2012 fOOTBALL preview
Chase Rettig and the Eagles have everything to prove after 2011, B1.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Vol. XCIII, No. 26
campus takes on a new look
Belfast Project case may go to Supreme Court Arguments for BC’s appeal begin today By David Cote News Editor
Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing series about the subpoenas of the Belfast Project.
According to a release by the Office of News and Public Affairs, “the new-look plaza is part of a series of related projects in the University’s Master Plan that will create an integrated combination of architecture and green space in the Middle Campus area.” “[The plaza] looks terrific and credit goes to Dan Bourque [vice president for facilities management] for getting it done so beautifully and on time,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. Construction on Stokes Hall also continued on schedule throughout the summer, with a projected completion date in December. Recent progress includes permanent walkways and lighting around the edge of the construction site, as well as further work on the building’s masonry and the tiles on the roof. The limestone work on the building’s exterior is slated for completion in Octo-
Irish journalist and Belfast Project researcher Ed Moloney, together with Belfast Project researcher and former IRA member Anthony McIntyre, recently announced their intention to bring the case of the Belfast Project to the United States Supreme Court. The pair, appealing a decision by the United States First Circuit Court of Appeal that rejected their right to intervene in the Boston College archive case, have repeatedly emphasized the case’s vast constitutional importance and potentially harmful ramifications on the fragile peace process in Northern Ireland and the enterprise of oral history. “We wish to make it clear that we now intend to apply to the Supreme Court of the United States for a hearing on a case which we believe addresses issues of major constitutional importance for Americans,” Moloney and McIntyre said in a statement. The Belfast Project legal drama began in May 2011, when interviews conducted with former IRA members Dolours Price and Brendan Hughes were subpoenaed by the United States federal government, on behalf of the United Kingdom, as part of an ongoing investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into the death of Jean McConville, an Irish widow and mother of 10 who was murdered in 1972. Participants in interviews believed that they had been promised confidentiality until their death, but the subpoenas brought legal pressure on the University to assist the United Kingdom according to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which assures cooperation between the two countries in various legal investigations. Though BC initially filed motions to quash the subpoenas on the Price tapes, they were denied by the courts and did not
See Construction, A6
See Belfast Project, A7
daniel lee / heights editor
O’Neill Plaza has been regraded and now features grass and trees separated by a permanent walkway (left, above right). Stokes Hall is slated for completion in December (bottom right).
O’Neill Plaza goes green, Stokes Hall nears completion, and O’Neill Library gets upgraded By David Cote News Editor
The University’s central plaza has a new, green look this fall, following construction over the summer months. The area in front of O’Neill Library has been regraded, and grass and trees have been planted to give campus additional green space in light of construction on the site of the former Dustbowl. Work began on O’Neill Plaza immediately following the end of classes in the spring and continued throughout the summer, finishing on schedule before the start of fall classes.
Freshman class one of the most competitive ever
DeFilippo steps down, says it’s the right time for ‘new leadership’ By Greg Joyce Heights Editor
Class of 2016 sets new BC application record By Molly LaPoint Heights Editor
There were 34,000 applications for the class of 2016, a 3 percent increase over last year and a new Boston College record. The acceptance rate was 29 percent, one percentage point higher than last year, with 9,800 students accepted. Although this rate is higher than last year, the quality of the applicant pool as measured by test scores went up. The middle 50 percent of SAT scores was 1930 to 2150, with a mean of 2022, up from last year’s 2014. The ACT average score was 30, with a middle-50 percent range of 29 to 32. “This is not the lowest acceptance rate in BC’s history,” said John Mahoney, director of undergraduate admission. “However, with the quality of the applicant pool improving each year, the quality of admitted students is improving as well. So, I consider this to be the most selective year in Boston College admission history.” The yield in May was 25 percent, almost 2 percent above last year’s. In recent years, the yield has generally stayed the same or decreased slightly.
See Class of 2016, A7
dave givler / heights senior staff
Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo will retire from his position after 15 years on Sept. 30.
The day the Boston College fall sports schedule began, the man at the helm of the entire department decided to move in a different direction. In a surprising move, Gene DeFilippo officially announced his retirement as director of athletics on Aug. 17. DeFilippo decided it was “the right time” for “new leadership in the athletic director’s position.” “My wife Anne and I have been discussing this decision for some time and we agree that this is the right time for me to retire,” DeFilippo said in a prepared statement on the day of his announce-
ment. “In light of my recent bout with melanoma, which is treatable, this decision became clearer to me this summer.” Not wanting to take the spotlight away from the start of the football season, DeFilippo declined an interview with The Heights last week. DeFilippo will remain as athletic director until Sept. 30, when Senior Associate Athletics Director John Kane will take over as interim director until a permanent AD is named. Leo Sullivan, vice president of human resources at BC, is conducting the search for the new AD. “Gene devoted himself to building
See DeFilippo, A6
BC will start sesquicentennial celebration with Fenway mass Office of News and Public Affairs unveils new virtual tour and smartphone application By David Cote News Editor
Boston College will begin its Sesquicentennial celebration this month with a mass at Fenway Park on Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. The event will be open to BC students, faculty, alumni, and other guests who have preregistered online. The mass is the first in a series of events that will highlight various aspects of BC’s history and dedica-
tion to education in the 150 years since its founding in 1863. Attendance at the mass is expected to be in excess of 20,000, and over 200 Eucharistic ministers have been recruited to help celebrate. The mass will be concelebrated by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., and over 100 members of the BC Jesuit community and alumni priests. After the mass, guests will be treated
to a reception and a walking tour of the baseball park. In addition, the three pillars of the Sesquicentennial celebration—scholarship, service, and arts— will be highlighted with academic symposia and speaker events throughout the coming year. The first speaker, Harvard University president Drew Faust, will visit the Heights on Oct. 10 to discuss scholarship. During her visit, Faust will be awarded a Sesquicentennial Medal in recognition of her commitment to this pillar of the celebration. Faust’s visit will be the first from a Harvard president since former Harvard
president Nathan Pusey visited the University for BC’s Centennial Celebration in 1963. Also in October will be the first of six academic symposia designed to highlight BC’s deep investment in service and societal outreach. On Oct. 5, BC Lynch School of Education (LSOE) professors Marilyn Cochran-Smith and Dennis Shirley will lead a symposium titled “Public Education and the Future of Democracy.” The second of the six symposia, “Religion and the Liberal Aims of Higher Education,” will be held on Nov. 8 and 9,
See Sesquicentennial, A6
TopTHREE
The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
things to do on campus this week
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Student Involvement Fair Tomorrow Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Linden Lane
Over 200 Boston College organizations and offices will line Linden Lane on Friday to inform students about the many opportunities for extracurricular involvement on campus. The Class of 2016 is encouraged to come see all BC has to offer outside the classroom.
Boston College Football vs. Maine
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Saturday Time: 1 p.m. Location: Alumni Stadium
Come support the Eagles as they take on the University of Maine. BC hopes to earn its first victory after a tough loss against Miami.
Paul Klee Exhibition
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Sunday Time: 12:00 p.m. Location: McMullen Museum This exhibition, which will be open every Saturday and Sunday through December, focuses on the relationship between Klee’s art and philosophical thought.
the
University
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Yale University president Richard C. Levin announces retirement
On Campus Boston College political science professor wins prestigious Berlin Prize This fall, twenty-four noted scholars, artists, writers, and policy experts will receive the Berlin Prize, an award given out by The American Academy in Berlin for outstanding work in a variety of academic and cultural areas. This nonpartisan organization has selected Boston College associate professor of political sceicne Jonathan Laurence as one of the recipients. He will use this residential fellowship in Berlin to work on a research project titled “Turkey and Morocco in Germany: European Muslims or Citizens Abroad?” This project will follow his latest book, The Emancipation of Europe’s Muslims, which was published earlier this year. Laurence’s major areas of study include comparative politics, transatlantic relations, European politics, and the integration of Muslims into European politics and society. In addition to his work teaching at BC, Laurence is a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a faculty affiliate of the Center for European Studies at Harvard University.
Last week, Richard C. Levin, the president of Yale University, announced that he planned to retire at the end of the current academic year. Levin’s 20 year tenure as president is the longest of any current Ivy League president. Since April 15, 1993, when Levin took over as president, Yale’s endowment has grown from $3.2 billion to $19.4 billion. Levin also oversaw $5 billion worth of renovations to Yale’s campus during his time as president. Levin’s departure represents the third time an Ivy League school has changed its president in a little over a year.
Local News Newton Fire Chief asked to leave after 32 years of service Newton Fire Chief Matthew Cummings was put on paid administrative leave last week after Mayor Setti Warren received an independent investigator’s report that claimed there was evidence that Cummings had kicked his former secretary and made crude comments toward her. Cummings, who had been Fire Chief since 2009, said he plans to fight the charges. Cummings’ former secretary, Jeanne Sweeney Mooney, has sued the city for the treatment she received while working at the fire department.
Beloved Lynch School dean passes By David Cote News Editor
Courtesy of the office of news and public affairs
John Cawthorne was an urban education expert and associate dean of LSOE. He passed away in August. nizing the school’s extensive practicum programs through the Office of Professional Practicum Experiences. In April 2011, an event was held celebrating Cawthorne’s services to the students of the University. At the event, Bryan Ramos, BC ’10, recalled how he had once asked Dean Cawthorne
the easiest way to transfer out of the Lynch School. “He simply looked at me with a blank stare, like he normally does, and goes, ‘You won’t want to.’ And five years later, John is my mentor. He’s definitely influenced my passion to want to go into a higher education institution, and be the dean that he is and was
for me.” C aw th o r n e j o i n e d th e LSOE in 1989, working in the Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation, and Educational Policy as a research associate, advocating for initiatives in urban education. As a consultant, he worked with school systems in urban environments nationwide.
Cawthorne also served as vice president for education of the National Urban League (NUL) in 1995. After his appointment, he spoke of the importance of community building in urban communities. “By taking advantage of the natural alliances between parents and teachers, we will help bridge the gap between communities and schools,” he said, “and that gap is wide in urban communities. The issue is how do we work with schools and families to create new structures—structures that incorporate and reflect home, community and school experiences and priorities.” Cawthorne was awarded the Mary Kaye Waldron Award in 2002. The award re co g ni ze s a B C f ac ulty member who has done the most to enhance student life at the University. In addition, in 2003, LSOE established the John E. Cawthorne Chair in Teacher Education for Urban Schools. The position is awarded to a LSOE faculty member who works to enhance the education of teachers for urban schools, as Cawthorne did throughout his adult life. n
Voices from the Dustbowl “If you could rename a building at BC, what would you call it?” “Eagle Hall.” —Madelin Williams, A&S ’15
“I’d name it after myself.” —Giuliana Zaccardelli, A&S ’15
A&S ’16
80° Partly Cloudy 65°
Friday
84° Partly Cloudy 67°
Saturday
80° Showers 69° 76° Showers 61°
Source: National Weather Service
A Guide to Your Newspaper The Heights Boston College – McElroy 113 140 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467 Editor-in-Chief (617) 552-2223 Editorial General (617) 552-2221 Managing Editor (617) 552-4286 News Desk (617) 552-0172 Sports Desk (617) 552-0189 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 News Tips Have a news tip or a good idea for a story? Call David Cote, News Editor, at (617) 552-0172, or e-mail news@ bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the News Desk. Sports Scores Want to report the results of a game? Call Greg Joyce, Sports Editor, at (617) 552-0189, or e-mail sports@bcheights.com. Arts Events The Heights covers a multitude of events both on and off campus – including concerts, movies, theatrical performances, and more. Call Brennan Carley, Arts and Review Editor, at (617) 552-0515, or e-mail arts@ bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the Arts Desk. Clarifications / Corrections The Heights strives to provide its readers with complete, accurate, and balanced information. If you believe we have made a reporting error, have information that requires a clarification or correction, or questions about The Heights standards and practices, you may contact Taylour Kumpf, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or e-mail editor@ bcheights.com. CUSTOMER SERVICE Delivery To have The Heights delivered to your home each week or to report distribution problems on campus, contact Dan Ottaunick, General Manager at (617) 552-0547. Advertising The Heights is one of the most effective ways to reach the BC community. To submit a classified, display, or online advertisement, call our advertising office at (617) 552-2220 Monday through Friday.
The Heights is produced by BC undergraduates and is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year by The Heights, Inc. (c) 2012. All rights reserved. “Strabone Tower.” —Matt Strabone, CSOM ’15
“Prestopolis.” —Chris Presto,
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John Cawthorne, former associate dean of the Lynch School of Education (LSOE), passed away from cancer at the age of 70 in August. Cawthorne, an expert in urban education and a popular faculty member and administrator, retired from Boston College in the spring of 2012 after serving for 13 years as associate dean for students and outreach. “John Cawthorne was a tremendous advocate for our students both inside and outside of the classroom,” Lynch School Interim Dean Maureen Kenny said in a release by the Office of News and Public Affairs. “His passing is a tremendous loss to our community, but the impact of his work and his dedication to the Lynch School will live on through the accomplishments of the many persons whose lives were transformed by his heart and his spirit.” As a faculty member, Cawthorne provided a mentoring relationship to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to orga-
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Thursday, September 6, 2012
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Oprah surprises BC with visit Stokeswhat is it good for? “[Moore] By David Cote News Editor
Matt Palazzolo After a week of getting readjusted to BC, it struck me how comfortably familiar the campus felt. The one glaring exception to this fuzzy feeling, though, was the nearly completed monstrosity named Stokes Hall. In its defense, Stokes Hall serves a legitimate purpose. Student enrollment has ballooned in recent years, inflating class sizes and creating a sudden shortage in teaching space. In sophomore year, I found to my horror that one class was actually scheduled all the way on Upper Campus. After trudging up to Gonzaga 15 minutes late in pouring rain and a foul mood, I switched to a different class on UIS as the professor was still lecturing. Stokes Hall will certainly improve the humanities and honors departments, as well as inject some much needed classroom space into an already overloaded campus. Despite these clear benefits, I still maintain an intense dislike of Stokes Hall. First, and most importantly, its construction forced the unceremonious euthanizing of the Dustbowl. While underclassmen were unable to experience this centerpiece of campus, I still remember it vividly. On student activities day my freshman year, organizations lined the Dustbowl with dozens of tables, posters, and members bellowing out their sales pitch to herds of unsuspecting freshmen. After my very first day of class, I lay down on the Dustbowl grass, reading Plato and basking in the sunlight of my blooming college experience. Now, after walking toward McElroy for the first time this year, I instead visualize a giant, ugly academic building falling out of the sky Wizard of Oz style. One of the reasons I applied to BC was its harmonious blend of urban and rural college elements. City-based colleges offer limitless possibilities for nightlife, dining, and socializing, but are often located in ugly metro districts. Rural colleges offer picturesque scenery, but are located on the outskirts of civilization, where boredom reigns. BC provides the rare mix of a vibrant nearby city and a postcard-picture worthy campus. Stokes Hall transformed the Dustbowl into a cramped array of academic halls. Instead of spotting people tossing Frisbees as I walk past the quad, I see yet another Gothic style building that I will sprint toward late for class in the near future. When the Dustbowl met its untimely end, it took a piece of BC ‘s campus identity with it. As a senior, the opening of Stokes Hall signals the beginning of the gradual erosion of the BC I fell in love with freshman year. Last year, I had to come to terms with the elimination of the bathrooms in Gasson basement, which I firmly believe were the best on campus. Sophomore year, of course, I had to bid farewell to the Dustbowl. Soon, the Plex and Edmond’s will be torn down according to the 10-year plan. Again, I understand the logic behind this grand 10-year plan. While I am way too lazy to visit the Plex for workouts, I have heard that it is an overcrowded and smelly place that could use an upgrade. Likewise, BC needs more housing for the steadily increasing freshman classes. Nevertheless, I feel that this new and improved BC will lose its identity and personality. As a Red Sox fan, I am glad that the team’s ownership decided not to build a new ballpark. It may have had more seats and better parking, but it would be missing the Green Monster and Pesky’s Pole. At the cost of material improvement, the new Fenway Park would be missing the soul of the old one. So, while I will continue to visit BC for football games in the years to come, I can’t shake the feeling that I will barely recognize it. Stokes Hall may be necessary, but I will always miss the Dustbowl.
Matt Palazzolo is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at news@bcheights.com.
Noted philanthropist Oprah Winfrey visited Boston College on Aug. 2 to meet seven graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) who recently studied at BC as part of a summer enrichment program. Oprah’s visit, a surprise for the students from South Africa, involved a personal meet-andgreet with the world-famous author and talk show host, and University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. OWLAG was founded by Oprah in 2007 to provide an education to economically disadvantaged South African women in grades 8-12. The students selected for the enrichment program were chosen based on their acceptance at colleges in the United States. During their visit, which lasted from July 23 to Aug. 3, the students worked
with BC faculty and student groups on campus to prepare for a future as college students in America. This summer marks
developed the idea of a precollege experience to help the students begin to acclimate to their new environment and culture.” -Office of News and Public Affairs
the first time BC has hosted such a program, and BC is the only U.S. college or university to
host an enrichment program for OWLAG alumni. Joy Haywood Moore, BC ’81, has spearheaded the development of the initiative. She is a leader at the academy, and serves BC as director of stewardship and donor relations in the Office of University Advancement. “[Moore] developed the idea of a pre-college experience to help the students begin to acclimate to their new environment and culture,” according to a recent release from the Office of News and Public Affairs. “The BC/OWLAG Summer Experience is designed to help the students get a ‘jump start’ on how to navigate an American university,” Moore said. “This is an important initiative because the first few months of university life—academic and social—for freshmen are crucial to their success in the first year, especially international students.” n
Comparing College Endowments
According to MarketWatch, a Wall Street Journal blog, Harvard tops the list for all colleges and universities in the United States, with a more than comfortable $31.7 billion at its disposal. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s endowment, though much less than Harvard’s, still dwarfs BC’s at $9.7 billion. Boston University holds about $1.2 billion in its fund.
When compared to the endowments of other Jesuit colleges and universities, Boston College’s fund of $1.726 billion seems fairly significant. Georgetown University comes in second, with $1.160 billion, and Saint Louis University in third, with $880,000 million. Looking at the endowments of other institutions right here in Boston, however, puts those numbers into perspective.
-Samantha Costanzo n
Photo courtesy of the Office of News And Public Affairs
Students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls took enrichment classes at BC in August.
alex manta and joseph castlen / heights editors
Armstrong promoted to VP for planning, assessment By Samantha Costanzo Asst. News Editor
Boston College students and faculty often remark that the University provides an academic and social atmosphere unlike any other college or university, and Kelli Armstrong, the newly appointed vice president for planning and assessment, is no exception. Armstrong, who was recently promoted to this role after serving as the associate vice president for institutional research, planning , and assessment, was first hired eight years ago as a director of BC’s original Institutional Research department. “It was technically a step downward in title to go from associate vice chancellor [of the University of Massachusetts system] to director,” Armstrong said. “I remember Fr. Leahy asking me in my interview, ‘Why would you pursue a role with a lesser title?’ and my reason was that I wanted to work at BC.” As the associate vice president for institutional research, planning, and assessment, Armstrong worked with a variety of departments. Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment collaborates often with Information Technology Services to collect and
store data in a virtual warehouse, available to other BC departments to assist them in creating sound plans. The department also compiles statistics about BC in an annual fact book. Some of this information is acquired directly from students in the form of surveys, which are useful not only in collecting statistics but also in determining which systems within the University are working and which need to improve. Such information was used to determine the number and size of various offices, classrooms, and conference rooms to be included in Stokes Hall. Space Planning, which helps implement BC’s Institutional Master Plan, also played a role in Stokes Hall’s construction by determining the best use of the available space for the project. Armstrong also worked with Strategic Services, which supports BC’s many departments in creating and implementing strategic plans to further their growth. “We’re a planning arm for BC and a centralized place for much of the data describing BC,” Armstrong said. “We hope that these data will provide BC managers and leaders with the best information possible to support them in their
decision-making.” Her new role, created this year, will encompass these duties and also include assistance in planning and carrying out BC’s long-term financial and master plans. Armstrong hopes to utilize it as a way to continue BC’s strong tradition of excellence in higher education. “We are an institution on an upward trajectory,” she said. “If you think about where we were 30 years ago and where we are now, it’s incredible how far BC has come. The role of my division is really to support that growth, to use data and planning information to help BC leaders make the strongest decisions they can for our future.” Armstrong considers both the University’s need for access to better data and information and the support of Executive Vice President Patrick Keating, who oversees the departments , instrumental to her department’s growth over the last eight years. “This promotion recognizes Kelli’s contributions to the University and the breadth of her role, as well as her talents, experience and commitment to advancing Boston College and its Jesuit, Catholic mission,” Keating said in a statement by
Photo courtesy of the Office of News And Public Affairs
Armstrong’s department collects data about the University to help it grow. the Office of News and Public Affairs. Armstrong received her Ph.D. in higher education from BC and worked at Bates College, Tufts University, the UMass system, and the Board of Higher Education before returning to BC. “It is wonderful to be a part
of this institution, and to know that your role is to support BC as it continues to improve,” Armstrong said. “There are a number of great higher education institutions that have remained relatively stable over the years, but BC has been evolving in exciting ways.” n
Donkor recognized for service in her native Africa By David Cote News Editor
Angela Donkor, BC ’12, was recognized recently by the Magic Johnson Foundation for her service and leadership in Africa. Donkor, winner of the Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship and a Gates Millennium scholarship, as well as two previous scholarships from the Magic Johnson Foundation, earned her second Spirit of Taylor Michaels award at last month’s ceremony. She also received the Graduate of the Year award for exceptional involvement in the Magic Johnson Scholars Conference. “Whenever people ask where
I find the strength to make my dreams happen, I tell them that I find it at the Magic Johnson Scholars Conference,” Donkor said in a statement to the Office of News and Public Affairs. “For the past four years, I have grown up with the foundation supporting me every step of the way. To the outside world, Magic Johnson is a legendary basketball player and businessman, but to me he is, and will always be, a father and a friend.” Donkor, a native of Ghana, immigrated with her family to Italy when she was young, and later moved to the United States. Earlier this summer, she returned to her native country on a grant from
“When I told people in Ghana that I had graduated college, they were in shock because a young Ghanaian woman like me is not supposed to be a college graduate.” —Angela Donkor, BC ’12
the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, where she taught English, Italian, and Chinese. “It had always been my dream to go to Ghana after college and to give back to my country, and BC made that happen for me,” Donkor said. “When I told people in Ghana that I had graduated from college, they were in shock because a young Ghanaian woman like me is not supposed to be a college graduate.” Traveling to Africa for service is not new to Donkor. During her time at BC, she made service trips to Rwanda and Uganda, working with orphaned children. She also spent parts of her junior year abroad in China, and volunteered
at the Student Admissions Program and the Suffolk House of Correction. For the next two years, Donkor plans to work as a paralegal for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City, and then hopes to pursue a JD/MA in international diplomacy. “Angela has contributed so much to our program, her peers, and me personally as an educator and leader of this program,” said Kadar Lewis, manager of the scholarship program. “Her success and altruism while overcoming many challenges in life is a testament to what we seek to support in all of our scholars. She is a true ‘outlier’ and leader.” n
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DeFilippo will retire after 15 years as Athletic Director DeFilippo, from A1
daniel lee / heights editor
Stokes on schedule for December completion Construction, from A1 ber, followed by equipment and furnishings through the month of November. Landscaping and additional exterior work will also take place in November. The space between McElroy Hall and Stokes Hall, where mobile construction offices are currently placed, will be transformed into a grassy area with an amphitheater. During the end of the fall semester in December, various departments will begin to move into Stokes Hall, and the building will officially be opened in January, ac-
cording to University officials. Stokes Hall will house offices for the theology, philosophy, and honors departments, as well as 36 new classrooms, the new Chocolate Bar, and lounge space for students to use between classes. The total square footage of the new building is 183,000, making it one of the largest buildings on campus. In addition to construction on Stokes Hall, the University has invested in construction along College Road. The power lines that were previously strung above the road are being moved into the ground to provide a more aesthetic look along the road.
