much in the same style as this rant, the column questioned the presence of Jesuit ideology in our daily life, and how we fool ourselves into thinking it’s there. As I read that piece in preparation for today’s issue, I realized that nothing had changed since my so-called revelation.

I didn’t really expect it to.

So instead of questioning our entire existence and purpose here at Boston College, attempting to enact this big change of heart through campus, I’m just going to let you be.

Because really, at this point, we are all back in the daily grind. Nothing I say or you say or your professors say will change that.

There will always be papers to read, essays to write, people to see, and the ever-present to-do list.

For us overachievers, forgoing the routine is not an option.

Overhauling the systematics engrained in us is not feasible.

And, to be honest, the majority of us would not want to do so.

The remedy for overachievers, I have found, is simply to take a break. Relax just long enough to recharge, and remember why it is we do all that we do (so exceptionally well).

With Columbus Day comes the first real opportunity to break from the routine— without consequences. Whether it be on an RV to Clemson, curled up at home, or here on campus—give yourself a moment to breathe. The routine will be awaiting you come Tuesday.

Just as you like it.

Tricia Tiedt is the Metro Editor for The Heights. She can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.

Various events supporting awareness and the search for a breast cancer cure will hit the city throughout October

By Maggie Maretz Heights Staff It’s October, which means Boston, as well as the entire nation, will drape itself in pink for 31 days as it celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Over the course of the month, the city’s bars, shopping centers, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, gyms, spas, and museums will rally around the cause and offer events and deals geared toward benefiting breast cancer victims and research, and simultaneously advocating awareness and prevention.

This past Saturday, the fashion students of Lasell College and Framingham State University participated in the “Design Wars” at the Burlington Mall—a fashion show in which breast cancer survivors modeled pink clothes designed by students of the two schools—and judges selected designs to be sold in the clothing line of the Ellie Fund. The Ellie Fund, a nonprofit organization that fights breast cancer by easing its effects on its victims and their families, donates all proceeds from the line to benefit victims of the disease.

On Monday, American novelist Alice Hoffman hosted an event, “Evening With Your Favorite Authors,” at Mount Auburn Hospital. Attendees had the opportunity to meet several renowned authors,—including Ann Hood, Ann Leary, Elinor Lipman, Jodi

Picoult, Gregory Maguire, and Lee Woodruff—and hear their stories about ways in which breast cancer has touched their lives. All proceeds from the event went to the Hoffman Breast Center, the women’s care center within the Mount Auburn Hospital that provides a full range of screening and diagnostic procedures for women.

The Hard Rock Cafe is sponsoring its annual Concert to Conquer on Oct. 11, which will feature performances by Harrelson Sills Live and Bobby McGrath & Brothers. The concert is part of the restaurant’s “Pinktober” celebration, which is sponsored by lead singer of Paramore Hayley Williams, who will also appear in Boston Nov. 15. Tickets for Friday’s concert on Clinton Street in Boston are $10, and all proceeds go directly to the Ellie Fund. Those at the event can compete to win prizes and buy cocktails as well as “Pinktober” merchandise, the proceeds of which will all go toward the Ellie Fund.

For those Boston-area brides-to-be, Le Meridien in Cambridgwe will be hosting an event called “Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Wedding Gown Sale,” in which hundreds of new and used, discounted and donated, designer and couture wedding dresses will be sold at anywhere from $99-$3,900, with two million dollars of the money

Pink Ribbon Events Oct. 11 --

Hard Rock Cafe Concert to Conquer

Oct. 12 --

Le Meridien “Brides Against Breast Cancer”

Oct. 16 -- 3rd Annual DanceFIT Party in Pink Zumba for a Cure

Oct. 18 --

Amesbury Health Center “Pamper You Pink!”

Oct. 19 --

3rd Annual Superhero Party -- Linden Square Wellsey

See Awareness, C8

Bus strike disrupts city schools

BY MAGGIE POWERS Heights Editor

not to spend $500,000 on his behalf.

Walsh, on the other hand, has received over $750,000 in outside spending during the campaign, mostly from labor-affiliated groups such as American Working Families and Working America.

“We can have a race about my vision and Marty’s vision for Boston,” Connolly told supporters following his secondplace finish in September’s preliminary election. “But to make sure we have this kind of campaign, one that’s not warped

The ever-present yellow school buses were conspicuously absent from Boston streets this Tuesday morning. Disgruntled Boston Public School bus drivers went on a surprise strike, disrupting transportation plans for thousands of Boston students.

According to Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s office, 33,000 students and their families have been impacted by this strike.

Menino is “extremely angry” at the drivers, calling it an “illegal work stoppage.”

The mayor’s office reported 82 percent attendance on Tuesday, 10 percent below the average attendance.

Due to the uncertainty, extra measures were taken by the city to prepare for Wednesday. All schools opened one hour early to allow for early drop off. Menino asked parents to drive their students or seek other alternate routes. The MBTA is offering free rides to any student, provided that an adult accompanies students under the age of 11. An excused absence will be given to students that cannot make it

See Mayoral Race, C9

See Bus Strike, C8

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MASSLIVE AND BOSTON HERALD

Marty Walsh (left) and John R. Connolly (right) have both seen their campaigns picking up speed as the general election approaches.

Election heats up with only weeks to go

BY JULIE ORENSTEIN Heights Editor In the final weeks before the Nov. 5 election, candidates John Connolly, BC Law ’01, and Marty Walsh, BC ’09, have begun to spar on key elements of their campaigns, namely, the potential influence of outside spending on elections.

Connolly has repeatedly called for Walsh to sign the “People’s Pledge” against accepting funds spent by outside interests on a candidate’s behalf. The

pledge attempts to curtail the financial influence of political action committees, special interests, and labor unions, groups that can spend money directly to dodge campaign contribution limits stipulated by federal election laws. When signing the pledge, candidates agree to ask outside groups not to spend money on their behalf, and donate a matching amount to charity if a group does so.

In August, Connolly accepted the endorsement of the education advocacy group Stand For Children, but told them

BC alumnus creates goal-oriented application Achvr Ryan Traeger and co-founder Drew Watson design an app to generate accomplishments

BY BRENNA CASS Heights Staff Making your bucket list a reality has just gotten a little bit easier. A new iPhone app called Achvr, created by a Boston College alum, allows users to list goals they hope to accomplish in the near or distant future, and awards them points for each goal they cross off. Users can then share and compare their accomplishments with their friends. The app launched in Beta this week and is now available for free download on the iPhone.

Achvr was created by BC graduate, Ryan

I NSIDE METRO THIS ISSUE

Traeger, BC ’03 ’12, after his graduation from business school at BC. He wanted a way to keep all his goals in one place and also accomplish more of them. The mission of Achvr is to do just that, but Traeger and co-founder Drew Watson have higher ambitions as well. According to their website, the founders believe that “first-time experiences are the key to living a happier, more fulfilled life.” By helping users accomplish their goals and find new ones, Watson and Traeger hope to add excitement and fulfillment to the lives of their users.

Collegiate Round-up

See Achvr, C8

PHOTO COURTESY OF STUART CAHILL

Ryan Traeger (left) and Drew Watson (right) co-founded Achvr, a new application.

Highlights from other prestigious universities and colleges in the greater Boston area.........................................................................................C9

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