During construction in the fall, access from College Road to the back of McElroy will be open at 4 p.m. on weekdays and throughout weekends. A temporary stairway from the walkway will be accessible to students through October from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. The University undertook various smaller construction projects throughout the summer, including the renovation of the stairs and walkway between Lyons Hall and Fulton Hall. In addition, some of the trees in the Quad were removed. In Stuart Hall, Corcoran Commons, and McElroy Hall, the Uni-
daniel lee / heights editor
versity oversaw the construction of new “minimarts,” through which BC Dining will sell prepackaged food and beverages for purchase with Dining Dollars. The current Chocolate Bar has been removed, and will be moved to Stokes Hall and opened in January. The University also modified the first floor of the O’Neill Library over the summer, removing shelves and adding extra booths and more seating for students working on group projects. Furthermore, the University supervised the installation of large group study rooms behind the information desk. n
Alex gaynor / For the Heights
The University oversaw construction projects in numerous areas over the summer, including Stokes Hall, O’Neill Library, O’Neill Plaza, and the Quad.
CFLC offers services for students with learning disabilities By Andrew Millette Assoc. News Editor
The Connors Family Learning Center (CFLC) may have a full time staff of only four employees, but it makes an impact on thousands of people at Boston College. Undergraduates, graduate students, and professors will all benefit from services provided by the center this year, as they have since the center’s opening in September 1991. “The CFLC still offers the same services, but it has grown bigger and better,” said Sue Barrett, director of the CFLC. The CFLC provides three different types of services: instructional support for graduate students and faculty, support for students with learning disabilities, and tutoring. Members of all colleges within the University are eligible to utilize these services. Though the CFLC has not changed the major types of services it offers since its inception, each category of services has experienced evolution and growth. 2012 marks the second year of a new program within the instructional support sphere called the Apprenticeship in College Teaching. The goal of this program is to prepare graduate students for teaching at BC. “Graduate students come to workshops on grading, how to write a syllabus, how to manage a classroom, and how to make a teaching portfolio,” Barrett said. “Then they actually write a syllabus, get observed in the classroom, and make a portfolio. If they do all of this they can get a certificate in teaching.” This program successfully fills a need identified on campus. “Lots of graduate students are
teaching assistants and teaching fellows and many of them haven’t had any formal training in teaching,” Barrett said. The CFLC also hosts workshops for fulltime faculty. Workshop topics include grading, classroom management, and how to interpret student evaluations. Other interactions between the CFLC and professors include mid-semester evaluations and class observations. “Faculty like to know how things are going before the end of the semester,” Barrett said. “For an evalu-
“Stay tuned. We hope there are some positive things coming up that it is too early to talk about right now.” -Sue Barrett Director of the CFLC ation, I will go in during the last five minutes of class and ask the students a few questions: What is the teacher doing that is helping you? What is the teacher doing that is not helping you? I also ask that they make one or two concrete suggestions that would help them get more out of the class.” Barrett then types up the students’ answers to preserve anonymity and gives the results to the professor. Students with learning disabilities can receive a variety of accommodations from the CFLC. A student with the proper documentation will meet with Kathy Duggan, associate director for Support Services and
Students with ADHD, and discuss a personal plan to get the most out of academic life at BC. “We really look at a student’s individual needs,” Duggan said. “We have real data to support what their learning style is, what their strengths are, what their weakness is, and where their disability lies, and then based on that information we can figure out what they should be entitled to.” The most common accommodations a student with learning disabilities or ADHD will receive include extended time on tests, testing in the CFLC, getting textbooks on CD, and working with a coach to talk about time management and organizational skills. More and more students are registering with Duggan to receive accommodations. “We have about 450 students with learning disabilities and ADHD right now, which is triple from when we started,” Duggan said. Duggan asks each of these 450 students to self-advocate by taking a note that explains their registration with the CFLC and their accommodations to their professors. The students and professors are asked to work out the logistics of the situation themselves and only contact the CFLC to solve any discrepancies, a situation which rarely happens. “I think we have a faculty that is very willing to work with students with disabilities and make accommodations,” Duggan said. “There are only a few issues I resolve each semester. Going back to the 1970s, long before I was here, there were professors who themselves had learning disabilities who advocated for the very bright students we have here who have a disability that im-
pacts them in some minor way.“ Tutoring is available in the CFLC for over 60 subjects. A group of over 80 students comprised mainly of juniors, seniors, and graduate students work as paid tutors who handle the 5,000 tutoring appointments requested by BC students last year. All of these tutors are either certified by the College Reading and Learning Association or are in the process of earning their certification. “We hold a certain number of training sessions where student tutors can come for professional development in their subject matter,” said Cecilie Reid-Joyner, assistant director for Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction. “Faculty and staff will come in to talk to tutors about the skills they employ at the tutoring table. Students that are able to complete all of the training sessions will receive a certificate.” Student tutors must have received at least a B+ for the class in which they are tutoring students and must have departmental recommendation. “We get feedback from a professor to see how well a potential tutor discusses subject matter with the professor, which is usually an indication of how well they will speak with students,” Reid-Joyner said. Other tutoring services offered by the CFLC include the Online Writing Lab, which allows students to email a writing sample to the CFLC and receive comments on it from a peer tutor, and English as a second language tutors. The CFLC’s future looks bright as it continues to grow and evolve. “Stay tuned,” Barrett said. “We hope there are some positive things coming up that it is too early to talk about right now.” n
a strong, successful athletics program, one that reflected BC’s commitment to quality academics and institutional integrity,” said University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. in a statement. “Doing that has been his passion and joy, and the BC community, particularly our student athletes, have benefitted immensely from his care, advice, and hard work.” Though DeFilippo faced criticism throughout his term as AD, especially in the last three years, he certainly left his mark on BC Athletics in an overall positive way. The man known as “Coach Flip” to many of his student-athletes seemed to have run a clean athletic department, as BC is one of just three BCS schools that have never been found guilty of a major NCAA violation. His most notable accomplishments include moving BC to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), while overseeing four National Championships in hockey and 11 national team and individual championships in sailing during his tenure. “We have had an outstanding run at Boston College and Gene has been terrific for our hockey program,” said men’s hockey head coach Jerry York. ”We’ve had a remarkable working relationship. I wish him the best of luck as he begins a new chapter in his life.” DeFilippo also oversaw a largely successful football program during his time in Chestnut Hill, as the team reached 12 straight bowl games up until the 2011 campaign. Off the field, DeFilippo played a key role in improving BC’s athletics facilities, and helped raise $27 million to build the Yawkey Athletics Center for the football program. “Gene has been a great boss and an outstanding leader for our athletics program,” said head football coach Frank Spaziani. “Beyond that, he has been a great friend. The school and I will miss him. I wish him nothing but the best.” Also during DeFilippo’s tenure, BC’s student-athletes have become some of the most successful in Division 1A in terms of graduation rates. Last year, 21 BC teams recorded a perfect Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score of 100, which was the most of any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) athletics programs across the country. “What Gene has meant to Boston College is hard to put into words,” said the men’s head basketball coach Steve Donahue. “He reinvented the Athletics Department in his 15 years as AD—everything we have is based on Gene’s vision. It’s very rare that
you find someone who has the vision and the guts to follow it. He is going to be missed.” Many donors and alumni had become frustrated with DeFilippo in the past few years, especially after the football program had its first losing season in 13 years in 2011. Despite the criticism, it was always evident how much DeFilippo cared about BC and his student-athletes. “In my time at Boston College, ‘Coach Flip’ not only provided us with the necessary resources to be successful in our sport but he also took the time to individually meet each student-athlete,” said former All-American linebacker Luke Kuechly. “His love for being AD was easily seen in his passion and support of the sports and studentathletes at Boston College. BC will miss the energetic personality of ‘Coach Flip.’” DeFilippo was recognized nationally as an important AD in the college sports world, and was praised by ACC Commissioner John Swofford.
“My wife Anne and I have been discussing this decision for some time and we agree that this is the right time for me to retire. In light of my recent bout with melanoma, which is treatable, this decision became clearer to me this summer.” -Gene DeFilippo Athletic Director “Gene has been a positive figure in the college sports landscape for a long time – a veteran and highly respected AD and a national leader,” Swofford said. “His contributions to BC, the ACC and nationally are too numerous to name. Gene is a great friend and colleague. We will miss him around the ACC table.” DeFilippo will now take some time off to enjoy being with his family, before he plans to teach sports management courses and serve as a consultant. “After the intensity of 40 years of intercollegiate athletics, this change will enable me to spend more time with Anne, my three children, and our granddaughter, Katherine,” DeFilippo said. “I look forward to this next stage of my personal and professional life.” n
graham beck / heights editor
As Athletic Director, Gene DeFilippo oversaw BC’s move to the ACC in 2005.
University prepares for the celebration of 150 years of education at Boston College Sesquicentennial, from A1 and will be led by professor Henry Braun of LSOE and theology professor Erik Owens. The symposia will focus on the unique aspects of religiously affiliated universities, an area in which BC has long been a national leader. In addition to the planned events, the Office of News and Public Affairs has unveiled new
historical plaques which will be mounted outside notable campus buildings. “Seven of the historical markers, which will be placed in front of the University’s oldest buildings, will provide biographical information on the individuals after whom the buildings are named—from Jesuit Presidents Gasson and Bapst to Lyons and Fulton—as well as the building’s past and current uses,” according to a release by the Of-
fice of News and Public Affairs. In addition, plaques will be found at locations such as Conte Forum, the Flutie Statue, and Linden Lane. The historical markers project was developed by the Office of News and Public Affairs in conjunction with the late University Historian Thomas H. O’Connor. Throughout his tenure, O’Connor had written narratives that described buildings and other prominent sites on campus.
“This project is a tribute to Tom O’Connor, whose poignant descriptions of the University’s historic buildings and prominent sites will provide a lasting resource that will benefit all who visit our campus,” said Jack Dunn, director of the Office of News and Public Affairs. In addition, the Office of News and Public Affairs has created a virtual tour of the campus, accessible on the University’s website or by using the “Tour of the Heights”
smartphone application. The virtual tour features text, video, and photos relevant to the University’s history, as well as the voice talents of various members of the BC community. The tour is voiced by students and faculty alike, including Vice President Rev. William Neenan, S.J., English professor emeritus John Mahoney, men’s hockey coach Jerry York, and BC students who auditioned for the role last
spring. “[The tour] is a wonderful resource that will be a highlight of the Sesquicentennial Celebration,” said Joseph Quinn, economics professor and sesquicentennial steering committee member. “It will benefit admissions, faculty recruiting, alumni relations and community relations, while providing a better understanding for all who visit of the rich history of the Boston College campus.” n
The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
A7
Moloney and McIntyre, denied the right to intervene, hope to appeal at the highest level Belfast Project, from A1 appeal, citing Price’s participation in an interview with Irish media in which she mentioned the Belfast Project as a violation of the agreement to confidentiality she signed before her interviews commenced. Brendan Hughes died in 2008 and his interviews were used as the subject of a book written by Moloney, Voices from the Grave, and thus the release of his interviews was not in dispute. In a Letter to the Editor published in The Heights on Jan. 18, 2012, Thomas Hachey, professor of history and executive director of Irish programs, wrote, “Interviewees in [the Belfast Project] understood that divulging their participation could potentially compromise the underlying premise that such testimony remain undisclosed until the time of their demise. “That important need for discretion was honored by all surviving participants, with the notable
exception of one, Dolours Price, who chose to publicly volunteer her involvement while making some provocative statements.” “It is a struggle between obligations,” University Spokesman Jack Dunn said in an interview with PBS NewsHour. “We have an obligation as a University to uphold the enterprise of oral history and academic research, which we value greatly, and yet we understand the government’s obligation to comply with the treaty with Great Britain, and I also feel an obligation to the McConville kids, who are looking for answers to the 40-year-old question regarding their mother’s horrific murder.” Moloney and McIntyre criticized BC for failing to continue the fight against the release of Price’s tapes after the court’s initial ruling, and appealed the decision on the Price tapes independently from the University. On July 6, Moloney and McIntyre were denied the right to intervene in the case. On July 8, the two announced their intention to
file an appeal for a rehearing of the case en banc, which would require that the case be heard in front of the entire appeals court. On Aug. 20, attorneys Eamonn Dornan and James J. Cotter filed an appeal for a rehearing of the case en banc on behalf of Moloney and McIntyre. In a statement dated Aug. 20, the argument for the rehearing was laid out. “The First Circuit decision effectively precludes the assertion of U.S. constitutional rights guaranteed in the First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution,” the two wrote. In addition, they argued that the decision by the First Circuit “bestows upon the PSNI greater powers in relation to the serving of subpoenas in the United States than could be exercised by, for instance, the FBI.” In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts announced their intention to file an amicus brief in support of Moloney and McIntyre’s appeal. Despite their arguments, on Aug. 31 Moloney and McIntyre
were denied the right to a rehearing by the First Circuit Court of Appeal, as was the ACLU’s motion. That same day, Moloney and McIntyre announced their intention for the case to be heard in front of the United States Supreme Court. “In this case the plaintiffs, Ed Moloney and Anthony McIntyre have been prevented by the First Circuit decision from arguing that the PSNI action is politically motivated and that the material requested by the PSNI was available in Northern Ireland,” the two wrote in a statement dated Aug. 31. “Their lawyers argue that Moloney and McIntyre have been denied their constitutional and statutory rights and protections and suffer violations of constitutional rights if the subpoenas are enforced by the Attorney-General.” In addition to their appeals of the case in the U.S., Moloney and McIntyre opened a second front in July by filing a review for an injunction of the subpoenas in the
Belfast courts. “The Judicial Review asks that the British Home Office’s request of assistance from the United States be quashed, the subpoenas be declared unlawful, a discontinuation of the PSNI’s application for the material, and for an injunction stopping any material from Boston College being received by the PSNI,” the two wrote in a statement dated July 5. However, the case did not gain traction and an injunction on the materials was not filed. While the case of the first set of subpoenas unfolded, BC was involved in a separate case involving a second set of subpoenas. In August 2011, a separate set of subpoenas had been filed, calling for the release of any material in the Belfast Project archives relating to the disappearance of Jean McConville. Again BC filed a motion to quash the subpoenas, arguing that the subpoena was too broad and threatened oral history as a whole. However, on Dec. 27, 2011, BC was ordered to hand
over the tapes by Judge William Young. Young reviewed the tapes and selected those that he believed fit the description of the subpoena as relating to McConville’s death. Young eventually held that parts of seven different interviews held by BC were relevant to the investigation and should be handed over to the British authorities, a decision which BC appealed, again arguing that the tapes had limited value and the subpoenas were too broad. Oral arguments for BC’s appeal will begin today, Sept. 6, at the U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston. “We will argue that the [seven] tapes have limited probative value, and, for the sake of academic research, they should not be turned over to British authorities,” Dunn said. “Our hope is that we will prevail in our case and the only tape which will be subject to transfer to British authorities will be the Dolours Price tape, which was already made public in her interviews with Irish media.” n
Boston College’s newest batch of students arrives on campus Class of 2016, from A1 “This is one of the things we’re really pleased with, given the selectivity and the quality of the applicant pool,” Mahoney said. “This is the first time in four or five years that yield has actually gone up.” Target enrollment for this class is 2,270, with the number of students enrolled currently a little above that. Between May 1 and the fall, there is attrition as students are accepted off of BC’s waiting list, leave to attend other schools after getting off their wait lists, and defer for a variety of reasons. An exact number is not official until the first week of October, when the University census is completed. “The difference in enrollment between May 1 and the official number feeds into projections for the next year,” Mahoney said. Forty-five states and 31 foreign countries are represented in the class, and there are 130 international students. The top five most represented states are Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, and Connecticut. South Korea is the most represented countr y among international students. Notably, in the last five years, the number of Chinese citizens applying has increased from about 300 to 1,300. “American higher
education has become extremely attractive to Chinese families,” Mahoney said. AHANA students make up 30 percent of the class. “We’ve reached 30 percent before, but we’ve not exceeded it,” Mahoney said. “This percentage almost perfectly matches the percentage of students graduating from high school who report that they come from AHANA backgrounds, which is between 30 and 35 percent.” Among the four undergraduate schools, the Carroll School of Management (CSOM) saw a notable increase in yield over last year’s, from 27 percent to 32 percent. Around the time that
students were receiving notification of their acceptance, a ranking in Businessweek of undergraduate business schools placed CSOM ninth, which could have influenced this increase. “It proves that people really do look at those rankings,” Mahoney said. Looking forward to the class of 2017, this year’s application is the first to include a supplemental essay. Most of the schools that BC is competitive with for applicants already have at least one supplemental essay, Mahoney said. There are four different choices for essay topics, and applicants will select one to respond to with up to 400 words. The questions can be seen
on the undergraduate admission website. “I think the questions will really resonate with students,” Mahoney said. “It will help us determine whether they’ll be a good fit for BC. We’re not trying to complicate the lives of applicants.” It is unclear what kind of effect this will have on the applicant pool, if any. “If I had to make a prediction, I think applications will go down this year,” Mahoney said. “Some students might find the additional essay a burden and decide not to apply. However, our yield could go up, because the students applying may be more sincere in their interest.” n
graham beck / heights editor
The freshman class was welcomed to campus this past weekend with a Pep Rally, meetings with the deans and faculty of various schools, and the annual FYE boat cruise Sunday night.
‘Forbes’ ranks BC 26th overall among colleges nationwide By Taylour Kumpf Editor-in-Chief
In a recent list complied by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, which ranks the top 500 colleges in the nation, Boston College was ranked 26th overall, 25th among private institutions, and 14th among research institutions. This ranking places BC above Tufts (No. 32 on the Forbes list), Georgetown (No. 38), and Villanova (No. 83). “We are delighted to be recognized as the 26th ranked university in the United States by Forbes, and we think it’s reflective of our reputation and standing as a University,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. Forbes, relatively new to the college ranking game, uses a methodology that differs from long-standing
sources U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review—taking into account student’s own impressions of the university they attend. Due to its unique set of criteria, Forbes places a number of colleges that typically rank lower on other lists much closer to the top. In the 2012 college rankings published by U.S. News and World Report, BC was ranked 31st, under both Georgetown (No. 22 on the U.S. News list) and Tufts (No. 29). In addition to a few of the criteria utilized by U.S. News and The Princeton Review, the Forbes list looks at factors including student impressions as to the amount of learning that occurred in each of their courses, the percentage of graduates who were placed in a job, and the average amount of debt incurred by the typical student at the
institution. To gather data pertaining to student evaluations of professors and courses, Forbes relies on sources such as the website Ratemyprofessor.com. U.S. News and The Princeton Review, typically held as steady sources in the realm of college rankings, each employ a broad range of criteria in compiling their rankings, many of which speak to detailed aspects of the academic and living conditions afforded by American universities. Some of these factors include the quality of the first-year experience, professor teaching styles, retention rates, and whether or not the college offers learning communities and study abroad opportunities. In addition to placing high on the Forbes list, BC was also recently named one of the 10 New Ivies by Unigo, a college website whose “ad-
vice and reviews are vivid in a way no guidebook can match,” according to The New York Times. Referred to by the Wall Street Journal as a “college resource built for the age of YouTube and Facebook,” Unigo has partnered with USA Today, The Huffington Post, and a number of other news sources to provide college reviews and advice to prospective students. This year, Unigo compiled a list of 10 schools that it felt represented the next generation of excellence, including BC, Georgetown, UCLA, and NYU. “The city of Boston is home to a slew of famous and revered educational institutions, and on the eve of its 150th anniversary, Boston College is making sure it has a place at the table with schools like Harvard and MIT,” the site reads. n
The Heights
A8
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Editorials
AD leaves a legacy and unanswered questions The sudden retirement of Gene DeFilippo reminds us of his great career, but his media hesitancy taints his depature On Aug. 17, Boston College Athletics Director Gene DeFilippo announced that he is stepping down after 15 years at the helm of Eagles athletics, citing his recent diagnosis of treatable skin cancer. The Heights would like to thank DeFilippo for his years of service and dedication. When the former Villanova University AD took over in 1997, the Eagles were under scrutiny for what was then the largest collegiate gambling scandal in the history of the NCAA. DeFilippo straightened out the program, creating an athletic department that aligned with the University’s Jesuit ideals. Later, he oversaw BC’s full membership into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) from the Big East. Under the leadership of DeFilippo, BC won four National
Championships in men’s hockey, had 12 consecutive winning seasons and 11 team and individual National Championships in sailing. Financially, athletic donations went from $5 million to $20 million last year. While the last few years have proved challenging for BC football, The Heights respects the work DeFilippo has done during his time here. Nonetheless, we hope that he will sit down for one more interview before his official retirement on Sept. 30. While we understand that there has been scrutiny of the athletic department’s management over the last few years, The Heights feels that the lack of openness with the media may have a negative impact on the public view of DeFilippo and BC athletics in general.
Attendence is the first step to involvement
New or old, students should seek out interests at Friday’s Student Involvement Fair The annual Student Involvement Fair will be held this Friday on Linden Lane, and The Heights encourages each and every student, especially freshmen, to attend. It is true that the fair can be overwhelming— swarms of fellow students, hundreds of tables, eager recruiters blasting music and accosting you with candy and promises as you walk by. However, students should not let this high energy scare them, but instead embrace the atmosphere and seek out clubs whose enthusiasm and passions match their own. There really is an organization for everyone, whether you are into dance, a Cappella, or even ultimate frisbee. For freshmen, the fair is a great opportunity to discover or foster a passion, and it can assist you in finding your niche at Boston College. The first semester of college can be daunting, and clubs can provide a
sense of belonging and purpose, as well as exposure to new people and experiences. Any active member of the BC community can tell you that getting involved in some sort of organization was one of the best choices they have made in their collegiate career. Extracurricular involvement only enhances your academic, social, and personal development. Taking advantage of the Involvement Fair is not something we encourage for just freshmen, however. Year after year, a prominent section of upperclassmen fail to become active on campus. Many believe that it is too late to join a club or that they have “missed the boat.” This is simply not true—nearly every club and organization wants, and needs, new members no matter the grade. It is never too late to get involved.
Unearthing the past may endanger peace process In light of the appealment of the Belfast Project case, The Heights supports Boston College’s stance Today, oral arguments will begin at the United States Court of Appeals in Boston in the latest legal case surrounding the Belfast Project, BC’s oral history project regarding the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This particular case deals with the subpoena of seven interviews with former IRA members, conducted by Belfast Project researchers, that allegedly relate to the investigation of the disappearance and murder of Jean McConville, an Irish woman killed in 1972. In court, BC will argue that the tapes have “limited probative value” in the investigation, and will attempt to keep the tapes out of the hands of British authorities. The Heights fully supports this decision by the University. In an editorial published on Nov. 16, 2011, The Heights editorial board wrote, “The Belfast Agreement of 1998, which the U.S. worked to facilitate, assured that offenses that occurred during ‘the Troubles’ would not be reopened for trial … The office acted without regard for the agreement. Many basic questions, including the origination of the subpoena in Northern Ireland, were left unanswered as the subpoena was sealed. Considering the facts of the case, the U.S. and Northern Ireland officials appealed to by the activist groups should heed their concerns.” In addition, in an editorial published on Jan. 18, 2012, The Heights editorial board wrote, “The Heights believes that releasing tapes unrelated to the murder of McConville would be a mistake, and would endanger the lives of those involved and the reputation of oral history as a whole. It is imperative
that [Judge William G.] Young exercise extreme caution when reviewing the Belfast Project.” We continue to stand by these opinions, and support the University’s appeal against the release of the seven subpoenaed tapes. The Troubles in Northern Ireland were a violent period of conflict that resulted in the deaths of thousands of men and women. The release of interviews relating to the Troubles risks reigniting old tensions and shattering the fragile peace in Northern Ireland. In addition, releasing tapes considered confidential by interviewees greatly threatens oral history as a whole, and may inhibit participation in such projects in the future. While The Heights recognizes that the death of Jean McConville is a tragic event, the story of McConville is, unfortunately, not unique during the period. Thousands of people on both sides of the conflict were killed throughout the Troubles, and risking an entire peace process for merely a chance at finding the answer to one case appears irresponsible. After all, it remains unclear whether any of the tapes would provide answers to the questions being asked by McConville’s children, or whether testimony in the tapes could even be entered as evidence in a legal case. In light of the threat that releasing the tapes poses to both Irish peace and oral history, The Heights truly believes that, in this case, the past should remain the past, and the seven Belfast Project interviews being appealed in this case should be kept under lock and key.
The Heights The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Taylour Kumpf, Editor-in-Chief Daniel Ottaunick, General Manager Lindsay Grossman, Managing Editor
Letter to the Editor Memories of one of Boston College’s finest “Because of Mike, we will all dance longer, sing louder, and fall harder.” Michael Gannon’s sister, Michelle ’12, captured him perfectly with these words. Although a thoughtful and introspective person, Michael would always light up the room with his unforgettable laugh, witty humor, and playful sarcasm. Despite being a double major in Carroll School of Management (Finance and Management & Leadership) and an active member of the Club Water Polo Team, he always made time to be the loudest and most fun at the party. He had the ability to make anyone laugh and smile just by uttering his token phrases “Unreal” and “No way.” He found joy in anything from the latest episode of True Blood to his newest addition to his beloved Sperry collection. His enthusiasm for the small things in life rubbed off on everyone, and his absence is sorely felt among his friends and family. The following quotes are a collection of our favorite thoughts and stories about Michael. “One day when we were cruising around in the Lexus and were just about to turn back into campus, ‘Made in America’ came on and Mike was like, ‘Well, we have to stay in the car for this song,” so we drove another lap around BC . It was a fun, spontaneous moment and it speaks to how fun-loving he was!” – Margaret Manning, A&S ’14 “The time we were at the Esplanade in Boston we saw a bunch of people in sailboats for like sailing practice or something and Mike turns to me, ‘Yeah, actually I was really into sailing for a long time. I was actually on the US Junior Olympic Sailing team.’ I said ‘Really?’, and he went on to say “Yeah man, it was pretty intense.” I thought it was really awesome, but shortly thereafter I discovered he was just f —in with me...” – Connor Hutchison, A&S ’14
with his parents and grandparents and broke his chair trying to get away. 3- Singing ‘Made in America’ with him on Halloween even though no one in the room wanted to hear it. 4- Listening to him try and sing along to Passion Pit while in the shower. 5- Eating lunch with him everyday after our Operations class ... he got me addicted to the paninis at Hillside and convinced me that Chobani isn’t girly cause it has lots of protein in it. I could really go on and on but I guess the overall point is that he made me smile every day and I’ll miss him because of that.” – Kenny Patricia, CSOM ’14 “One of my favorite Mike lines was when he texted me and Colin while we were in the other room, ‘Can one of you play me back in Scramble (with friends) so I can do something while sh—ing.” – Brian Vieten, A&S ’14
“Mike always knew how to make us laugh. I remember one night this past spring when he came over to our room to hang out with us girls. Wearing a red sweatshirt, he wrapped himself in our red blanket and yelled at me, ‘his redheaded friend,’ to come join him on the red couch. He proceeded to entertain us for the entire night with his contagious smile and sense of humor.” – Beth Evans, CSOM ’14
“Even when I did not know him that well, he would burst into song and actually sing very well. It came out of nowhere—I never expected him, this manly man, to freely sing in front of me. Every time we drove anywhere. Mike was never embarrassed to be himself, even when it came to doing cheerleading poses in our room and trying so hard to be flexible when he really just was not.” - Caroline White, A&S ’14
“1-When he fell off the dock over Spring Break trying to stop the boat from drifting too far away. Hilarious moment. 2- When he got scared of a bug at dinner
“My personal favorite memory of him was freshman year Spring Break when he fell off a boat.” – Amelia Burke, CSON ’14
It takes a special kind of person to drive three girls from BC to Newbury Street in Thursday rush hour traffic and circle around the block while they tried on clothes at American Apparel just for a costume party. He was so selfless and loving and didn’t need much to have a good time. We will forever miss his post-practice visits just to talk and eat his staple peanut butter and banana snack. Mike touched so many people, and he will never be forgotten. If you see gold water polo pins or turquoise “MPG Forever” bracelets around campus, you will know you are in the presence of some of the luckiest people in the world who hold Mike close to their hearts. Introduction and Conclusion by Natasha Ettensberger A&S ’14 The Heights welcomes Letters to the Editor not exceeding 200 words and column submissions that do not exceed 700 words for its op/ed pages. The Heights reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, and to prevent libel. The Heights also reserves the right to write headlines and choose illustrations to accompany pieces submitted
to the newspaper. Submissions must be signed and should include the author’s connection to Boston College, address, and phone number. Letters and columns can be submitted online at www.bcheights.com, by e-mail to editor@bcheights.com, in person, or by mail to Editor, The Heights, 113 McElroy Commons, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467.
Business and Operations
Editorial Eleanor Hildebrandt, Copy Editor David Cote, News Editor Greg Joyce, Sports Editor Therese Tully, Features Editor Brennan Carley, Arts & Review Editor Charlotte Parish, Metro Editor Elise Taylor, Opinions Editor Molly Lapoint, Special Projects Editor Jae Hyung (Daniel) Lee, Photo Editor Maggie Burdge, Layout Editor
Alex Manta, Graphics Editor Katie McClurg, Online Manager Michelle Tomassi, Assoc. Copy Editor Chris Grimaldi, Asst. Copy Editor Andrew Millette, Assoc. News Editor Sam Costanzo, Asst. News Editor Chris Marino, Assoc. Sports Editor Austin Tedesco, Asst. Sports Editor Alexandra Schaeffer, Asst. Features Editor Taylor Cavallo, Assoc. Arts & Review Editor
Dan Siering, Asst. Arts & Review Editor Marc Francis, Asst. Metro Editor Graham Beck, Asst. Photo Editor Mary Rose Fissinger, Asst. Layout Editor Joseph Castlen, Asst. Graphics Editor David Riemer, Asst. Online Manager Devon Sanford, Editorial Assistant Cathryn Woodruff, Executive Assistant
Jamie Ciocon, Business Manager James Gu, Advertising Manager Amy Hachigian, National Sales Manager Adriana Mariella, Outreach Coordinator Daniel Arnold, Local Sales Manager Natasha Ettensberger, Collections Manager DJ Terceiro, Asst. Local Sales Manager Christina Quinn, Project Coordinator
The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
A9
Opinions
A league of their own
Thumbs Up The joys of football- No, we’re not talking about our football team, but solid effort this weekend, Chase. Every true Boston College student knows that it’s never about the game, but the mecca of all fall fun, the Shea tailgate. There’s nothing quite like stuffing your face with a hot dog... and other substances while watching all the “cool dads” try to shotgun. Here’s to more Saturdays that we may or may not remember. Blast from the Past at Roggie’s- Speaking of football and their projected lack of any sort of ACC prowess, sources tell TU/TD that Dave Shinskie is now a bouncer at Roggies. On Wednesday, he killed a mutant bug by slapping it with a dish rag. We are just going to leave our thumbs up at that. Green, Glorious, GreenWhen we used to think of O’Neill, we thought of a cement block penitentiary full of overly harsh lighting and bathrooms so pungent they must have been used daily by Japan’s National Sumo Wrestling team. Now, we still think this, but at least it is surrounded by GREEN. Now we can frolic, have joyful picnics, and angrily stomp through fresh green grass because everyone on the pathway just walks too freaking slow. Artsy fartsyness - The art museum in Devlin is featuring the works of Paul Klee this semester, which is gaining national attention. You may not be an art fan, but it sounds worth it to stop by for this once in a lifetime exhibit.
Thumbs Down Hiding food in the minimartAt first we were all for these CityCo knock-offs, but then we realized that they literally took all the good food from the dining halls (Chobani, H u m m u s , b o t t l e d wa ter..) and put them in the minimart. So when we buy a Tuscan Chicken at Eagles Nest, we have to walk up to the old Chocolate Bar to get an Honest Tea. Yes, we know, this is lazy—but this school makes us walk up enough stairs, darnit. I don’t know anyone hereWho are all these people on campus? With most of the junior class off campus or abroad, familiar faces are few and far between. We saw two people we knew on campus yesterday. Two. We’re getting old, people. Class- We love that school has started. We hate, however, that class has. Our professors just love to remind us that college cannot be all fun and games—but really, one of our professors said that he likes giving a midterm close to Halloween to make it as scary as possible. We are shuddering at the fact we may have to go to the library soon. Unwanted visitors- Living off campus has its pros and cons, the latter including a scary-looking man in a baseball cap that likes to raid your trash occasionally. At least he’s nicer than ResLife when he does it. Like TU, TD? Follow us on Twitter @BCTUTD
CJ Gustafson It’s that time of year again, when millions of people sit down at their computers and decide which 15 grown men they are going to adopt into their lives for the next few months. For many, the choices they make in their fantasy football draft will dictate their drastic mood swings, from elation to depression, over the course of the fall. We will worship backups with breakout weeks, yet curse them just as fast when they fumble the ball or throw an interception. Some players will become immortal and revered, others despised for years to come because of their underperformance in one key week. America’s obsession with fantasy football borders on the pathological. We obsess over our players. We study the professional, and even personal, merits of each player and follow their progress through the season with a feverish devotion that could be classified as stalking in some states. We research not only their ability to simply catch or throw a ball, but weigh their capacity to gain yards after the catch and go so far as to dissect their coach’s goal line offense to see if a given player is more likely to get that extra touch in the redzone. Each league regards itself as an elite fraternity. Everyone you talk to will insist that their league is the most competitive, as if there aren’t a plethora of nearly identical leagues, in terms of rules and size, which utilize the same exact pool of players to compete against one another. It’s odd that fantasy football brings both competitiveness and camaraderie. We com-
pete against one another not only for points but also the most creative, and preferably offensive, team name. Even though we despise whichever friend we are matched up against in a given week and curse their position to claim a player off waivers before us, we still have a feeling of togetherness. We talk trash throughout the offseason leading up to the draft, yet simultaneously laud the group of gridiron geniuses we have been able to assemble. It’s interesting to look back over the last 10 years and see how fantasy football has become a cultural symbol for this generation. There’s even a hilarious show called The League that profiles the lives of a group of fantasy fanatics who will go to incredible lengths to execute a trade behind another member’s back, and who hold the “Shiva” championship trophy in higher regards than their wives. Fantasy football fans salivate at the opportunity to watch an entertaining show that they can relate to, since they too had the smarts to take Arian Foster over Adrian Peterson, cried when Victor Cruz came out of nowhere in week three, and almost fainted when Demarco Murray went on a five-week tear. Outside of the actual football games being played, fantasy football is leveraged for its promotional power. Razor makers and deodorant brands empty their coffers for an advertisement block on your league’s homepage and ESPN interrupts Sportscenter highlights of the real football games so Adam Schefter can share with us his tips on how to win in your self-constructed league. But would it be weird if we applied the overarching structure of fantasy football to something else in our daily lives? What if we drafted professors at the start of each semester? We received a point for each time the teacher lets class out early and five if it’s cancelled altogether. Bringing cupcakes or some sort of snack to class
for students is worth three points, while not forcing students to buy the latest edition of a book that has three new pages but is $300 more is worth 10 points. We followed the professors throughout their lunch breaks to determine their mood and if we should start them this week. And in order to gain an upper hand we paid for a membership to a blog to break down the relative strength of schedule as dictated by the course’s syllabus. Just as if you might swap your quarterback for your backup the week in which he plays the Ravens defense, you wouldn’t start your history professor around the time senior theses are being passed in. There are innumerable reasons why we love fantasy football. Maybe
it’s because it gives us the chance to live vicariously through humans of superior athletic ability. Perhaps its because it gives us a feeling of control that upper management must experience on a larger scale with their stacks of Monopoly money. It might just be because we like beating our friends at anything. But aside from sports, it would weird to bring into any other realm of life. So in this case, it’s not bizarre that I know my team is leading the league in off-season arrests. Why did I take Kenny Britt….
The last firsts
Pooja Shah When I made my fourth (and final) move-in this fall, I tried to remember what it felt like first hauling my entire existence from my hometown of New York City to Gonzaga on Upper Campus. I remember the awkward first encounters with floor mates, the rush of excitement of newfound freedom, and the eagerness to begin the best four years of my life. This year, however, my sentiments were completely different. Besides the usual anxieties of packing, loading, and unloading multiple boxes and suitcases, there was another anxiety rapidly growing inside me: senior year anxiety. Senior year anxiety is inescapable. Although it means mod tailgates, final 21st birthday celebrations, and the ability to confidently say you know mostly everything about Boston College, it also means many “last firsts.” Let me explain. For example, this past weekend’s football game marked the “last first” football game of the semester. Or this week was the “last first semester” UGBC retreat I’ll ever go on. Better yet, this Tuesday was the “last first” day of school, ever. You get the point.
CJ Gustafson is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
For young athletes, the dark side of the gold
Marye Moran Watching the Olympics this summer was an emotional rollercoaster for me. Pride for the Americans who worked hard to earn the gold, secondhand embarrassment when I heard athletes attempt to coherently answer even the most basic interview question (Ryan Lochte, I’m looking at you), and awe over the plethora of insanely chiseled abs (Ryan Lochte, I’m looking at you). The one emotion that might seem surprising, though, was pity. When 16year-old gymnast Gabby Douglas stood on the podium to receive her gold medal, all I was thinking was, “that poor girl.” She gets praise for accomplishing so much at such a young age, and it’s true that she worked hard and achieved something great. But I don’t envy her, and do not think the path that she was put on is fair for any child. Being an Olympic athlete is a career. A life. A major sacrifice. Financially, physically, and emotionally, everyone competing in London, or even in contention to compete in London, gave up a normal life in pursuit of the gold. And who am I to say if that is the right or wrong decision for someone? But I also must ask, who is a young child to say if that is the right or wrong decision? Gabby is 16 now, but she started formal gymnastics training at age six, and in order to be gold medal-worthy in just 10 years, she wasn’t just doing cartwheels at the YMCA twice a week like most girls did in grammar school. She was engaging in physically and emotionally trying work, which was a serious financial burden. Maybe she will look back and decide that it was worth it, but maybe not. At the time, she was in no position to be choosing such an intense life. Let’s start with something concrete— the physical burden. Coaches, Pinterest
Lecture Hall
boards, and inspirational posters will say that sports are 99 percent mental, but let’s be real. Imagining that double back tuck wasn’t going to make it happen. Intensive training is necessary and takes its toll. Many gymnasts experience reduced growth potential and have chronic joint and bone issues, as well as a delayed onset of puberty. Jeanne Dopbrak, a sports medicine specialist from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said that “[a child athlete’s] immature skeleton just isn’t ready to handle the day-to-day stresses that will occur.” Aside from those long-term risks, there is the chance of immediate injury, as an Ohio State University study found gymnastics to be the most dangerous sport for girls. There are also the emotional risks. When Gabby was only 14 years old, her training forced her to move 3,000 miles from her family and friends, staying with a host family that she had never before met. After a year, she asked her family if she could leave, give up gymnastics, and return home. Clearly, it was a drastic and difficult change, but Gabby’s family encouraged her to stay. Though everyone has free will, at that age, I for one would not be radically defying the advice of all the adults in my life. Gabby sacrificed time with her family, time for herself, and the normalcy of childhood and teen life, all for gymnastics. It was a decision that she agreed to, but was certainly not independently made. As if those personal setbacks were not enough, Olympic training also comes at a high financial cost. True, this burden goes to the athlete’s family, but think about how much pressure a child faces, knowing that their parents are going into debt to support their sport. In early 2012, Gabby Douglas’s mother filed for bankruptcy, with a reported debt of $80,000. Between travel expenses for competitions, training fees, and equipment, the sport adds up. It is now paying off for Gabby, through major endorsement deals, and she is currently the number one gymnast in the world. What if she had had an off day in London? What if she ended up like
BY PAT HUGHES
all those other athletes who trained just as rigorously and still didn’t get the gold and the sponsors? Money can definitely be a burden for the family and a source of guilt for the athlete. These required sacrifices are true in almost any sport, and for athletes of all ages. After all, swimmer Dana Torres had a staff that cost around $100,000 a year, according to a New York Times article, and Michael Phelps’s former coach Tim Himes said that elite swim clubs cost range between $1500 and $3000 per year. Gabby’s family is not the only one with financial difficulties. Ryan Lochte’s parents’ home was facing foreclosure before the London Olympics. Maybe the most extreme case is Sarah Robles, the weightlifter who lived on $400 a month while training for London. All sports also have their own emotional challenges and health risks, which every athlete must face and overcome. No one is capable of rationally choosing those sacrifices at the age of 16 or, more realistically, in the pre-teen years when the athlete is put on the Olympic training path. Legally, individuals under the age of 18 need to go through an emancipation process to become responsible for themselves, financially and otherwise, and research has shown that the parts of the brain controlling reason and impulse develop until around the age of 25. Should these children who are 10 years away from peak decision-making really be making choices that significantly impact the rest of their lives? Gabby Douglas’s mother is quoted as telling her daughter in 2011, “You can’t come home after all this. You’ve sacrificed all of this time. You’ve sacrificed your body. You’ve sacrificed everything for this dream.” Maybe in the future, Gabby will still think that the gold medal was worth those sacrifices. But maybe she won’t, and she should not have made them if she was not in a position to know. Marye Moran is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
Now I know that my roommates and I may overacknowledge the notion of “last firsts,” but there’s something empowering and innovative about the thought that there will be so many of these moments throughout the year. It is the most crucial time to reminisce and reflect on the past six semesters and everything that they entailed: the opportunity to have late night conversations with your closest friends envisioning how you will be in the next 10 years. Talks about career and life changes, about “remember when we did that?” or “I wish we could go do that again!” For all those precious minutes, nothing else will seem important. Not the classes you are slacking in this semester, or the upcoming LSAT you need to take, or even the many dollars you will be forced to dish out for senior week festivities. All that will remain inscribed in our minds are these next 200 or so days that will mark the conclusion of our college careers. Thinking about the inevitable end is bittersweet. I remember, freshman year, I hated BC and more than anything and wanted to go back home to familiarity. I recall dreading what others have waited their entire lives for. However, I will never forget what an upperclassman once told me when I expressed my fear and apprehension. “You’ll fall in love with Boston College,” she had confidently promised me. Never would I have imagined how much truth was in that statement. For many like me, BC has evolved into a home away from home the past three years, allowing each of us to grow and develop into young adults. It is here where we have met the closest of your friends and made the fondest memories. Sure, there have been rough patches along the way , and that graduation is lurking around the corner announcing the end of a liberated undergraduate career, but we will always remain part of this BC community no matter where we go. Pooja Shah is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
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The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
the heights 2012
football preview Thursday, September 6, 2012
unfinished
business daniel lee / photo editor
inside Power, patience, and pride
Making the jump
From student to teacher
graham beck / heights editor
daniel lee / heights editor
graham beck / heights editor
Andre Williams, Tahj Kimble, and Deuce Finch make up the “threeheaded monster” that will be charging out of the Boston College backfield this fall. Each running back brings a different talent to the offense, and they could prove to be a dangerous weapon for defenses to handle.
This fall marks the beginning of Chase Rettig’s third year as a starting quarterback for the Eagles, and now is the time to step up his game. What’s standing in his way? Inconsistency. But under new offensive coordinator Doug Martin, Rettig is ready to show up every game.
Just a short time ago, Kevin Pierre-Louis was a freshman finding his way on the Boston College defense. Now, the junior linebacker is a seasoned veteran. As the Eagles try to solidify their defense this fall, KPL will be one of the key parts, leading others around him to success.
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B2 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
B2 B6
Week one recap
tHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
The Heights
miami 41
bC 32
Hurricanes down Eagles in season opener Rettig’s career day not enough By Austin Tedesco Asst. Sports Editor
Junior quarterback Chase Rettig threw for more yards than Matt Ryan ever did Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill—and even more than any other Boston College QB since Doug Flutie. Though Rettig was strengthened by the outstanding play of his offensive line, the Eagles still lost to the Miami Hurricanes 41-32 in their season opener. It appears that the script from last season has flipped. It’s no longer a dull offense that can’t make enough plays. Instead it’s now a defense struggling with tackling, coverage, and execution holding the Eagles back. “When you score 32 points, you expect to win,” head coach Frank Spaziani said. “Defense has got to play better than that. We gave up 40 points and we’re not equipped to play junior high basketball games.” The raucous student section had plenty to cheer about in the first eight minutes. Rettig drove BC 80 yards down the field in two and a half minutes, capping off the drive with a handoff to junior tailback Andre Williams for a four-yard touchdown run. The offensive line looked better than it did at any point in 2011, and the rest of the offense took advantage. New offensive coordinator Doug Martin mixed up runs, slants, play action, and screen passes, and even end-arounds to keep the Hurricanes on their heels. Rettig kept it rolling with a 15-yard touchdown pass to converted H-back Jake Sinkovec, finishing a nine-play, 70-yard drive to put the Eagles up 14-0. The drive looked just as easy as the first one, but then the defensive shortcomings started to show. The Eagle defense was bailed out on Miami’s first two drives. An easy first down wasn’t converted when a Hurricane receiver dropped a pass, forcing a punt, and then Spenser Rositano nabbed his first career interception on another inexplicably dropped pass from a Miami receiver. After those first two drives though, the ’Canes started executing and the Eagles stopped. “It’s all about execution,” said junior
defensive end Kasim Edebali. “At the end of the day it’s about who makes more plays, and today it was Miami.” On Miami’s third drive, they didn’t make any mistakes to bail out BC. Soft coverage from the corners and an ineffective pass rush—something that hurt the Eagles last year—allowed Miami quarterback Stephen Morris to pick up solid gains on the Hurricanes’ way to an 83-yard drive, ending in a goal line touchdown run. Rettig made his only mistake of the afternoon on his next drive when the Miami defense finally picked up on BC’s constant slant routes, mainly to junior receiver Alex Amidon, who had a career day with 10 receptions and 149 yards. Hurricane linebacker Denzel Perryman jumped Amidon’s route and took the ball all the way to the end zone to tie the game at 14-14. It was exactly the kind of big play that the Eagle defense couldn’t make when it needed to. “We were able to stop them a lot on defense, we just need to make those big plays,” said junior linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis. Pierre-Louis was one of the few BC defenders who consistently made plays on Saturday. He had a few big rushes on Morris and some timely tackles to save big plays. He credited the entire line backing corps for its play. “We have a great linebacking corps,” Pierre-Louis said. “Nick Clancy, the current MIKE right now, is doing a great job getting the plays in, making the sure defense is set, making sure everybody is in the right spots. There wasn’t a point we felt like, ‘Oh we needed Luke on this play.’ We feel like we have a great linebacking corps.” BC kicker Nate Freese connected on a 27-yard field goal to give the Eagles the lead again, but then the big plays started for the Hurricanes. Lightning-quick freshman running back Duke Johnson broke off a 54-yard run, avoiding BC arm tackles unaffected and strolling into the end zone to put Miami ahead 21-17. Freese then connected on two more field goals, followed by a Miami field goal to give Miami a 24-23 lead late in the third quarter. Johnson then made some noise again, this time with a 56-yard run for another touchdown.
“I think we had a guy misaligned on the first one, and then on the second one we weren’t disciplined enough to be in the right position,” Spaziani said of Johnson’s big plays. “Once again, he’s an explosive back and you can’t give him areas like that to get through.” Morris drove the Hurricanes 47 yards down the field following an impressive return from Johnson to put Miami up 4123 midway through the fourth, and at that point the deficit proved to be too much for BC to overcome. Sophomore running back Tahj Kimble caught a 17-yard pass for a touchdown to pull BC within 11, but fumbles from Kimble and Williams ruined the Eagles’ comeback hopes. Thirty-two points is more than anyone could’ve asked for out of Martin, Rettig, and the rest of the BC offense, but 41 points is, like Spaziani said, the amount you give up in a junior high basketball game. Not college football. The defense has a chance to work out its kinks this Saturday against Maine before it faces another big test at Northwestern the following week. n
scoring plays BOSTON COLLEGE 1st Quarter: Williams 4-yd run (12:26). Sinkovec 15-yd pass from Rettig (7:54). 2nd Quarter: Freese 26-yd FG (10:53). Freese 37-yd FG (3:32). 3rd Quarter: Freese 30-yd FG (9:52). 4th Quarter: Kimble 17-yd pass from Rettig (6:48). Team safety (0:04).
MIAMI
1st Quarter: Clements 1-yd run (0:53). Perryman 41-yd INT return (0:00). 2nd Quarter: Johnson 54-yd run (9:02). 3rd Quarter: Wieclaw 22-yd FG (5:06). Johnson 56-yd run (1:18). 4th Quarter: Wieclaw 24-yd FG (13:35). Lewis 18-yd pass from Morris (9:49).
By Chris Grimaldi Heights Editor
After a dismal 2011 campaign that left Superfans shaking their heads, the Boston College football team looked to take full advantage of a clean slate and a new year in its opener against the Miami Hurricanes. Yet the improvements BC displayed in its 41-32 loss on Saturday were ominously overshadowed by the mistakes that defined last season. An anticipated focal point of the Eagles’ performance was their offensive game plan under new coordinator Doug Martin. Dealt the task of revitalizing a team starved of offense, BC’s new OC showed no hesitation in transforming last year’s dependence on a stagnant ground game to an aggressive assault from the air. Two efficient drives orchestrated by junior quarterback Chase Rettig left the Hurricanes’ defense flat on their feet, and both resulted in scores that set the tone for a high-scoring afternoon. Despite the nine-point deficit at game’s end, the rejuvenated Eagles’ attack tallied 32 points on the board and accumulated 542 yards of total offense. Fourth-year head coach Frank Spaziani took note of his team’s drastic improvement, particularly after spending a season at the bottom of the ACC in all major offensive categories. “I thought we moved the ball,” Spaziani said of his offense. “I think we did some nice things.” The Eagles’ outburst, however, would not have been possible without a strong showing from under center. In the first game of a crucial junior season, Chase Rettig came out of the gates determined to make the transition from an average ACC quarterback to an elite gamechanger in a competitive conference. “[Chase] played well enough to win. I think Chase did a good job., Spaziani said in response to his starting quarterback’s performance. “But we lost, and I’m sure he’s going to be the first one to say that.” While the game went into the record books as a loss for the Eagles, it also marked a turning point in the maturation of Rettig’s promising career. The junior completed 32 of his 51 passing attempts on the day, throwing for a career-best 441 yards and two touchdowns. Not only was Rettig’s start the first 400-yard game of his tenure on the Heights, but also the
most productive by a BC quarterback since Eagle legend Doug Flutie threw for 447 yards against Penn State nearly 28 years ago. After an afternoon of solid protection from BC’s offensive line and a sense of poise from the pocket that his critics constantly sought, Rettig left little doubt that he and his teammates felt more comfortable with Doug Martin’s energized strategy. “We played for 550 yards,” Rettig said. “I feel like we out-tempoed them. We were calling plays before their D-line was even set. I thought the offense played good.” Particularly noticeable was the connection Rettig established with junior wide receiver Alex Amidon on a number of drives. Benefiting from Rettig’s aggressiveness and accuracy, Amidon caught a personal best 10 receptions, and went over 100 receiving yards in a single game for the second time in his career. Rettig credited BC’s manipulation of the Hurricane defense for the Eagles’ highest single-game point total since last September against UMass. “They kind of ran a lot of the things they ran last year – lots of zone,” Rettig said. “You see the holes in the zone. Coach Martin did a good job scheming it up.” Yet the deciding factor in this game was not flawless play by Miami, but rather the miscues BC suffered on both sides of the ball. Compounded with a defensive performance that featured several missed tackles and an inability to make the key third-down stops necessary to keep the game in reach was the Eagles’ habit of turning the ball over. BC fumbled four times, with the most costly miscue occurring deep in Miami territory during the fourth quarter when Tahj Kimble could not secure the football after receiving a deep pass from Rettig. When the smoke cleared, Miami had scored 17 of its 41 points on BC turnovers. Spaziani realized that it was his team’s lack of ball control and flawed execution that allowed an otherwise conservative Miami offense to steal the game away from the Eagles. “That was a winnable game,” he said. “Not taking anything away from Miami. They deserved to win, but we need to play better. We need to catch the ball, hold onto the ball, and tackle. Those are the things we can improve on, and we need to.” n
Tight-knit wideouts receptive to new offense With Bobby Swigert sidelined due to an injured ankle, the wide receivers are looking to use experience to step up their play
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By Andrew Klokiw Heights Staff
n Chase Rettig’s three years as a quarterback on the Heights, he has become pretty well acquainted with the likes of Cole Biscuits, Swag Daddy, and Grandpa. With football players so often hidden behind their facemasks, an outside observer would never know this trio to be three of Boston College’s top five wide receivers: Johnathan Coleman, Bobby Swigert, and Donte Elliott, respectively. This list is not meant to omit the always-entertaining giver of these nicknames, Colin Larmond, Jr., and the man with the nickname not fit for print, Alex Amidon. The charismatic Larmond appears, at least outwardly, to be the unquestioned leader of the receiving core, and with good reason. When a question is posed to the group, it is almost always the fifth-year senior to whom the others defer. It comes as no surprise that the nicknames are his creation, as was a new tradition that he recently initiated. Of this he said, “I just started something the other night, as I was reading my playbook. I texted all the receivers, including the ones
on the scout team and the freshman. There are 14 of us and I texted all of them ‘Good Night.’ The next day we came in and they had no idea what that was about.” Fatherly texts aside, Larmond is a receiver who has shown impressive flashes throughout his four years at BC. In his sophomore year, Larmond finished second on the team in receptions (29), yards (596) and touchdowns (five), behind then-senior Rich Gunnell. After tearing his ACL in the summer of 2010 before his junior year even started, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver came back to put up similar numbers last year. The injury, while an obvious setback, has provided Larmond with the advantage of experience, resilience, and most importantly, perspective. With the Eagles’ top receiver, Bobby Swigert, battling a left knee injury that will keep him out at least another week, Larmond had some advice for the embattled junior. “With [Swigert] being out now, I texted him, because I know what it’s like,” said Larmond of the junior that he had redubbed “Mr. Hobbles.” “I told him that it could be way worse and that he’s just got to be positive and stay with it.” With Swigert sidelined for the foresee-
graham beck / heights editor
Coleman had a strong camp in August, and the Eagles will need him to step up this season.
able future, an opportunity has been given to fellow junior Amidon. Sporting his ever-present shoulder-length hair, Amidon provides another unique personality to go along with Swigert and Larmond. The soft-spoken receiver broke through near the end of the 2011 campaign as he started the final five games, becoming a fan favorite in the process. The speedy Amidon, described as a “workaholic” by Larmond, styles his game to emulate another receiver known for his exceptional work-rate, Jerry Rice. The emphasis on experience among Rettig’s top receiving targets continues in the slot with Coleman. When asked which player on the team he is most looking forward to seeing this season, Amidon readily pointed to Coleman. The injury to Swigert allows the 6-foot4 Coleman an opening to potentially show the coaches and fans alike what Amidon already knows. Operating out of the slot will give Coleman the chance to run various routes over the middle, which could make him a safety valve for Rettig. When asked about his relationship with his classmate, Coleman raved, “I feel like Amidon and I got a lot closer over the summer, not only on the field but off as well, even just doing normal things like playing Xbox. When you know each other so well, it helps you to push through in practice and games when you’re tired.” The final piece to the receiving corps is the unheralded fifth-year senior, Elliott, affectionately referred to as “Grandpa.” In the words of Larmond, the nickname is the product of Elliott’s penchant for “always trying to tell people what to do.” Elliott appeared in all 12 g ame s in his junior campaign, and along with Larmond, provides a steady veteran hand for some of the more unproven receivers. Tying all of these various personalities together is the man in the pocket, Rettig. Dubbed “Chas-e” (pronounced something like Chass-ay) by Larmond, Rettig is going into his third year with all five of these receivers, and Amidon is hoping the familiarity will pay off. “For Coleman and I, this is our third year with Chase,” Amidon said. “Every year we come into the offseason with him and we get back on the same page. graham beck / I think right now, we’re a lot heights editor
graham beck / heights editor
Larmond, Jr. (left) and Elliot (right) are the most experienced wideouts returning to the roster. closer with him then we’ve ever been.” Having worked with the likes of Dominique Davis, Dave Shinskie, and various other quarterbacks before the arrival of Rettig on the Heights, Larmond has a particular appreciation for the junior. Larmond acted as the mouthpiece for the rest of the receivers with glowing comments about their rapport with the signal caller. “He’s taken a tremendous leap in terms of leading the offense and becoming a vocal leader,” Larmond said. “The receivers, we all respect him. No o n e ’s e v e r showed him up and he’s never shown any of us up. It’s a great mutual understanding, and if he does yell at us that’s his job.” However, the most influential individual for the receivers may not be Rettig, but new offensive coordinator Doug Martin instead. With the premature departure of Martin’s predecessor, Kevin Rogers, the
former Kent State head coach has been installed to lead the offense for the 2012 season and beyond. The players praised Martin’s new offense, often referring back to the word “simple,” as the best way to describe what they have seen so far. “[The new offense] is not as complex, the concepts and messages are straightforward,” said Larmond. “There’s no trickeration, it’s easy for us to understand. He’s done a great job from day one, coming in and explaining the offense.” While “trickeration” may not exist in Webster’s dictionary, it does seem to be the most difficult thing to understand in what Martin has brought with him to the Heights. One can see that this group of receivers is not just another cliche. When they say they’re close, they mean it. If Rettig is to make the next step in his quarterbacking career, he will need all five of these players to make that step with him this season. Coming off of a 4-8 season is not conducive to unrealistic expectations though, especially in what was a bit of a down year for the receiving core—and who better to provide the finishing touch on a season’s worth of expectations than Larmond? “If we don’t win the first game of the season, the season’s not over,” Larmond said of his hopes for the receivers and the 2012 season on the whole. “But also if we win the first game of the season, we’re not going to the Orange Bowl. For us now, we’re still 4-8 until the season’s over.” n
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
FOOTBALL PREVIEW B3B7B3
The Heights
daniel lee / heights editor
‘Three-headed monster’ back for more Power, patience, and pride define the Boston College backfield By Austin Tedesco | Asst. Sports Editor Andre Williams is tired. The Parkland High School track star just finished an exhausting and disappointing third place in the 110-meter hurdles at the Allentown Invitational. He doesn’t have time to rest, though, because the next race is the 100-meter dash, Williams’ best. He immediately jogs back to the starting line, readies himself, gets set, and goes. ‘’I’m tired right now, but at least I ran like I knew I could,” Williams, a senior at the time, would say after he completed the 100. “I didn’t have the race I wanted to in the hurdles, so I just used that disappointment to fuel my 100.” Just 10.7 seconds later, Williams blew out his competition, earning a first-place finish and the area’s best time. For those people who look at the six-foot, 220-pound Williams, now a junior at Boston College and the Eagles’ starting running back, and just see a bruising power back, they’re in for a surprise. “I guess that’s what they see me as because I’m big, so you don’t really see how fast I’m moving until you’re next to me on the field,” Williams said. “I don’t know who else is faster on the team than me.” Tahj Kimble, one of his teammates and a fellow member of the BC backfield, confirmed that Williams’ speed can’t be matched, not even by Kimble himself, a smaller back known for his ability to break away from defenders with his quickness. “No, no way,” Kimble said when asked if he is faster than Williams. “I’m not faster than him. He’s got it. I know that it’s crazy since he’s a power runner and I’m the flashy guy, so it’s supposed to be me with the speed, but no way, he’s got it.” Williams attributes his hidden speed to the three years of track he ran in high school, especially the back-to-back races at most meets. “It was kind of bad sometimes that it worked out that way, but it really got my stamina up,” Williams said. “Running the races back to back, it was actually kind of fun. Going out there and running the 110 hurdles and then jogging back to do the 100 again.” Williams wasn’t just a star on the track. He made his loudest noise on Parkland’s football field when he arrived in Pennsylvania from Georgia heading into his junior season. “[Andre] came in the spring before his junior year and came in with his mom and dad and everything—some people had actually called me and told me that, you know, he’s a heck of a football player and when he got here that certainly was the truth,” Parkland head coach Jim Morgans said. “He did a great job for us here. We were a Wing-T football team when he got here and that’s a pretty complex offense. His junior year it took him maybe the first three or four games to catch on the blocking schemes and so on and so forth, but once he got it he did a great job for us.” Parkland lost the district championship game at the end of Williams’ junior season, and after the game Williams and another teammate set up a meeting in Morgans’ office. “They said, ‘We don’t mean to be boastful, but we want to be the captains. We think we can take this team in the right direction next year.’ I’ve never had a kid do that before,” Morgans said. “He was absolutely a leader. As far as in the school, he did the same thing. Some guys can get a big head especially in high school, but he was nothing like that.” As a captain, Williams dominated during his senior season. “He was the man,” Morgans said. “He just took over. He rushed for almost 2,000 yards, and we’re very happy he’s at Boston College. He had offers from other places, but not as many as you would think, and I think the reason why is because of the transfer.” Williams’ combination of speed and power was nearly impossible to stop at the high school level. “He’s a runaway cement truck,” Morgans said. “He just was moving all over the place. He was very difficult to tackle, especially if he broke into the secondary. If he broke into the secondary, you know those guys are a little bit smaller and ’Dre is a big kid, a big fast back with a lot of movement, so when he got into the secondary he just broke so many tackles. When I say a lot of movement, I’m not saying necessarily jump moves or anything like that, but his body was moving all over the place. His shoulders were moving and he ran low. His legs are very big. He would deliver blows—it was actually fun to watch—a lot of times instead of breaking to the sidelines and trying to run away from a pursuer he would turn and run into them and knock them over. And we play in a pretty good conference here in eastern Pennsylvania.” Williams has continued to look for the hit since making the jump to college ball. “’Dre’s a big guy,” Kimble said. “He’s the type that will bang you here then bang you there and just run you over. He’ll give you a move sometimes, but he’s not really looking
for that. He’ll just run right at you and let you know that he’s coming to run you over and that he’s coming for contact.” “My mouth always waters a bit when I see cornerbacks or just DBs in general that are 200 pounds or under because I know they’re going to be feeling me a little bit in the game,” Williams said. “I look for the hit, but it’s also kind of a mind game you’ve got to play sometimes. In that first quarter, everybody is hype. Everybody is trying to hit you and everybody is trying to talk crap in your ear, but after that first quarter everybody is hurting a little bit and everybody’s a little nicked up and you’ve just got to show them that you’re going to have to deal with it for three more quarters. Sometimes when they think you’re going to deliver a hit, that’s when you can give them a move or shake them a little bit easier because they’re bracing for it.” In BC’s season opener against Miami, Williams did just that. He pounded the Hurricane linebackers all game, and then late in the second half, when BC needed a first down, he broke through the line—but was faced with another Miami linebacker in his way. He ducked his head as if he was going to lay a hit, but as the defender approached, Williams juked left and broke free to pick up the first down. Williams wasn’t perfect in the game, though. He ran for 49 yards on 2.7 yards per carry and added a four-yard touchdown run, but he never broke off a big run and even coughed up the ball near the Eagle goal line as BC attempted a comeback. If he wants to be the feature back for this offense, he’s going to need to do more, and he knows that. He also knows how much effort it is going to take, and the track is always a reminder of what he can accomplish with his work ethic. “I always wanted to do football,” Williams said. “That’s where I knew I was going to get the scholarship and that’s what I wanted to do in college, but I do miss the track a lot. I wish BC had a track because I’d be on it a lot. I ended up bringing my speed suit and my spikes and everything, but it’s okay.” BC won’t need Williams jumping hurdles or moving past runners on weekend track meets. The Eagles need that speed suit to show up on the turf each and every Saturday. Deuce Finch is frustrated. He’s coming off of an outstanding junior year at St. Xavier in Kentucky that included 1,555 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, a 9.15 yards per carry average, and a 322-yard, five touchdown game early in the season. In St. Xavier’s Green and Gold Scrimmage during the second week of August heading into his senior season, Finch went up for a pass across the middle but slipped, doing the splits and straining his MCL. It’s four weeks into his senior season, about six weeks after the injury, and Finch is still being hampered by that MCL. “When he came back he just didn’t have the same pop to him and he was really down, so it took him about another three weeks to really get his mind back—so he missed about three games and struggled for a game or two—but all of a sudden, once he knew he was 100 percent, he exploded,” St. Xavier head coach Michael Glaser said. That 100 percent game came against Louisville Trinity, St. Xavier’s biggest rival. Trinity ended an undefeated season for St. Xavier in the playoffs the year before, and Finch was looking for revenge. He dominated with 149
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yards on 18 carries and one touchdown in a 30-6 win in front of 40,000 people. “He always played big in big games,” Glaser said. “He just lit the place up.” Now heading into his junior season at BC, Finch is dealing with the same frustration. He missed his second year with an ACL injury that caused him to redshirt, and although he looked like the primary back during all of spring and summer camp, he’s currently hampered by a foot injury that is limiting his carries. Finch caught a 14yard out in practice and as he was heading up the sideline a tackler grabbed him by the jersey and fell on his foot, bending it in ways feet are not meant to bend. Finch tried to get back into the scrimmage, but he couldn’t run or even put pressure on his foot. It took him 10 days to get back on the practice field. “It’s just frustrating having a lot on injuries since I’ve been here and not always being at 100 percent. I guess by this time I kind of got used to not being 100 percent. I just try to fight through it,” Finch said. “He never gave up,” Glaser said. “He hasn’t had an easy road, with some untimely injuries in high school, and then I remember his freshman year at BC he just stayed at it and stayed the course, and I think that’s why I’m most proud of him. He’s just a great kid. Such a hard runner, a hard worker, really mature beyond his years. I know our president said, ‘You need to go out and find more guys like Deuce Finch.’ He was just an outstanding young man both on and off the field.” Finch, whose given name is Rolandan, just like his father, got nicknamed Deuce early on to avoid confusion. His father also played running back in college, and Deuce learned a lot of lessons from his dad, especially his unique running style. “Deuce is a bigger back like me,” Williams said. “Not quite as big, but he’s just versatile. He can do everything. I see him having the least amount of weaknesses. There’s nothing he really lacks as a running back. I’d say he’s pretty well-rounded.” “He’s very physical, downhill, runs with great balance,” Glaser said. “He’s a really strong runner and runs with a low center of gravity and has those huge thighs which make him very hard to tackle and he’s got better speed than you’d think.” “Deuce is a patient runner,” Kimble added. “He’ll get the ball and then wait for a hole to open up before he bursts through and after that he can give you a move or run a guy over. I think he’s balanced both ways since he can make people miss and he’s a power runner.” It’s rare to see Finch get the ball and accelerate immediately past the line. He’s patient and deliberate with every move he makes. He takes his time, waiting for the offensive line to pave a path for him, and then he attacks, hard. If Finch is going to find success in his junior year as an Eagle, he’s going to once again need to convert that patience on the field into patience off of it as he makes his way back to the field from injury. Tahj Kimble is convinced he sees daylight. It’s his first scrimmage ever at BC and the freshman tailback just took a handoff to the left hash-mark, only to have the hole be closed off by defensive linemen. He cuts back to the right, but there’s a defensive end waiting for him. No problem, Kimble thinks. He gives the end the same juke move he gave so many high school defenders, maybe a half step left and then a split-second later a quick jump to the right, and it looks like he has room to the outside. “I just saw a lot of green and coach had been talking to me a lot about false daylight because the game is so fast,”
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Kimble said. “But me just coming out of high school, I was thinking that was the way to go. In high school that’s usually a touchdown, so I started running that way and the safety comes down, then the linebacker comes down and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, snap, what am I going to do?’” All Kimble could do was concede the tackle. For the human highlight film from Fernandina Beach, Fla., this was a brand new game. “It was a big transition coming from high school to college, but I feel like the redshirt year helped me out a lot so I could learn the game and learn how to still make those moves, but also add a little more to it and be more of a complete back.” Kimble is still waiting to have his breakout moment as a complete, collegiate player. He redshirted his first season at BC, taking time to adjust to the college game. Last season, Kimble had some decent pickups here and there, but unlike Williams, who rushed for 185 yards on 42 carries against Syracuse as a freshman two years ago, and Finch, who put up 243 yards on 39 attempts against Maryland last year, Kimble hasn’t had that huge game yet. At his absolute best, Kimble can be the big play threat that the Eagles lacked during 2011. With Williams and Finch both providing a bruising attack that will wear down opponents, Kimble can come in and switch things up in the same vein as LaMichael James or Darren Sproles. “When I was getting recruited, they knew what kind of back I was and they wanted to bring a different style in,” Kimble said. “Something to switch it up a little bit, and I feel like I fit in with it really well.” Whereas Williams’ first instinct is to bulldozer right over a pursuer and Finch is more prone to be patient and wait for his blocks to take over, Kimble uses his lightning quick feet to shake some ankles and continue on his way. “I think what makes Tahj unique is his feet,” Williams said. “He’s got scissors for feet. They’re always going this way and that way, so he’s bound to make a couple people miss.” “He had amazing feet, I would say,” Fernandina Beach head coach Ed Brown said. “He’s a tough runner. He’ll get in there and be really good at making people miss.” The challenge for Kimble, now, is to make it happen at a higher level of competition, game in and game out. “He’s been waiting for his opportunity to go out there and shine and I think as long as he stays healthy, he’s going to go out there and surprise a lot of people,” Brown said. Kimble certainly surprised people with his performance on Saturday against Miami. He contributed 175 total yards to the Eagle attack as well as a receiving touchdown. But when the Eagles needed a big play, Kimble just didn’t quite have enough burst in him to break to the outside and make it. From now on, that will be expected of him. Williams, Finch, and Kimble are being led by new offensive coordinator Doug Martin and running backs coach Sean Desai, and so far the transition has been smooth. “He didn’t really come in trying to impose himself on us too much,” Williams said of Desai. “He’s just doing his thing. We’ve all been here for a while already so it’s not like we need to learn how to play running back. He’s just making sure we’re solid on our fundamentals and I think he’s doing a good job.” Kimble reiterated that Desai is an easygoing coach that has been working with his guys to get them paperwork and film whenever they need it. “I like him a lot,” Kimble said. “He’s a cool guy on and off the field. You can come to him any time and talk to him about anything.” The main story for BC’s offense in its opener with the Hurricanes was quarterback Chase Rettig’s 400-yard passing day, but the Eagles won’t always have such remarkable success against opposing secondaries. Finch observed that Miami was targeting the run, opening up room for Rettig to throw. “Miami had us schemed up pretty well,” he said. “They had people in the right places a lot of the times, and they seemed like they really wanted to focus on stopping the ground game.” Although the Hurricanes targeted the run, Finch didn’t use that as an excuse for the less than 100 yards of rushing between Kimble and Williams. “We just want to try to get the ground game going,” Finch said. “Obviously Chase did great, but if we get the ground game going that could obviously open up more things for Chase.” This rushing trio will be asked to carry the offense on its shoulders multiple times as the year goes on, and amid all of the uncertainty from the outside, the group isn’t lacking confidence. “I think all three of us definitely have our own unique style and that’s going to help our offense quite a bit because defenses are going to have trouble preparing for three different types of backs,” Williams said. “I think it’s unique,” Kimble said, “because we all have different styles and it fits into us just becoming one big three-headed monster.” n
B4 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Heights
tHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
FOOTBALL PREVIEW B5B7B5
The Heights
Chase Rettig’s biggest enemy is inconsistency. Under new offensive coordinator Doug Martin, he hopes to find that consistency and become an elite QB
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By Greg Joyce | Sports Editor
ixty minutes. Sixty minutes for 12 games. That’s all a team has to prove itself during the college football season. It’s even less time for a quarterback. A quarterback will likely be under center for around 30 minutes of each game. He has just 30 minutes to prove he is the real deal. To prove he is an elite quarterback. To prove he has made the jump from a flashy high school recruit to a college standout. Chase Rettig has not yet put together the full 30 minutes in his audition. During his 21 games between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, he’s shown minutes of greatness. He’s also shown minutes of being a true freshman thrown into the fiery wrath of the ACC. He’s shown minutes of Matt Ryan, followed by minutes of a quarterback who’s still finding his feet. He’s shown minutes of a quarterback that is the ultimate student of the game, followed by minutes of a quarterback who has played under four different offensive coordinators in just over two years. For Rettig and Boston College, the 2012 football season is all about showing 30 minutes of Chase Rettig. Inconsistency stands between Rettig and the win column. It stands between Rettig and the ACC’s elite
quarterbacks. It might even be what’s standing between Rettig and the BC greats. It’s his biggest challenge to overcome this fall. And it looks like it’s finally Rettig’s time to do it. “Just Win” It’s not something he’s blind to. Chase Rettig knows the one thing he needs to have this season is consistency. Play a full 60-minute game for 12 games, and the questions about Rettig as a quarterback will disappear. “There’s parts of last year you can watch where you can see me and the rest of our team on an elite level some plays,” Rettig said. “But we just need to build consistency, and all that stuff will take care of itself. I think if I can stay in this offense and not get out of it, just stay in the reads, it’ll take care of itself that way.” Game One of the 2012 campaign is in the books, and Rettig did almost everything he needed to do. Save for one interception, the California native had a career day, completing 32-of-51 passes for 441 yards and two touchdowns. It was absolutely a step in the right direction. It was almost a complete game from Rettig and the offense, but they came up a few minutes short. “We played for 550 yards of offense,” Rettig said after the game. “I thought the offense played good. The
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Ever since Doug Martin got to BC, Rettig has been doing his best to learn from the offensive guru, saying he wants to be an extension of Martin on the field.
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Rettig showed flashes of being a great quarterback in 2011, but had other moments that he wishes he could have back. only thing I can come back to is third-and-ones. We didn’t convert a couple of third-and-ones and just not scoring touchdowns when we were in the red zone. We had a couple good looks, a couple good plays—we’ve just got to finish them.” Finishing games was where the Eagles went wrong in 2011. A 4-8 season left a bad taste in the mouths of the players, coaches, and fans alike. Negativity surrounded the program throughout the offseason. Yet Rettig feels that his team was a few fourth quarters away from a completely different outcome. “We just didn’t win enough close games last year, or else our record could have been flipped if we had,” he said. “To fix that, obviously just win. That’s all people in the program really care about. Just win.” Of the 30 minutes and 32 seconds his offense had the ball during each game last year, Rettig would absolutely like a few of those minutes back. The minutes of inconsistency led to BC not being able to finish out many of its games, and that may have taken a toll on the mentality of the Eagles. “We just hung our heads a little bit too long, and we weren’t able to find the wins in the fourth quarter last year that we did my freshman year,” Rettig said. “Hopefully we can get back to playing four quarters of football this year and finishing games and finishing drives on offense and scoring touchdowns instead of field goals.” “The difference between average and good” Playing four quarters of football is exactly what new offensive coordinator Doug Martin has in mind for Rettig and the offense. After he was hired at BC last December, Martin was quick to watch every single game that Rettig has played while donning the maroon and gold. What he came away with was flashes: times when Rettig would march the offense down the field for
a touchdown, but other times when the offense went stagnant for too long. “I’ve seen the [inconsistency] on films,” Martin explained. “I’ve seen [Chase] look dynamic, and I’ve seen him not look dynamic. The key is for him and for our entire offense to have a standard of performance that’s very high, that we keep high, and that we maintain each week. “That’s the definition of a great player: they show up the same way every week. That’s exactly the challenge I’ve thrown out to [Rettig].” Martin sees overcoming inconsistencies on the field as Rettig’s biggest challenge as a quarterback in order to step into the “elite” group of QBs in the ACC. “Absolutely, and I think that’s the biggest challenge for the whole offense,” Martin said. “There are times the offense played well last year, and other times they didn’t. That’s the difference between average and good.” While consistency is what Rettig needs in order to take the next step as a quarterback, having a full season in Martin’s newly instituted offense won’t hurt either. The system is designed for quarterbacks like Rettig to thrive in, and both he and Martin see great opportunity in the new offense. It didn’t take long for Rettig to delve into Martin’s offensive playbook. He got a call from his new offensive coordinator on Christmas Day, and as soon as Rettig got back to campus in January, he went right to work with Martin. “He told me he was excited and that he had watched me, and he thought I had a ton of potential,” Rettig said. “So then going into the spring, he unveiled this offense that he ran at Kent State and different places. A bunch of the QBs loved it right away. It’s kind of more attack-first, throw the ball around, so obviously it’s great for a quarterback. We went through that
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transition, and then all the QBs took it upon ourselves to learn as much as we could so we could help the other guys that were going into another offense: the receivers, the tight ends, the running backs.” Rettig wants to be an extension of Martin on the field, and he took the time during the spring and summer to build on that goal. After meeting with Martin repeatedly throughout last semester and working with him during spring football, Rettig took it upon himself to continue running Martin’s offense during the summer even when Martin could not be there due to NCAA regulations. The work Rettig put in during the summer was vital in Martin’s eyes, as he not only continued to learn the offense, but also established relationships with his offensive teammates. “[Chase] was really good about getting the receivers together, the tight ends and the running backs, and throwing pass skeleton this summer against the defensive backs,” Martin said. “He did that all on his own. The coaches can’t be out there for those things. He called his own plays during those [practices]. He stepped up and did a great job leading the team during that time.” “We just wanted to be an extension of Coach Martin, and I think we’ve done a good job of that in the spring and the summer,” Rettig said. “Guys picked it up.” The offense that Rettig learned and taught to his teammates throughout the spring and summer was a very up-tempo one. The goal is to get to the line of scrimmage and call plays before the opponent’s defensive line is even set. Using Martin’s multiple one-back offense, filled with shifts and motions, Rettig adapted to a system that he found more freedom in than the ones he played in during his freshman and sophomore years. “My first two years, it was like calling the plays where if something didn’t look good, we still had to run that play,” Rettig explained. “This offense is a little [flexible] because we have a chance to call two different plays. It gives me more freedom. It’s good because I can put us in a better situation. When you get the play and then you change it to the right play and it works, it’s just gratifying. It makes all the hard work pay off.” While Rettig has worked on being an extension of his offensive coordinator on the field, Martin is happy to give him that freedom under center. Regardless of what play Martin calls in the huddle, he wants Rettig to be able to think on his own at the line of scrimmage, especially if he sees certain ways to exploit the opponents’ defense on a given coverage. “[Chase] understands what I’m trying to do with game plans and with the offense. He’s disciplined enough to execute it that way,” Martin said. “At the same time, I don’t want to stifle him. I want him to be creative and be able to make plays when he sees something there that maybe we haven’t practiced, but he just sees. “He’s got a lot of freedom at the line of scrimmage. He’ll be handling a lot things for us, putting us in the right play. He’s got a lot of say in what we do offensively.” “I don’t think someone would say it was easy” Consistency hasn’t been a friend to Chase Rettig and the offense off the field either. When he first got to BC, Gary Tranquill called the shots as offensive coordinator. Head coach Frank Spaziani had not planned on using Rettig as a starter that early, as ideally Rettig would have redshirted his freshman year. But three games into the season, Spaziani had seen enough, and, with a primetime game against Notre Dame at Alumni Stadium looming, decided to it was time to introduce Rettig to college football. “That was a tough situation on him,” Spaziani said. “If I remember right, his preseason camp, he didn’t get as many reps, he really wasn’t a standout in there. We were trying to make some decisions with the guys we had, and he didn’t jump out and say, ‘Okay, put me in the mix.’ But he was in the mix. And then we just bit the bullet and made a decision to put him in there.” Rettig’s career started off with four straight incompletions against the Fighting Irish, but he followed that up with a 58-yard beauty to Bobby Swigert for his first collegiate touchdown. “It was great,” Rettig said. “That’s why I came
in early that year, was to try to compete and it worked out. One of our first drives, I threw a touchdown. I’ll always remember that.” But on the next series, Rettig went down awkwardly on his ankle and was out for the rest of the game. He lost the next two games he started, but finished the season by leading BC to five straight wins.
“Chase wants to be coached. He wants to be a great player. When guys have that kind of attitude, it’s really easy to get them where they want to go. He’s in a really good place right now.” - Doug Martin Offensive Coordinator
“He did a remarkable job, really, for not enough experience and then being injured and coming back. He did a great job there,” Spaziani said. Just a year later, Kevin Rogers was hired to replace the retired Tranquill. The Rettig-Rogers connection seemed exciting and healthy entering the 2011 season, but it was cut short, as Rogers left his post at OC just two games into the schedule, citing health reasons. Dave Brock filled in for Rogers through the end of the season, but he bolted for Rutgers two months after he was named Special Teams coach at the end of the year. “We kind of got in a little situation last year where the situation changes as far as offensive coordinator goes, and he had to adapt to that and that’s not the ideal situation,” Spaziani said. “He’s overcome all of that, and he’s a better person for it.” The relationship between a quarterback and his offensive coordinator is often the most important one a QB can have, but Rettig has been without a consistent mentor as an Eagle. “Would it have been better to have the same [offensive coordinator] for three years? Yes. But is it debilitating? No, it’s not that,” said head coach Frank Spaziani. “[Chase] is such a student of the game coming from his background in California. He’s adapted real well to it.” Rettig agrees that it has not been the easiest job to transition from one coordinator to the next, but he knows it may pay dividends somewhere down the line.
“Last year was really hard. I just thought we were better than our record implied. But on any given day, you just got to show up. Just play every down until the end of the game, till the whistle blows.” - Chase Rettig Quarterback “I don’t think someone would say it was easy,” Rettig said. “But it’s just … stability, it helps sometimes. Especially if you like the offense, because you know it cold. You know everything. I think it’ll be an advantage to me down the line because I had all these different offensive coordinators.” The flexibility and creativeness available to Rettig at quarterback is a breath of fresh air for him, even if it is the fourth offense he’s learned as he goes into his third year on the Heights. “I think the offense we run right now is great, so I’m happy we’re in it now,” Rettig said. Rettig looked like he knew the offense pretty well in the opener against Miami on Saturday, but it’s not surprising given the close relationship
he and Martin have built so far. “I think it’s a real positive chemistry between them,” Spaziani said. “They’re on the same page. Doug’s demanding, and Chase likes to be pushed.” Martin has been impressed with Rettig’s desire to learn as well. “Chase wants to be coached. He wants to be a great player. When guys have that kind of attitude, it’s really easy to get them where they want to go,” Martin said. “I think we’ve got a real trusting relationship. I think he believes in what we’re doing. He’s adapted the offense very quickly. He’s in a really good place right now. It’s just a matter of getting the game experience in doing these things.” “On any given day” The time is now for Chase Rettig. Spaziani knows it, Martin knows it, and Rettig himself knows it. It’s time to make the jump. It’s time to play the 30 full minutes. Rettig has all the physical and mental tools to take the next step in his progression as a quarterback. Martin sees intangibles in him that you can’t teach, and he believes that is a good sign of things to come this season. “The things that are really attractive about Chase are that he has a great vision of the field, and you can’t coach that,” Martin said. “When the defensive line is coming at them, guys can either keep their eyes downfield and see what’s happening or they can’t. He’s one of those guys. He’s blessed with that ability.” Martin also noted that Rettig lost 10 pounds in the offseason, and is in great shape thanks to the new strength and conditioning coach Mike Poidomani. Rettig’s improved agility and ability to move around in the pocket could also be a factor in him having a breakout year. Spaziani has seen Rettig get better in the offseason, as he used his time wisely to step up his game throughout the spring and summer. Now it’s his time to show it. “Chase has gotten better in all aspects of his game, in the laboratory that he’s been in [practice],” Spaziani said. “We’re going to find out how that’s going to translate. It usually translates. But I feel good about him. I’ll feel better when he steps up and zings it down the field and somebody catches it. I’ll say, ‘Ooh, yeah, there’s what we’re looking for.’” There’s only one way for Rettig to prove the doubters wrong and erase much of the negativity that clouded over the program last season—win. To do that, he needs to play like the real Chase Rettig for the whole 60 minutes, every game. “Last year, there was just a lot of negativity going on around the football program, just because we didn’t go to our bowl game, we didn’t continue the streak,” Rettig said. “We were a little bit younger last year, and some of the guys … we weren’t there to be a fourth quarter team, to keep us in the win column instead of the loss column. Guys are just anxious to prove themselves this year, and get back to where we were the year before and the year before and get back into a bowl game.” Spaziani has faith that if the guys around Rettig help their quarterback out on the field by giving him extra time in the pocket and catching any ball thrown in their vicinity, that he will be able to make the jump. “We give him the help, we catch the ball, we protect him—now he has to be a little bit better than good to make that next step,” Spaziani said. Nobody wants a repeat of the 2011 season. Too much is on the line this season for BC, as the numbers in the win and loss column at the end of the season could dictate the future direction of the program. Rettig knows a lot of that is dependent on his performance, but most importantly, his ability to play a full game. To play a full season. “Last year was really hard. I just thought we were better than our record implied,” Rettig said. “But on any given day, you just got to show up. Just play every down until the end of the game, till the whistle blows.” Game One is over. It’s now 60 minutes for 11 more games. Only time will tell if Chase Rettig is prepared to find the consistency he’s been looking for. And if he finds it, Rettig will have taken his biggest step yet. n
B6 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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tHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
The Heights
Cleary back to reestablish tradition Returning to BC for his fifth year of eligibility, Emmett Cleary looks to anchor the O-Line, reestablish ‘O-Line U’
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By DJ Adams Heights Senior Staff ew schools celebrate tradition like Boston C o l l e g e d o e s . Th e examples of student fervor run rampant, whether it’s as simple as Superfan shirts on Saturdays or as elaborate as the Jesuit values of education and service. Each student develops a love for something on the Heights, and fights immensely for its survival and future success. For fifth-year senior offensive tackle Emmett Clear y, that passion is the football team. It’s why, despite graduating last spring, he returned to BC as a graduate student to fulfill his fourth
year of eligibility and assume a leadership role as one of the 2012 captains. “There wasn’t much of a decision to make,” joked Cleary. “You only leave if you hate it here or you have a chance to be a first-rounder, so most of our class was coming back. Nine of us, actually.” That’s the unique element to Cleary’s commitment. Saturday home games produce a tailgating scene packed with alumni and a rowdy Alumni Stadium, and in the growing ACC there are no signs of diminishing competition. It’s not as if this tradition is in any threat of extinction. The team’s record has steadily declined since Cleary first arrived as a freshman four falls ago, however. After reaching the ACC Championship game in 2008, the Eagles have regressed in win totals each season, culminating in
daniel lee / heights editor
Cleary came back for a fifth year of eligibility with only one thing in mind for BC: winning.
a disappointing 4-8 2011 campaign that saw BC fail to qualify for a bowl game that snapped a run of 12 straight years playing postseason football. The Eagles still stand second overall in wins for ACC teams since moving from the Big East in 2005, but the program’s legitimacy has been temporarily compromised. For Cleary, leaving on such a dull note was unacceptable, and something he doesn’t think can—or will—happen again. “We definitely had a little bit of unfinished business from being 4-8 last year,” he said. “So that was the motivation to get back in the weight room and say, ‘Let’s do this.’” Even with the loss of leaders like two-time All-American Luke Kuechly, as well as key linemen Nate Richman and Mark Spinney, the newly instated Graduate Carroll School of Management student truly believes improvement is right around the corner. “I think, specifically up front, we are going to be much better,” he explained. “We lost two fifth-year seniors from last year. One of them was pretty much hurt all year, though. So we are not losing that much experience, we are bringing a lot of guys back with game experience. And a lot of young talent is coming up from underneath us, so I’m excited about it. “A football team is so much more than the guys at the top, and I think we are much better across the board at this point.”
In 2011, quarterback Chase Rettig was often rushed, running lanes were quickly stuffed, and the offense struggled accordingly. The university known as “O-line U” had simply lost its reputation. Opposing linemen who once cowered in the presence of BC’s imposing front now drooled over their supple stature. In week one of 2012, the Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead against Miami, proving many pundits who predicted a lack of offensive spark dead wrong. They might have been surprised, but Cleary was not. BC eventually lost Saturday’s contest 41-32, but Rettig was able to fully scan his surroundings and complete his progressions efficiently. The result? An impressive 441 passing yards. “Time is critical,” Cleary said. “If we can keep Chase comfortable and on his feet, he’s going to destroy people this year. I just like that we are able to dictate the pace, that we are making
them defend the whole field and forcing them to move in and react to what we are trying to do.” Meanwhile, for a running unit that ranked 16th nationally just two seasons ago, last year’s significant drop off was discouraging. Fueled by a personnel change that features a three-man rotation in the backfield between Tahj Kimble, Andre Williams and Deuce Finch, Cleary expects a quick return to prominence. “I felt good about them in the spring, and they’ve been going off,” he said. “It’s good—they have three styles that
“I think, specifically up front, we are going to be much better. We definitely had a little bit of unfinished business from being 4-8 last year. So that was the motivation to get back in the weight room and say, ‘Let’s do this.’” - Emmett Cleary complement each other. We can run the full offense with each of them, but they all have their specific strengths that force a defense to prepare for.” There aren’t many stats offensive linemen can cite when setting their goals and sights for a season, but sacks allowed is generally a good starting point. BC allowed 24 last year, a number Cleary couldn’t handle. “Individually, offensive linemen don’t have stats, so we measure ourselves based on the offense,” he said. “I don’t want to give up any sacks personally, and if we keep that to a minimum as a line we will be more than fine.” The Hurricanes didn’t bring down Rettig once. In fact, on Cleary’s watch, not a single Miami lineman even hurried the quarterback.
Even if they have an ideal composition of who the front five is right now, the Eagles should be well aware that injuries are commonplace in football. It was the absence of a consistent starting crew that derailed the dreams of last year’s senior class. While Cleary obviously can’t prevent those heartbreaking outcomes from occurring, he can nurse the younger guys behind him so that they are prepared for every possible situation, whether good or bad. “The thing they say is, you are one snap away or one bad ankle away from
playing in the game,” he said. “You have to practice like you are a first-teamer. Go into every practice, every game, every rep, even like you are the starter on Saturday, so that when your chance finally does come you will be ready. “We learned that lesson last year. You know, we had a lot of bad injuries and it took its toll. I don’t think we had the depth, I don’t think we had the … whatever it was to compensate for those injuries. Our team acknowledged that we all have to be ready, cause when your name is called you have to go in and get the job done.” Cleary’s speech is perfect for inspiration, simple, and eloquent. Meanwhile, his 6-foot-7, 313-pound frame provides the backbone for his clever prose. But what makes Cleary’s leadership ability unique is the previous set of Eagles he was a trailblazer for two summers ago. As an Orientation Leader, Cleary learned how to tailor unnerving messages to tentative, scared freshmen. “It’s a little different,” he explained. “Training camp is a little more strenuous than a three-day orientation, but I’d say our freshmen are just as clueless as the general population.” In all seriousness, though, teaching them about the connection and community that exists among those that battle in the trenches has become one of his favorite aspects of captainship thus far. “The guys up front, it’s always been a brotherhood and we treat it as such. I had great mentors when I came in, and it’s just something you teach the younger guys. What does it take, what the right things to do are, for example. As a younger guy, you try to uphold what’s been given on to you,” he said. The confidence Cleary has in his mentees is exuberant, and it’s evident he believes the freshmen will live up to their end of the bargain and perform spectacularly someday. “They have been doing great, and there is a lot of young talent I’m excited about.”
At BC, tradition is celebrated rather than taken for granted, and football follows suit in that regard. Superfans may always cheer for the squad in decent numbers, but it’s not something that Cleary and his fellow teammates can assume to be true. He can create a passage for his teammates to hustle through, hold an incoming blitz for a few extra seconds, and grind for a short-yardage first down. Those are the easy things. Cleary downplayed it himself: “Oh c’mon, man, it’s what we do.” The lineman doesn’t simply want to succeed. That’s not the issue. He needs to win. n
Ramsey is ready to rush After missing almost all of the 2011 campaign, Kaleb Ramsey is back to terrify opposing quarterbacks
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By Robert T. Balint Heights Staff or Kaleb Ramsey, the 2012 football season has been a long time coming. The 6-foot-3, 288pound defensive tackle is gearing up for his final season as a Boston College Eagle. From Uniontown, Penn., Ramsey will not only provide this year’s defensive line with hard work and experience, but will also serve a leadership role as one of the team’s four captains. At Laurel High School, Ramsey played both defensive end and tight end, in addition to earning All-State honors on the basketball team. Over his first two years with BC, he earned more and more minutes of playing time, picking up his first career sack
versus Clemson as a sophomore in 2009. His breakout season came the year after, when Ramsey made a team-high 39 tackles over 11 games. In the Kraft Hunger Bowl, he helped the Eagles hold the high-powered Nevada offense to 20 points with two tackles for a loss and a sack. Soon after, he began preparing for the 2011 season, which was supposed to be the final touch of a solid collegiate career. That plan evaporated just one game in after Ramsey went down in the opening loss against Northwestern with an injured left foot, just one problem that arose from the 24-17 heartbreaker. He tried to make a comeback three weeks later in the Eagles’ Sept. 24 matchup against UMass, but saw only a few snaps. The diagnosis came in—plantar fasciitis, or an aggravation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. The big man faced a tough choice—ei-
daniel lee / heights editor
Ramsey missed most of last season wih an injured left foot, and is now regaining his strength.
ther push hard through rehab and hope to recover in time to help the Eagles’ leaky defense, or take it slow and heal up, at the cost of his senior season. After talking with his parents, head coach Frank Spaziani, and athletic director Gene DeFilippo, Ramsey opted to don a medical redshirt. “It was definitely difficult watching my team struggle, knowing that I could be a difference maker out there,” Ramsey said. Even with All-American linebacker Luke Kuechly as the defense’s anchor, the Eagles struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. A scant 11 sacks on the year put the defense in 114th place among Division 1-A teams, and of the 282 points the Eagles gave up, 88 came in the fourth quarter. Through it all, Ramsey was forced to watch from the sidelines. “It humbled me,” he said about the ordeal. “It made me hungrier for next season. I learned the lesson that any play [could be] your last snap, [and] that every time I go on the football field, I have to go full speed no matter what, because you never know.” The procedures, physical therapy, and makeup work that an injury entails can and have swallowed athletes whole, but Ramsey committed himself to a full recovery. Over the course of the preseason, he’s tried out a few unorthodox methods of getting back into shape. One of the methods is a rigorous stretching program that Ramsey heard about through two teammates, punter Gerald Lavano and offensive tackle Emmett Cleary. Overseen by fitness guru Bob Cooley, the players went through a series of high-intensity stretches. “You add pressure to [your body] when you stretch,” Ramsey said. “It paid off. It felt great. I definitely feel a lot more flexible.” According to Cooley’s website, his Resistance Flexibility Technologies program helps to increase flexibility by eliminating “accumulated dense fascia and scar tissue.” In addition to the stretching, defensive
daniel lee / heights editor
Ramsey is an intimidating presence along the defensive line, standing at 6-foot-3, 288 pounds. line coach Jeff Comissiong brought in a sensei to instruct Ramsey and his fellow linemen on how to use their hands to gain the advantage over their opponents. “[We learned] the weak points on their arms, [and how to] use their body weight against them,” Ramsey said. “We can’t wait to use it.” As one of the four captains of this year’s squad, Ramsey considers his health to be the primary requisite of his leadership. “I need to try to stay healthy, and be out there for my teammates every play, every snap,” he said. “I’m not a vocal guy to begin with. [I plan to] just to lead by action, show the young guys how it’s done. “If someone questions, or they’re tired, they’ll look at me and see how hard I’m going, and they’ll be able to pick it up.” Ramsey saw some action in Saturday’s 41-32 loss to Miami, including a forced fumble in the second quarter, which the
Hurricanes managed to recover. It was one of two assisted tackles for the lineman on the day. The defensive unit, however, gave up two big touchdown runs to Miami freshman Duke Johnson. “We did fight and stop them a couple of times, but not when we needed to,” head coach Frank Spaziani said after the game. “You can’t give up big plays.” Although Miami is now behind them, the Eagles defense will continue to face challenges throughout the schedule. Florida State’s sophomore running back James Wilder, Jr. ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns in their season opener, and Clemson’s Andre Ellington racked up 231 yards his opener. With standout running backs looming across the schedule, it’ll be up to Ramsey and the rest of the upperclassmen to be there to stop the big plays. n
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
FOOTBALL PREVIEW B7B7
The Heights
built to lead No longer a freshman new to the game, Pierre-Louis uses experience to lead linebackers
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good leader knows when to talk and when to listen. A good leader understands the value of putting the necessar y work into each task he commits to. A good leader lifts his team when it is down and stays strong for those beside him. Luckily for the 2012 Boston College football team, Kevin Pierre-Louis knows a thing or two about being a good leader. Enrolling at BC a semester early in 2010, KPL, as he is known by his peers, was forced to adjust to the life of a collegiate student-athlete very quickly. While the ability to practice with his future teammates during spring drills was helpful, the general transition into college was an opening insight to the Norwalk, Conn. native. “Coming in the spring, teachers don’t give that leeway that they usually do freshman year, because the teachers think that you already know everything since you already have a semester under your belt,” he said. “I didn’t have that semester under my belt, so the transition was a little more difficult. It wasn’t necessarily that school was hard, it’s just being able to be on my own, and pretty much doing everything on my own.” Regardless, Pierre-Louis overcame this culture shock and worked tirelessly in the classroom, as well as on the gridiron. Looking back on that first semester, the linebacker is appreciative for how the experience has shaped him today. Not to mention, he had a lot of success in both avenues. On the field, he finished second
in tackles behind former Eagle Luke Kuechly, with 93 tackles and 59 solo stops. He was named to the Rivals.com Freshman All-American team. “It’s become a tremendous positive, both academically and athletically,” he said. “Academically, I had always done tremendously well in school. That semester just opened my eyes to what could happen if I don’t stay focused. Athletically, I believe it allowed me to get used to the team. I feel like I’ve been here for as long as a senior has, which I kind of almost have, only a semester short. I feel as though I’m a lot older and have a lot more responsibility.” That sense of responsibility is not a new feeling for KPL. During his freshman campaign, the weak side linebacker saw action in every game, becoming a staple in one of the ACC’s strongest defensive units. While many first-year players would feel the pressure of playing Division I football, Pierre-Louis was probably his own harshest critic. “The pressure that I put on myself was that I had to do everything right,” he said. “We had a lot of older guys on the team, so I knew that every mistake I made would be magnified. So, I just wanted to compete with older guys and make sure that they could count on me.” This mentality gave KPL the motivation necessary to stay in the lineup and earn the trust of his teammates and coaches. “Probably the middle of the season,” he said in regards to the time he first became comfortable, “because I realized that I couldn’t play as a freshman anymore, because I was no longer a freshman. I had been playing with these guys, practicing with them, and taking reps with them, so I
graham beck / heights editor
By Chris Marino | Assoc. Sports Editor
knew that they believed in me and I started being able to facilitate a conversation,” to believe in myself.” he said. “A lot of times to build a comPierre-Louis credits a whole cast of munity with a good strong bond, guys veteran Eagles with his development. have thoughts in their minds that they Players like Alex Albright, Kaleb Ramsey, just don’t get out. So, I’ll be able to, as a Kuechly, Mark Herzlich, Jim Noel, and leader and one of the older guys on the Donnie Fletcher were just some of the team, facilitate good conversation.” many contributors to his ability to be the The coaching staff has noticed the worker he is today. Today, KPL realizes strengthened leadership of its junior that he has now taken the role of leader defender. and mentor for the Eagles. “What you have seen with Kevin is “It was comforting knowing that those how he has progressed and matured as guys, no matter what happens, were going a player,” said defensive coordinator Bill to be in the right position,” he said. “So, McGovern. “He understands the game a I had to make sure I was at the little more, he’s seeing it quicker, and right position. Now the role is the leadership out on the field with flipped, so I am one of the older his practice habits sets a great guys. The young guys need to example for the younger guys. It’s have confidence in me that I’m important because he is locked always going to be in the in with what we want right position, so I to accomplish and he have to make sure gives 110 percent all I carry that leaderthe time.” ship with me in the KPL’s team-first way that the older mentality and comguys when I was a mitment to solidifreshman carried fying not only his it.” own game but This trans also the unit in formation from general comes true freshman, after a tenuous adjusting to colb attl e w i th lege, to team injuries last leader has been an season. amazing process for The 2011 the junior. t e a m’s One way in which s e cPierre-Louis has been ondable to develop his leaderleading ship skills came this summer when he tackler worked as an Orientation Leader. w a s “[This summer helped with] just graham beck / force d heights editor
to sit out three games, which had a major impact on the junior. “It was like your brothers were going to war without you,” Pierre-Louis said. “You’re being left behind. You’re stuck on the outside watching and you feel helpless. And for me, personally, that’s the worst feeling.” Despite missing these three games, Pierre-Louis still finished second on the team in tackles with 74 stops, including 37 solo tackles. His first two seasons culminated in his being named to this year’s CBSSports.com Preseason All-ACC team, as well as a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award. While these awards indicate his past successes, KPL does not rest on his laurels. “It’s cool and something that I can’t ignore, however my focus is not on it,” he said. “It’s a preseason accolade. I’ll focus more on the postseason accolades, because it means that they believed you could do something and now you did it.” Regardless of preseason or postseason accolades, KPL understands the important role he has inherited from his past mentors. “It’s humbling, honestly, because I feel as though it was yesterday that I first stepped on campus,” he said. “Now, I realize that when I speak, people listen, and that’s the big thing when you realize guys are looking up to you. You kind of put that pressure on yourself that, although you’re going to make mistakes here and there, you need to be right most of the time because those guys are really counting on you, and that’s going to boost their confidence, as it did mine during my freshman year.” n
Get to know
The secondary: Led by Noel, defensive backs hope to step up By Steven Principi Heights Staff Jim Noel On his personal goals and expectations for the season: Noel: I don’t really have any personal expectations. Just to get better every week that we play and become a better player on the field and a better person off the field. On his expectations for the team: Noel: I’m not looking to set any high expectations. It’s the same thing I want to see us getting better every week and succeeding at the end of the season. On where the secondary is compared to this time last season: Noel: I’ve seen improvement in every aspect. The DBs and linebackers, the quarterback, it’s all a lot better. On the youth and inexperience of the secondary: Noel: We might be a young group, but I think we’ve got a whole bunch of talent back there. We’ve got young guys willing to step up and make plays and just come up and play every day. On his new role as captain: Noel: I’ve become more of a leader. I try to lead guys in the right direction in what to do on and off the field. Just lead by example. On the depth in the secondary and their ability to compete in ACC play: Noel: I think we have a lot of depth in the back end, and I think we can compete in our conference. On how the team interacts on the field: Noel: We’ve known each other for a while now. I’ve known guys like Al Louis-Jean and Dominique Williams and Sean Sylvia for a while, since high school. I think we’ve grown a lot and grown to trust each other on the field [to] also manage the game. And off the field? Noel: We’re pretty close off the field too. We hang out together and play video games. We bond pretty well. Manny Asprilla On his personal goals and expectations for the season: Asprilla: I’m just trying to do better than last year. That’s basically it. Just have a better season than I did last time. Now I
know more about what’s going on and I learned a lot. On his expectations for the team: Asprilla: We want to win games. There’s nothing else to say. Last season we did all right, but we could have done better. We figured out how to practice to win and how to play to win but it was a little too late. We want to start off right away like that. On the youth and inexperience of the secondary: Asprilla: I believe we’re young. It doesn’t really matter to me. As long as we go out there and play, we’ll be fine. On his increased role on the team after starting at the end of his freshman year: Asprilla: I have to step up. I definitely have to try to be a leader. Even if I’m not a captain or anything, I still have to try and be out there and be a leader, not only to the younger guys, but to all my teammates around me. They’re counting on me to do my job and to do what I have to do. On Jim Noel’s leadership: Asprilla: We played on the same high school team, and he was the captain then. I look at him as the same captain as then. He’s always been a captain to me, basically. Anytime we have any problems or anything, we talk to Jim about it and he gets the message across to the coaches. He’s a perfect captain. On the return of CJ Jones from injury: Asprilla: When he came back, he was looking pretty good. He can run and do everything fine. He’s the same player he was last year. On the loss of Al Louis-Jean: Asprilla: We have guys that were behind him and will fill his place, and when he comes back everything will be the same. But losing him, I don’t really know how to explain it. On where the secondary is compared to this time last season: Asprilla: I think we’re better than last season definitely right now. The way we’ve been practicing, everyone goes hard and knows what we have to do. We’re all very focused and mentally tough. Last year, as soon as we started losing, our practices weren’t going well and everyone was getting down on each other. This year, everything is consistent. All the practices have been good. On how the team interacts on and off the
field: Asprilla: On and off the field, we’re like brothers. One man goes down, and we make sure we take care of him. CJ Jones On his personal goals and expectations for the season: Jones: We came into this season as a young secondary. That’s still no excuse, and a lot of us have playing experience. I feel like we have a good unit and that it’s one of our most talented units. We have guys who make plays and some young guys ready to step up. On his expectations for the team: Jones: We’re looking to play every game like it’s our last and take it one game at a time. We’re not trying to get too far ahead of ourselves. We have high goals and expectations for ourselves, but we’re just trying to take it one game at a time. On where the secondary is compared to this time last season: Jones: I think the main thing this year has been teamwork and continuity. I think the team is more one this year as a whole, and I think that’s been the big difference this year. On working back from his injury: Jones: Working back has been hard. It’s been a long road, a long journey. It’s been a lot of hard work. I’m very confident in my knee. I actually went to the doctor the other day and my knee is fine. Now I just can’t wait to get back out there. On losing Al and on helping him cope with his injury: Jones: The biggest thing I told Al was that everything was mental. I told him he’ll be back out there and to just stay mentally strong. Learn the game more, watch the game, and hopefully that will make him more hungry to go out there and play harder than he did before. I think that was my biggest thing I told Al. On Jim’s leadership: Jones: I think it’s a good thing to have a DB back there as a captain. He’s also a leader. He’s a tough guy. He’s been in the wars and the battles of the game since his freshman year. We all look up to him. He knows the plays, he knows the assignments and everything like that, so it’s big to have him as a captain. On the possible emergence of Manny
Asprilla: Jones: I’ve seen Manny just learn more. He got put into the game last year due to some injuries, and I think he stepped up real well last year. I think he’s able to come back with that game experience and build on that. On how the team interacts on the field: Jones: I think we’re great on the field together. And that comes from game experience on the field. We’re still young, but we have the game experience so there’s no longer the early jitters or anything like that. We know what we have to do, we know our roles, and I think that’s the best thing. And off the field? Jones: We hang out with each other. Sometimes we get together and watch some film. We always talk about football. We’ll either watch some football, train together, and things like that. On the depth in the secondary and their ability to compete in ACC play: Jones: I think we can definitely compete. I think we have a lot of people at corner and safety and a lot of people like me who can play some of both if needed. I think that’s the biggest thing. A lot of guys are able to move around to a lot of positions. Al Louis-Jean On his personal goals and expectations for the season: Louis-Jean: I got hurt, so whenever I come back I expect to return to what I’d been building up. Whenever I get my cast off and things like that, I’m going to do whatever it takes to get back to where I was at. When I get back, I plan to do my job to the best of my ability. On the injury and his road back: Louis-Jean: Right now I’m still in the healing process. I’m just taking it day-by-day and seeing where it goes from here. On CJ Jones’ help and advice on returning from injury: Louis-Jean: He told me to stay tough and to stay positive. Obviously you want to play football, but he told me there’s not much you can do about it. He said to stay positive. He said we helped him get through his injury, and now it’s kind of the same thing with me. They’re all helping me get through it. On the youth and inexperience of the secondary:
Louis-Jean: Obviously we’re a young group and experience is everything, but it’s all coming along. Every player who ever reached the level of being experienced had to start at the beginning stages. This year I felt like we were going to be that group, and we still are. On where the secondary is compared to this time last season: Louis-Jean: It’s kind of the same situation. Donnie Fletcher got hurt last year and wasn’t ready for the first game. We had to move some people around, so we’re kind of further along because we were involved with it last year. At the same time, not everyone is in their regular position. But we’re all in and looking to do our best. On Jim’s leadership: Louis-Jean: As a captain, he’s just a great example. He doesn’t say too much, but when he needs to he’ll say what he has to. You just look at Jim and see the way he goes about everything. He just shrugs it off and works as hard as possible and does his job. On the possible emergence of Asprilla: Louis-Jean: Manny’s stepping up. You can see his game coming along. You look at some of the games he played last year and he looks a little more poised, a little more experienced. He should be in shape to have a good year. On how the team interacts on the field: Louis-Jean: On the field we stress communication and letting each other know what we see. It’s all about communication when you’re in the secondary. I feel like we have great communication and that we’re very comfortable with each other out there. And off the field? Louis-Jean: Some of the guys hang out with each other, a few of the DBs. It really depends on your roommate situation. Me, Dominique Williams, CJ, we’re all roommates so we’re together all the time. Jim was my roommate freshman year, but we all get our time together here and there. On the depth in the secondary and their ability to compete in ACC play: Louis-Jean: We definitely have a lot of depth. Going into camp we had a lot of position battles. There was really no position that was tattooed on anybody. That just shows you we had a lot of depth, and that every player had the ability to be a starter and get significant playing time. n
B8 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
B6 B8
The H eights The Heights
September 8, 2011 tHURSDAY,Thursday, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
SPAZ’s take on the hot seat Well, It could be debilitating if you pay attention too much to it, if you dwell on it. You’re a human being, you don’t like to hear that. But the perception is reality of what’s happening. The only way to change perception is to change the facts. The only facts that we have here to change are the W’s and the L’s. Change the W’s and L’s, and life will go on. If you want your job, do your job. — Spaziani on the hot seat talk surrounding his name
I don’t know what goes through their mind as far as that. But it’s their team. They’re playing for themselves, their school, and all the work they’ve put in. That’s who you’re playing for, it’s as simple as that. We think we have good leadership, and we’ve got the respect of the team, we’ve had it always. I don’t think that plays into anything. If a spaceship came down and took me away tomorrow, it’s [still] their team. At the end of the year, they’re gonna look at the record, and it’s what they did. I think that’s a healthy way to approach it. — Spaziani on if he thought the team might be playing to show they had his back
Daniel Lee / heights editor
Kirk Herbstreit has the Seminoles going to the National Championship in his preseason predictions, and there isn’t much standing in their way if they stay healthy. The Eagles’ defense had trouble staying with Miami’s athletes, but the ’Noles are at an even higher level.
The Georgia Tech defense is solid, and that option running attack led by quarterback Tevin Washington could give BC fits if the defense continues to tackle poorly and give up big plays. This game will likely come down to whichever defense plays better through all four quarters.
Maryland only scored seven points on lowly William and Mary, barely squeaking out a 7-6 win. The Terrapins have star freshman Stefon Diggs, but that’s about the only advantage they’ll have over the Eagles in this matchup.
Wake didn’t start off strong, but returning quarterback Tanner Price should have things rolling with standout receivers Michael Campanaro by the time these teams meet. Just like Georgia Tech, this game probably comes down to which defense has the better day.
Notre Dame rolled over Navy 50-10 in their opener, but the Midshipmen aren’t a great test of the Irish’s abilities. They still have questions at the quarterback position and their defense remains untested. A home game against the Irish gives the Eagles a good shot at a big upset.
The Virginia Tech offense didn’t look incredible with Logan Thomas running the show to open 2012, but the defense played well enough to make Superfans worry. The offensive line will need to have a huge game to give the offense a chance to outscore the Hokies.
The Wolfpack couldn’t hang with Tennessee, but that was mainly because of quarterback Mike Glennon’s four interceptions. If Glennon can’t get some control over his arm, then this matchup with NC State looks like a fairly even contest.
VIRGINA TECH
MARYLAND EDITOR’S SEASON PREDICTIONS
gREG jOYCE sPORTS eDITOR
cHRIS mARINO aSSOC. sPORTS eDITOR
aUSTIN tEDESCO aSSt. sPORTS eDITOR
AT nU 9/15
VS cU 9/29
AT ARMY 10/6
AT fsU 10/13
AT gt 10/20
vS um 10/27
nc state
Army returns 1,000 yard rusher Raymond Maples, but besides that there isn’t much to make the Eagles worry. BC will be the more athletic squad for the only time in 2012 besides Maine, and although Army can run, they’ll have a tough time stopping Chase Rettig in Doug Martin’s new system.
WAKE FOREST
Likely the best team the Eagles will face all year, Clemson is better than BC in pretty much every category. The only kicker is that Clemson is, unfortunately for them, Clemson, and therefore anything can happen, including a shocking BC upset win in Chestnut Hill.
NOTRE DAME
gEORGIA tECH
fLORIDA sTATE
ARMY
Clemson
Northwestern The Wildcats put up 42 points on Syracuse in their opening game, with many of those points coming from big plays. If the Eagles are going to have a shot against Northwestern, they’re either going to need to figure things out defensively, or take advantage of a defense that gave up 41 points to the Orange.
AT WF 11/3
VS ND 11/10
VS VT 11/17
VS NCSU 11/24
SPORTS The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
C1
Thursday, September 6, 2012
DeFilippo leaves strong legacy at BC Chris Marino On Sept. 30 an era of Boston College athletics will end. Gene DeFilippo will officially end his 15-year tenure as athletic director (AD). While the majority of the current student body sees this news as a victory for Eagles fans, a quick look at the program’s history will show that DeFilippo was a defining figure in the many successes of our athletics program. Imagine a time, far off from the glory brought by Doug Flutie’s miraculous pass, when the BC football program was plagued with the then-largest gambling scandal in NCAA history. Thirteen players were suspended for betting on games, and the program was in disarray. BC brought in DeFilippo, previously the AD at Villanova, who was tasked with bringing Jesuit values back to the University’s athletics. Then, in 2005, he orchestrated the Eagles’ move into the ACC. This transition gave Superfans stronger competition in a number of sports than the Big East offered at the time. It also gave the BC athletic program an enormous increase in donations. When DeFilippo began his tenure, the program was only receiving $5 million, but, in 2011 donations rose to over $20 million. This development has given way to renovations to all of the University’s athletic facilities. On the field, ice, court, and pitch, DeFilippo’s impact led to many successes. Starting in 1999, the football program had a 12-game bowl streak. The men’s hockey team won four National Championships. The sailing team has won 12 individual and team National Championships. Probably the biggest accomplishment of DeFilippo’s tenure has been the high graduation rate of the University’s athletes. While BC competes at one of the highest levels of competition in the ACC, the focus is still on education, which cannot be said of all Division I schools. The football team has struggled lately. The basketball team is young and inexperienced. And these things have caused fans and alumni to call for DeFilippo’s dismissal. Yes, some elements of the athletic program have been lackluster and maybe
See Column, C3
Daniel Lee/ Heights Editor
The Eagle defense is looking to work out the kinks shown last week and get back on track against Maine this Saturday, before they begin a challenging stretch in their schedule.
Defense focused on execution against Maine By Austin Tedesco Asst. Sports Editor
Quarterback Chase Rettig thought the offense could have put up 18 more points than the 32 it actually scored on Saturday to secure an Eagle victory against Miami, but, surprisingly, it isn’t the offense that needs a tune up heading into this week’s game against Maine. The Boston College defense had trouble tackling, defending the pass, and containing big plays against the Hurricanes, and Maine presents the perfect opportunity to correct those mistakes before the Eagles take the road against a very good Northwestern offense. “Some things [head coach Frank Spaziani] always harps on for defense is stop the run, contain the pass, and eliminate big plays,” senior middle linebacker Nick Clancy said. “So I think the fact that we
did give up big plays, that was something that really hit home for him as something we need to eliminate in the future.” Al Golden and the Hurricanes looked at the tape and saw BC’s weakness against no-huddle offenses that hurt them last year, using that same method to methodically drive down the field and score on the Eagles. It’s something BC prepared for, but still needs to work on, especially with a brand new MIKE linebacker in Clancy leading the defensive play calls. “Not that we knew they were going to [go no huddle], but it’s definitely an adjustment we made in practice. During game week, we had the scout team come out and hurry up and we practiced about a 10 to 12-play set where nobody was hurrying up and we were getting the signals,” Clancy said. “So yeah, we were prepared for it, but obviously Miami is very talented with a lot of speedy guys so
they run their offense very well when it came to no-huddle.” If Maine sees the Hurricanes’ success and tries to replicate it, then BC will have a welcomed second chance to work against the no-huddle and improve. The defense also needs to get more pressure on the quarterback, as junior defensive end Kasim Edebali pointed out. “We had a game plan before we came into the game, and it was definitely coming after [the quarterback] and trying to get good pressure,” Edebali said. “I think we’ve got a good crew on the D-line where we are able to do that, but at the end of the day they executed their offense a little better than our defense.” Junior linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis found success on his blitzes, and senior defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey forced Miami quarterback Stephen Morris into a sack with his pressure through the middle
Eagles drop Huskies 2-0 For The Heights
On a perfect evening for soccer, the No. 6 Boston College women’s soccer team remained undefeated and improved to 5-0-1 by grinding out a 2-0 win against Northeastern under the lights at the Newton Sports Complex last night. Jetlagged after an extended road trip, the Eagles returned home and displayed patience and composure against a Northeastern squad that spent a large part of the 90 minutes defending for its life. BC came out firing on all cylinders in a flexible 4-4-1-1, terrorizing the Huskies from the turf and sky alike. Working the ball through talisman playmaker Kristie Mewis, BC was unlucky not to
By Daniel Ottaunick Heights Editor
as this one. “That’s probably one that you carry with you for the rest of your life,” Campbell commented on the loss. “We were playing well, up two-to-nothing in sets, but by the end of the second we had become quite one-dimensional. Tech made an adjustment to take advantage of it, and we were too young to get offense from other spots. We’re going to get better. That won’t happen to us again.” Following the strong showing at its own tournament, the team headed west
After an impressive defensive effort from both teams dictated the first 77 minutes of the game, Kevin Mejia’s goal in the 78th minute gave the No. 24 Boston College men’s soccer team (2-1-0) the 1-0 win over Fairfield (1-1-0) on Monday night at Lessing Field in Fairfield, Conn. Mejia, capitalizing on a cross from freshman Derrick Boateng, netted the winner in time to give the Eagles their second road win of the season. The game was marked by a strong BC defense. Fairfield placed just one shot on goal from forward Jordan Ayris, which was saved by senior goaltender Justin Luthy in the 30th minute, giving Luthy a clean sheet. The Stags, who took only four shots during the game, could not put another on target. Meanwhile, the Eagles were able to place eight of their 11 shots on goal. Mejia’s goal placed the senior atop the team’s scoring chart after the first three games. The victory at Fairfield came a week after a close home loss to Boston University. The team opened the season by defeating Quinnipiac 2-1 on the road, a game in which Mejia also found the back of the net. The win adds to a solid start for the Eagles, who came into the season ranked No. 14. Despite the early loss to BU, the team managed to remain in the polls, with this win making a strong case for its rising back toward their pre-season spot as BC nears the beginning of ACC play.
See Volleyball, C2
See Men’s Soccer, C2
Matt Liber/ For The Heights
Kristie Mewis led the Eagles to a 2-0 victory over crosstown rival Northeastern, with a goal in the final 15 minutes off of a header from Gibby Wagner.
Strong start shows glimpse of bright future for volleyball By Andrew Klokiw Heights Staff
Boston College athletics has seen its share of change in the past few years, with coaches coming in and out across many of the teams. There appears to be one team that has righted the rebuilding ship, however, and seems set to make the next step in 2012—head coach Chris Campbell’s volleyball squad. “There will be more matches this year that we will be legitimately competitive in, and we have enough tools on the roster now that people have to plan for
See Football, C3
Mejia leads BC to victory over Fairfield
By Connor Melas
See Women’s Soccer, C2
of the offensive line, but the Eagles will be looking for more consistent pressure against Maine. The defense is also looking to minimize the big plays that broke up the game on Saturday. “On defense, I think we just gave up too many big plays,” Clancy said. “I thought we controlled the run game pretty much the whole game until Duke Johnson broke out for those two big runs, so I think that in the future, if we can just eliminate those mistakes and just kind of hone in on our game plan from the getgo and just play disciplined football on defense, I think we’ll be fine.” The defense doesn’t only need to eliminate big plays, but also create some of its own. Spenser Rositano came up with an interception on the Hurricanes’ second drive, but that was off a drop and after that
us,” Campbell said. “We’re not going to go out there and run the table, but I think for the first time in a long time we have a team that has the possibility of winning on any given night.” Considering the team’s 7-24 record in 2011, which included an 11-game losing streak to close the season, this is quite a statement. For Campbell, who is in his third season leading the Eagles, progress has been slow and steady. The team finished 1-19 in ACC play in 2010, improving slightly to 3-24 in 2011. But after early season play, it appears that the seven wins of last year
i nside S ports this issue
are a mark that can, and perhaps will, be easily met. The Eagles opened the season at home as the host of the BC Invitational Tournament, where they went an impressive 3-1. These included wins over the likes of big programs such as Binghamton (3-0), Siena (3-1), and Fordham (3-0). The final match of the tournament saw them drop a heartbreaker to an experienced Texas Tech squad. BC led the match two sets to none, but squandered the next three sets and fell 3-2. But even then, there were positives to be taken from a devastating loss such
UMass ends field hockey’s streak
The Eagles dropped their first game of the season to the Minutemen.........C2
Boston College Scoreboard C h e c k u p o n t h e f i n a l s c o re s a n d s t a t s from last week’s contests......................C2
Editors’ Picks..............................C3 Game of the Week......................C3
The Heights
C2
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Solid goaltending saves shaky defense Women’s Soccer, from C1 score after splitting the sluggish Northeastern defense with a number of wellcrafted through balls. Shaky defense was made up for by superb goalkeeping, and a number of quality saves prevented BC’s red-hot striker Stephanie McCaffrey from adding to her goal tally. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Husky defense managed to find its feet in time to escape the terror of BC’s early rampage.
Matt Liber/ For the Heights
BC takes on No. 8 UCF on Sunday at home.
Much to the frustration of BC’s ravenous attack, the overmatched Huskies adopted a new strategy of clogging the midfield, stifling the Eagles’ ground game. Northeastern parked the bus in its defensive third, keeping a minimum of eight players behind the ball at nearly all times. BC showed its depth and tactical awareness in reaction, spreading the field and unleashing its rampaging wingers on the compact Northeastern back four. The sight of right wing Gibby Wagner and left wing Victoria DiMartino beating their defenders and marauding down their respective wings seemed to be on a never-ending loop, yet dangerous crosses were frantically defused again and again by spirited defending. When the whistle blew for halftime, the Northeastern bench cheered with greater joy than a 6-year-old on Christmas morning—its excitement for escaping the first 45 minutes with a tie was clearly evident. The relief of surviving the 12-shot barrage of the first half was short-lived, since as soon as the second began, the siege was back underway. BC remained in total control, tormenting the Northeastern defense, but was unable to strike gold. As frustration and tempers rose on both sides and the Huskies remained determined to celebrate every corner like a major feat, the prospect of a scoreless draw seemed dangerously realistic.
But BC remained steadfast, poking holes in the Northeastern defense and looking to spread the field again and again. Finally, in the 76th minute, the dam burst. Mewis connected off of a picture-perfect cross from Wagner, heading the ball home into the right upper 90, giving BC the game winner. Forced to make a desperate bid to equalize, the Northeastern defense opened up, providing an all-you-can eat buffet for the BC offense. In the 83rd minute, Stephanie McCaffrey wrongfooted her defender with a dazzling cut to the outside and smashed a cross in to McKenzie Meehan, who buried the ball into the net with clinical technique. With that, the nail was in the coffin, and the Eagles ran down the clock and possessed the ball. BC played with patience, technique, and grit, all themes echoed by their coach, Alison Foley. At halftime, Foley spoke to her team, and her advice was simply to “keep our focus, don’t get frustrated, stick to our game plan, and it might be only one goal that we score or two, but we need to make sure that we don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t come early.” This advice proved paramount, as BC avoided the often seen trap of pushing too many players forward and falling to counterattacks, and displayed the composure and chemistry of a veteran team on a mission. n
Graham Beck/ heights editor
After a loss to BU last week, BC recovered by defeating Fairfield due to Mejia’s goal.
Soccer rebounds from loss Men’s Soccer, from C1 The Eagles will face a tough schedule during the coming weeks, beginning with a home match against the No. 4 Terrapins of Maryland on Friday night in Newton. That game, BC’s ACC opener, marks the beginning of a difficult three-match stretch, which will also see the Eagles facing ACC rival Virginia Tech and local rival No. 4 University of Connecticut, who share that position in the rankings with the Terps. This will be a telling string of games, as
it will paint a better picture of where BC stands this season. The Eagles will face a number of ranked ACC rivals over the next two months, including No. 1 University of North Carolina, the No. 15 Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the No. 23 North Carolina State University Wolfpack, and the aforementioned Terps. While the Eagles have been successful for the past few years, they have yet to win the ACC, and these games against tough opponents will be crucial to the team’s hopes of overcoming that barrier. n
UMass tops field hockey By Stephen Sikora Heights Staff
In its home opener this past Sunday, the No. 17 Boston College field hockey team (3-1) lost its first match of the season to the 2 UMass University of Boston College 1 Massachusetts (3-1) in a highly contested overtime thriller at the Newton Sports Complex. Sophomore transfer Katlyn Souc y scored the first goal of her BC career to give the Eagles a late 1-0 lead, but it wasn’t enough for BC to capture its fourth straight win, as they ultimately fell, 2-1. A mere 20 seconds after taking the field for a seven-on-seven overtime, the game was over. UMass promptly scored after gaining possession in the opening faceoff. “The important thing in overtime is that you need to protect the spine of the field, right down the middle,” said BC head coach Ainslee Lamb. “They just came right down the middle. It’s not acceptable. You’ve got to make them do a little bit more before they have the ability to go six inches from your goalkeeper.” This was BC’s first overtime game of the year, compared with UMass’s third, which may have had an impact considering the gravity of the period. “Overtime is so emotional,” Lamb said. “Those first two seconds are hard. They’ve got to really take a deep breath, and they didn’t have the chance.” The second half of the match featured more offense—a total of 12 shots and two goals. For the first 20 minutes of the period, BC sustained control of the match, often maintaining possession in UMass territory. Junior Paige Norris, who led the team
with nine assists last year, helped the Eagles get into solid position a number of times with her passing and stick handling. In the 52nd minute, Nina Baumberger Altirriba, a sophomore from Spain, hit a great cross into the middle that set up a corner for BC. BC fullback Sarah Hospodar inserted the ball, and at first Jacqui Moorfield missed a shot to the right of the goalie. But Soucy got the rebound and put it in for the first score of the game, and her first goal since she transferred from Louisville after last season. “We’re really thrilled to have her,” Lamb said. “I firmly believe she’s in the right place, and that’s to be a Boston College Eagle. Scoring that goal was critical, but more importantly, she’s such a great contributor on and off the field.” Unfortunately for the Eagles, momentum soon shifted in UMass’s direction after the goal. For the final 15 minutes—especially the last five—the ball was mostly in BC territory. With 10:30 left, UMass had two looks at a goal and promptly was granted a corner. But Eagles defender Virgynia Muma rushed flawlessly and didn’t let the Minutemen get off a shot. “We did a pretty good job [with them being in our territory] defensively. We sustained a lot of their attack free hits,” Lamb said. “We’ve worked really hard on that.” BC’s good fortune would end there, though, as UMass scored from a rebound off goalie Leah Settipane with eight minutes left. The Eagles almost didn’t even make it to overtime after allowing UMass deep into their territory for the last two minutes of the game, but hung on to force the extra time. Both defenses prevailed throughout the first half, as each team was held scoreless. Only seven total shots—five
Graham Beck/ Heights Editor
The Minutemen ended field hockey’s undefeated streak, and next week the Eagles have to face the undefeated BU Terries in a home contest. by the Eagles—were taken in the opening 35 minutes. Hospodar contributed a number of fine defensive plays, including clear outs near the goal and secure passes over the middle. Kara Mackintire, a senior captain, helped anchor the defense, and had a great shot block early on. UMass did have one wide-open look with six minutes remaining in the first half, but its forward struck the ball wide right of the goal. It was the closest any player on either team would
come to scoring, as the defenses were locked in. “It was a very physical game,” Lamb said. “I thought our kids really persevered through that quite well.” Although the outcome was surely not what the Eagles wanted, Lamb saw a number of positives, and is quite comfortable with how the team is playing heading into their fifth game of the season. She noted that sophomore Emma Plasteras—part of an emerging midfield—had one of the best games of
her career. “We have a really dangerous midfield, who are pretty unstoppable,” Lamb said. “It just takes a little bit of time to develop that, but certainly they’re on track to be where we want them to be at the end of the season.” BC next plays undefeated BU at home this Friday, a matchup not to be missed. The Eagles are eager to atone for their first loss of the season, especially if it comes at the hands of their storied rivals from down Commonwealth Ave. n
Volleyball finds early success Volleyball, from C1
Graham Beck/ Heights Editor
Volleyball is off to its hottest start under head coach Chris Campbell and looks ready to be competitive against the ACC’s top teams this year.
scoreboard
M. Football
BC UM
32 41
W. Soccer
BC PU
3 0
Chestnut Hill, MA 9/1
Field Hockey
1 Rettig 441 pa yds 2 td BC Johnson 135 yds 2 td Umass 2 Stockton, Calif. 9/2 W. Soccer
Gaul 0 ga 2 sv BC Tashia 1 ga 4 sv NU
for the USC Tournament. There they managed a 3-1 victory over Mississippi State, while dropping two matches to No. 23 Northern Iowa and No. 5 USC. For the USC match in particular, the Eagles showed a lot of progress as they took a game off of a Trojan team that had reached the Final Four just last season. In another game, BC had a game service opportunity, but let it slip away. Yet Campbell still took positives from the loss. “The challenge for us in that match was to make sure that it was being dictated by what we’re good at, not by what [USC] is good at,” Campbell said. “And we were successful at that in two games.” These two tournaments have brought the Eagles to their current 4-3 record, and individually the young squad has shown flashes of impressive progress. Freshman outside hitter Katty Workman earned All-Tournament honors in both competitions, and certainly will be one to watch on this squad for the 2012 campaign. In addition, captains Krystle Higgins
Newton, Ma 9/2 M. SOccer
Soucy 1 g BC Kim 1 g 1 a BU
0 1
Newton, Ma 9/5 Volleyball
2 0
Mewis 1 g BC 3 Burnett 2 ga 12 sv MSU 1
(senior) and Kellie Barnum (sophomore) have done a phenomenal job of leading a team that features only two seniors. With teams potentially able to catch onto the dynamic Workman, additional pressure will be placed on sophomore Courtney Castle. Listening to Campbell speak, this is certainly a pressure that will not be an issue for anyone on his squad. “We’ve got a lot of offensive weapons,” Campbell said. “Courtney Castle is as solid as anybody in the conference, and I think we’ve got a couple players on the right [side] who will be able to develop. But we’re still young, so it’s not going to happen in one day, but that’s the goal over the course of the season.” With their ACC schedule starting in just over two weeks, the Eagles will need help from anywhere they can get it. In a conference that Campbell considers as many as 10 out of 12 programs to have moving toward elite, BC will need to show that it can build on its early season success. If the first seven matches are any indication, the Eagles are right on track. n
Newton, Ma 8/27 M. Soccer
Luthy 1 ga 4 sv BC McCaffrey 1 g FU
1 0
Los Angeles, Calif. 8/31 Volleyball
Fairfield, Conn. 9/3
Mejia 1 g O’keeffe 1 ga 7 sv Los Angeles, Calif. 9/1
Sen 5 k 39 Ast BC 1 Workman 16 k 3 ast 12 dig Fuller 19 k 10 dig Perret 1 k 40 ast USC 3
The Heights
Editors’ Picks
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Week Ahead
Standings
Football hosts Maine on Saturday at 1 p.m. The men’s soccer team will face Maryland on Friday and the women’s team plays Central Florida on Sunday. Field hockey takes on Harvard in Cambridge. Peyton Manning returns to football with the Broncos against the Steelers on Sunday night.
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Recap from Last Year
Greg Joyce
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Chris Marino
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Austin Tedesco
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Heights Staff
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Baseball was swept by UNC and missed out on the ACC Tournament. Softball lost to UNC 2-1 in its series. The Miami Heat won the NBA Finals over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Yankees hold a one game lead over the Orioles in the AL East.
Guest Editor: Lindsay Grossman
Game of the Week Men’s Soccer
Maryland
Managing Editor
“It’s my birthday. I can cry if I want to.”
Greg Joyce Sports Editor
This Week’s Games Football: BC vs. Maine
Chris Marino Assoc. Sports Editor
Austin Tedesco Asst. Sports Editor
Lindsay Grossman
Managing Editor
BC
BC
BC
BC
Maryland
BC
Maryland
Maryland
W. Soccer: No. 6 BC vs. No. 8 UCF
BC
BC
BC
BC
Field Hockey: BC at Harvard
BC
BC
BC
BC
Broncos
Steelers
Broncos
Steelers
M. Soccer: No. 24 BC vs. No. 4 Maryland
NFL: Steelers at Broncos
vs. Boston
College
The Terrapins come to BC with a top-five ranking and two of the ACC’s top three pointleaders as the Eagles open conference play Friday night on Newton Campus. Maryland is coming off of a 6-0 win over Cal, and the Eagles are trying to recover from a disappointing 1-0 loss to BU at home. BC followed up the loss to the Terriers with a 1-0 win over Fairfield, and will look to build off of that momentum heading into tomorrow night’s matchup.
Fri. 7:00 p.m. Newton, Mass.
MAINE AT BOSTON COLLEGE
When BC runs the ball
The combination of Andre Williams and Tahj Kimble proved effective at times, however there is definitely room for improvement. Williams had 18 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown, while Kimble ran 10 times for 45 yards, but had a costly fumble. Deuce Finch, who is still recovering from his foot injury, is only expected to see limited action. Last season, the Maine defense gave up nearly 162 yards on the ground per game. Advantage:
When BC passes the ball Quarterback Chase Rettig looked impressive in the season opener last weekend. He was 32-for-51 for a career-high 441 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target was junior receiver Alex Amidon, who caught 10 passes for a career-high 149 yards. The Black Bears had 19 interceptions last season and gave up 190 passing yards per game. Advantage:
When Maine runs the ball The Eagles’ run defense will need to step up this weekend after giving up 208 rushing yards to Miami this past weekend. Junior linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis led the team in tackles with 14, while the unit combined for three tackles for a loss. Advantage:
When Maine passes the ball BC’s defense looked out of place during the second half of last Saturday’s season opener. The secondary gave up 207 yards through the air, while the line created only small spurts of pressure for Hurricane quarterback Stephen Morris. Spenser Rositano did show good vision with an interception in the opening quarter, but the team will need to see better play in the secondary. Advantage:
Special teams Eagles kicker Nate Freese was perfect on Saturday with three field goals. Spiffy Evans led the kick return unit with five returns for 75 yards. The Eagles only had one punt return on the day, which will be something to look for this weekend. Advantage:
Coaching and intangibles It seems that the addition of offensive coordinator Doug Martin has made a positive impact on Rettig, but there are still a number of questions surrounding this year’s squad. Defensively, BC will need to have better focus, especially in the secondary. This will be the first game of the season for Maine, which gives the Eagles an advantage in terms of game experience. Advantage:
Daniel Lee/ Heights Editor
Quarterback Chase Rettig credited much of his success against Miami to the play of his offensive line. The line didn’t allow any sacks and Rettig was only hit four times.
Impressive air attack has potential for even more By Stephen Sikora
Heights Staff After the football team’s first losing season since 1998, Boston College head coach Frank Spaziani retooled the Eagles’ offensive staff. He choose former Kent State coach Doug Martin as the new offensive coordinator, and former Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman as the new offensive line coach. One game into the 2012 season, the hires have paid immediate dividends. The Eagles will take on Maine this Saturday coming off their best offensive game in recent memory. Chase Rettig threw for 441 yards against Miami—the sixth highest total in BC history—as the Eagles put up 32 points and 542 total yards against the Hurricanes. “I felt comfortable the whole game,” Rettig said. “I thought the offensive line played great. Whenever you can get no sacks, that’s a great statistic.” But Rettig wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance. “You saw our potential on Saturday,” he said. “We could have scored 50 points. That’s a lot more hours of sleep I would have
had on Saturday and Sunday night.” After the Eagles had found the end zone on their first two drives, they didn’t score again until there were six minutes left in the first half, settling for three field goals during the next two quarters. “In the spring and summer, Coach Martin said we started out pretty fast against our own defense, and it happened again in the game,” Rettig said. BC finally ended its touchdown drought in the fourth quarter with a 17-yard reception by running back Tahj Kimble. The sophomore had a career-high 130 receiving yards in the game, and was a huge part of the offensive attack all day long. “Tahj has receiver hands,” Rettig said. “It’s helpful, especially when teams allow you to throw that quick out to your back. It helps us spread the defense.” Rettig drew a comparison to a BC legend when discussing the importance of having a receiving running back. “When Matt Ryan was here, the running back had the most receptions, then the tight end,” Rettig said. “So it’s a big deal when we can have a back that can go out and catch the ball.” And even though Rettig had a banner
day passing the ball, the junior quarterback knows there are areas of his game that he can improve. “I got pretty comfortable in the game Saturday on some of the reads that were early in my progression,” Rettig said. “Giving the first couple routes of my progression more time [is something I can work on].” One of those plays he referred to occurred during BC’s final drive of the game. “We went empty, and [Miami] played press-man coverage,” Rettig said. “We’re trying to look for the deeper route in the whole series. The first look is usually the running back—I could have stayed in it, because Tahj juked the linebacker and he was open.” Rettig also mentioned his deep ball could use improvement. “When we have a single receiver, [we need] better timing with throwing the deep ball,” Rettig said. “We’re going to need that at some point this year—just throwing the ball deep and making plays.” The Eagles had a fine offensive game as is. But if Rettig can improve in the areas he touched on against Maine—which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision— this weekend, there’s certainly a chance the offense hangs 50. n
Defensive front needs adjustments
Departure of DeFilippo marks major change at BC Column, from C1 even embarrassing. Sure, there may have been some things that DeFilippo could have done differently. And it probably was time for DeFilippo to step down as AD, not because he was inadequate for the job but rather because he has been involved with college sports for 40 years. He isn’t immortal and his position requires a full investment of energy. A college audience is definitely a tough crowd, and reasonably so. Students (especially like the ones at BC, who come from all over the world) may not know the history of BC athletics. They may not realize the good that was brought by DeFilippo in the midst of a dark time. All they know are the last few years, in which we’ve witnessed the struggles of our football and basketball programs, our big revenue sports.
I, for one, am just as disappointed in the lack of success we see at Alumni Stadium and Conte Forum. However, I think it is important to respect the career of our former athletic director, rather than kick him out the door—because without DeFilippo, who knows where our school’s athletics would be. It’s impossible to say that we would be anywhere better than we are today, and, even more so, it would be unfair to DeFilippo’s career and the many successes brought about by his work. All we can do is thank Gene DeFilippo for his endless dedication to BC, and ready ourselves for the next era of athletics on the Heights.
Chris Marino is the Assoc. Sports Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.
Football, from C1
Daniel Lee/ heights Editor
The defense has an opportunity to improve tackling and eliminate big plays this weekend.
the Eagles missed out on a few opportunities to scoop up Miami fumbles. “We understand what we have to improve on,” Edebali said. “We have to out-execute the offense, be more physical, play even faster, and just execute defense. That’s the main focus. Have no mental errors and be able to make big plays on defense.” Overall, the defense sees this as an opportunity to improve, but more importantly to grab the team’s first win in 2012. “We’re just excited for another opportunity to get that W,” Edebali said. “We’re going to give everything we’ve got to get that win.” n
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The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Heights
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The Heights
C6 Thursday, September 6, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS
Community Help wanted Personal Assistant needed to organize and help. Basic computers skills needed, good with organization. We are ready to pay $650 per week to any interested person. Should contact wendell_willis@hotmail.com.
help wanted Study buddy needed. BC freshman looking for study companion for Literary Themes. Will take any available assistance, not particular. Open to help from freshmen to seniors. Inquiries may be sent to: jennlamonca@ yahoo.com.
help wanted Used bicycle wanted. Mild to moderate use preferred. A bright paint color is desired. Willing to pay variable price but will also take it off your hands for free. Please contact carljones@yahoo.com if interested.
Check out the B-Line at theb-line.tumblr.com
Directions: The Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid. In each row there are 9 slots, some of which are empty and need to be filled. Each row, column and 3x3 box should contain the numbers 1 to 9. You must follow these rules: 路 Number can appear only once in each row 路 Number can appear only once in each column 路 Number can appear only once in each 3x3 box 路 The number should appear only once on row, column or area.
The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
C7
BY CHRISTINE ZHAO
An autumn escape into classic New England As the school year kicks off, everyone’s kept more than a little busy with their crammed schedules, syllabi, and onslaught of new responsibilities for the year. It is, however, still important to remember that these are
the best years of our lives and we should be enjoying them to the fullest. So, before you let yourself get overwhelmed by that 10-pager, consider going on a fall adventure to the apple orchards. Autumn weather means a lot of things— the cardigans start coming out, the foliage along Linden Lane becomes breathtaking, and apples are ripe and waiting to be picked. As Boston College students, we are reminded time and time again how important it is to get away from the “bubble,” and go forth into the world. Then again, for those of us without cars on campus (read: the majority of the student
Courtesy of Google images
Shelburne Farm, accessible by the commuter rail, boasts exceptional cider donuts and hay rides.
population, thanks to the facts that parking spaces can be harder to come across than a spot in the Disney class), it can seem extra daunting. Luckily for us, we have access to multiple forms of public transportation! With a little effort, BC students can enjoy the sweetest part of fall. New England boasts tons of orchards, and finding the nearest one is just a Google search away. From there, you have a couple of options. Getting to a quality orchard using public transportation can be tricky, so consider taking advantage of services like ZipCar. Visit www.zipcar. com for more information and to fill out an online application in order to receive your very own ZipCard. For $75 (a $25 one-time application fee and a $50 annual fee), and a driving rate as low as $69 a day, you can have access to a car as often as you like. When you split the cost among yourself and a few friends, it’s not so bad at all. The other option, which leaves you slightly limited as to which orchards you can realistically reach, is to take the commuter rail. The South Acton stop on the Fitchburg line is just a few miles from Shelburne Farm in Stow. Consider bringing bikes along if you’re feeling particularly ambitious! Shelburne Farm is known for their delicious cider donuts, always served fresh and piping hot. The cider is also phenomenal, as is to be expected in Massachusetts. They open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.—if you’re going on a weekend, make sure you
get there on the early side so you can avoid the rush. Their website, www.shelburnefarm.com, is easy to navigate and includes a detailed picking schedule. For $17, you can bring home one peck, or 10 pounds, of apples. A half-bushel, or about 20 pounds,
back home to brighten up any residence hall. Another fun adventure, for those of you with your own apartments, or larger suites, is Shelburne Farm’s cut-your-own Christmas tree offerings. Make sure to check the website or call well in advance,
Courtesy of Google images
Zip Cars provide a cost effective way for students to get off campus for excursions. will run you around $25. Never fear, they do accept credit cards—Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX. They also offer hay rides ($2 per person) and pony rides ($5). Pumpkin picking is also available, going for $0.60 a pound—perfect as the Halloween season approaches. Bring a little—or big—one
starting around the Thanksgiving season, to see if it will be offered this year. When you return on campus with your bushels, beg your upperclassman friend to let you use their kitchen—chances are, they won’t turn down the opportunity for some free pie. n
Restaurant review
Savoring experiences, not dishes
Courtesy of Google images
By Dan Ottaunick Heights Editor
HOUSE AD
Dim lighting. Wine-lined walls. The heart of the bustling, always-busy Hanover Street in Boston’s North End. Lucca, one of the Italian neighborhood’s most famous locations, is a brilliant vanguard of its aesthetic, the image of a North End restaurant that would stick with a visitor long after food has been digested. The service is excellent. The wine is pricey enough that it has to be good. Even the music, an essential component of the Italian eatery experience, is timeless and relaxing. And the food? It’s there. The menu offers a standard slate of Italian meats and pastas (none of which are default-vegetarian, but you can ask). You’ll find the typical offerings–Pappardelle, Veal Milanese, and Orecchiette (which was the choice this evening)–and their tiramisu, though expensive at $9.00, is decent. One could not find much fault with the food. But what the food lacks is something–anything–to separate it from that of the aisles of competing restaurants lining the sidewalks of the North End. Although the atmosphere is everything one might imagine when looking for an Italian restaurant, the eating is unremarkable. But don’t take that as a reason not to attend. Rather than assert the apparent conclusion to that argument, allow me to elaborate on what Lucca offers that may make it worth your time. Before determining whether this restaurant might be a good fit for a date, a business dinner, or an evening with friends, you should think about why, exactly, you might go to an Italian restaurant. Food? Italian food is popular. In fact, it’s extremely popular. According to data gathered by research company Harris Poll, it is the most popular type of ethnic food in the United States, and that isn’t all too close: 22 percent of Americans prefer Italian food to any other type of ethnic food, while the control (American food) is at 28 percent. On the East Coast, the numbers are even higher–31 percent choose Italian food. When one thinks about fine dining here in Boston, any list of the best restaurants will surely include multiple Italian establishments. Logically, as connoisseurs of the cuisine, we should want to eat only the best Italian meals.
The obvious weakness with my data is that it refers to types of food, and not to types of restaurants. But while we are appreciative of good food, we don’t attend restaurants just for that one sole purpose. After all, the Internet offers thousands, if not millions, of different recipes. Trader Joe’s can sell you frozen gnocchi, and it’s not that bad. Pizzerias generally have decent pasta selections. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get an acceptable Italian meal. Yet those busy North End streets are packed with patrons going in and out of all
Location: 226 Hanover Street, Boston Cuisine: Italian Signature Dish: Veal Milanese Atmosphere: 10/10 Average Entree: $25 Overall Experience: B
of these restaurants, and they’re prepared to spend hundreds of dollars on a meal that, at times, will only be marginally better than something they could have enjoyed for a lot less money. While we might think the food is what draws us, the experience of going to a restaurant is often more significant than fawning over what we eat. And while I found the food at Lucca to be good but not great, I struggle to think of many times when I’ve actually had a truly outstanding Italian meal. I have some occasions in mind, but even at those restaurants, I remember the experience of dining more than what I ate. The food is good, the atmosphere is topnotch. Lucca is worth attending simply for the experience. You are more likely to remember that you attended the restaurant, saw the sights of the neighborhood outside of the opened windows, chatted with your friendly server, and spent a lot of money on a nice evening, rather than the not-so-troubling reality that your dinner was merely decent.
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The Heights
Mind Yo’ Business
Exposing your life in one click
Marc Francis It’s not your aunt that loves to gossip, your best friend that spills all your secrets, or that Facebook status you know should not have escaped your crazy mind. It is that little metal box that never leaves your person—your cherished cellular phone. Smartphones are capable of releasing such a big chunk of personal information out into the world, whether we like it or not. To properly function, a cell phone must utilize location data that is encrypted inside the device. We may voluntarily share this information through Facebook or Foursquare, but mobile providers have access to this data and can track every single step you have made for as long as you have had a cell phone. Dutch politician Malte Spitz took his mobile provider, Deutsche Telekcom, to court and found that over the course of one year they had tracked his location more than 35,000 times. While interning at Fortune Magazine during my senior year of high school, we spent several meetings discussing the evolution of location technology. One day in the near future, we will be able to access technology that would reveal data that has been forever hidden from the general public. For instance, it will be possible to compare the location data of two people and see if they have ever crossed paths before. Sure, such information is not necessarily vital, but it would be super awesome for a couple to view how many times their paths have crossed before they finally took notice of one another. However, the potential dangers and nuisances that arise from the information our phones store is limitless. Whether it is ad companies using our Internet history to send us advertisements or a hacker stealing our bank accounts’ passwords, restrictions of some sort should be implemented until technological security has reached an optimal level. It is important to point out that anyone can develop a smartphone application, so user discretion is vital. Apps can download spyware or malware to your phone, creating a gateway for a hacker to enter. Many of the applications that we use every day require us to input personal information that we would never reveal even to our closest friends—these include apps that help decide where we want to eat, play word games with our friends, and track down the Newton bus. Mobile providers even have applications that enable users to track down other cell phones, such as AT&T’s Family Map. AT&T states that this program “provides peace of mind by being able to conveniently locate a family member.” Although I cannot speak on everyone’s behalf, I personally prioritize my privacy over the “peace of mind” of another individual. I do not believe that modern culture has come to understand the nuances of technology enough to allow such applications to exist. Thankfully, efforts are being made to more successfully secure private information on smartphones. An app called MobileScope won a contest organized by the Wall Street Journal for its efforts to protect smartphone users. The application warns its users whenever they are releasing personal information, whether voluntarily or inadvertently. It also tracks how much your other applications transfer your data, and users are even able to set up an alert system to prevent the transfer of specific kinds of data. The creators of MobileScope seek to restrict information transparency before the problem becomes out of control. Currently, smartphones have reached such a large percentage of the planet that if users’ personal information lands in the wrong hands, the effects could be catastrophic. The main issue I have with smartphone security is that users are pretty much powerless against dangerous forces. There is only so much we can do—check our phones’ settings, keep our phone on our person all the time, etc. Unfortunately, exercising even the most cautious discretion will not make a user immune—cell phones are wonderful tools that open doors to awful threats. Marc Francis is the Asst. Metro Edtior for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Footlights splits sides Comedy, from C10 erything from the Boston Tea Party, to giving blood, to the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and everything in between. Each member added their own unique sense of humor and stage-presence whenever they stepped out for their respective roles. There was not a single moment without the audience laughing, and they most definitely left first-time viewers with an unforgettable impression. With a variety of shows, acts, and workshops that cover improv, sketch, and stand-up, there is surely something for everyone. Just keep in mind that there tends to be no telling what may happen with improv. Aside from that, the only hesitation should come from the immense decision of which of the many shows and acts to attend. The producers of the festival did not scrimp on the funny, as those from across the country, and around the world, come together in Boston. One of the most highly anticipated shows is Risk! with Magnet TourCo from New York. This is a “storytelling” show that is all the rage right now. Kevin Allison, Jonathan
Katz, and special, surprise guests, get on stage and tell truthful, shocking, and embarrassing stories that will surely have audiences doubled over in hearty laughter. Another equally exciting workshop and act is North Coast hiphop improv from New York. Not only is watching them like being present at an improv freestyle, rap session, they’re also hosting a few workshops on freestyling, improv, and beatboxing. These are just a few of the many acts that will be performing at this year’s Boston Comedy Arts Festival. To see the full schedule and order tickets, their website is www.bostoncomedyarts.com. The ticket prices vary per event, but are quite reasonable over all. Student pricing is also available so college student budgets are accommodated. Overall, this is one week of fun that is sure to start off September the right way, no matter what’s being looked forward to. Still, be warned. There will be off the charts fun and an abundance of smiles. Not only that, but a free, intensive ab workout will also be provided, courtesy of the laughter that will ring loud and proud throughout Boston’s fall air, long after the shows are over. n
Courtesy of Google images
Rented by the half hour, Hubway bikes are a convenient option for inner-city travel.
Hubway provides cheap transportation in city Hubway, from C10 ($100 per month). For bikers, that’s a free check since most companies have biking accommodations (such as the company One Broadway, which has both indoor and outdoor electronic locked cages and racks outfitted). Meanwhile, driving employees at Ironwood pay $220 a month for a company parking pass, and those who use the T face recently increased fares, now $2 per ride even with a Charlie Card. Also important is the fact that many who have made the switch to biking to work report better health, fitness levels, and energy—something that companies like as well. Cambridge’s success in this regard is not a new initiative. They have encouraged “going green” since the `90s when the city began instituting laws controlling the number of parking spots a company may have per square foot, and requiring companies who create or expand a lot to encourage other green transportation, such as MBTA subsidies or free bicycle tune-ups. Biking is a spreading trend across the
river, as well. The Hubway initiative, supported heartily by Mayor Thomas M. Menino when it premiered on July 28, 2011, has had more than double the predicted usage, beating out the same program’s popularity in Denver and Minneapolis, where it has also been recently instituted. This program allows anyone to purchase a membership for 24 hours, 3 days, or one year ($5, $12, and $85 respectively), then pay by the half-hour of actual use with the first half-hour free. Currently, users may replace and immediately take out another bike, allowing well-planned bikers to ride all day for free if they arrive at another Hubway station within 30 minutes. The full pricing scheme and more information about the numerous locations of Hubway are available at their website, www.thehubway.com. The project is modeled after European shared biking initiatives, and city officials now hope to replicate and expand the success found in Cambridge, enabling even those who do not want to purchase bikes to take advantage of eco-friendly transportation. Anyone may request a station on their website using an interactive map. n
Courtesy of Google images
Models at last year’s FNO Boston pose while shoppers take advantage of special deals.
Glitz and glamour put the spotlight on Boston FNO, from C10 McCormack and Rich Villani for the past two years. Boston is by no means as large or as busy as New York, but it is most certainly vibrant and diverse, and McCormack stated in an interview last year that it “is way cooler than it was … in the 1990s … That’s why [she] think[s] Boston is ready for this.” As a matter of fact, the city seems to be more than ready for FNO. Every day, an increasing number of stores are joining in support of the cause. All along Newbury Street, signs are plastered on the display windows. Like last year, the whole road will be blocked off to cars, making it a perfect, colorful venue to host this late-night shopping block party. Moreover, to enhance and cultivate the party scene, several performance stages will be erected on many of the street corners. Clearly, there seems to be no limit to what McCormack and Villani can do. The event is backed and endorsed, fur-
‘Gourmet’ insults trucks Food Truck, from C10 -paign against food trucks gained momentum one month ago when Alan Costello, owner of two popular Boston sub shops, appeared on Andelman’s radio show to voice his disgust with Dewey Square food trucks. In Andelman’s in-depth letter in the Somerville Patch, “Serving Up Sensible Policy on Food Trucks,” he fights for tighter restrictions on these mobile meal makers. According to him, food trucks are afforded with excessive freedoms in an extremely competitive market: “Because they don’t build a store, pay rent other than a nominal fee such as $50 per day, or hire many employees, the trucks sell food for significantly less than the restaurants.” Since food trucks are a fresh addition to the market, restaurants that have already signed long-term leases are suffering heavy income losses and can no longer afford rent. Andelman has taken on a role that is all too apparent in modern day politics—the defender of the middle class businessman. He speaks of our country’s hard workers that invest their life savings in a business that is destined for failure as a result of unfair competition. On the other side of the debate, food trucks are expressing their contempt for Andelman’s exaggerated criticisms that overlook the struggles they constantly face. They have had to start an entirely new business from the ground up, and are still battling with strict permit limitations and common prejudices. As stated by Staff Meal food
Person to Watch Last spring, Boston College gained a neighbor with star power as Joseph P. Kennedy III moved to Brookline and declared his intention to run for the State Senate of Massachusetts. As people of the 4th district make their way through the polls today and begin choosing a replacement for Barney Frank, they have the chance to reactivate the Kennedy legacy. After Ted Kennedy’s death in 2009, the 112th U.S. Congress was the first since the ’60s to not include a member of the Kennedy family, something that Kennedy’s father (Joseph Kennedy II) says he regrets since he chose not to pursue public office that year. Who: Joseph P. Kennedy III What: Another politician from the Kennedy family, JPIII is making his debut into the politican scene with his bid to replace Barney Frank in the Massachusetts State Senate. Why it matters: After the death of Edward Kennedy, many wondered if the Kennedy family would continue to be a force in the government, and JPIII may reinvigorate the family’s legacy with this campaign.
thermore, by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, so who knows—the Pru might even be lit up with hot pink lights again. The program will definitely be more dazzling and grand than it was last year. With plans to extend to retail venues beyond Back Bay, such as Downtown Crossing, Faneuil Hall, and the South End, FNO visitors will be able, as Menino put it, “to take advantage of all that Boston has to offer.” Further, Menino’s promised “cultural” and “artistic” attractions will inevitably add to the allure of this year’s FNO. With that in mind, guests should be sure to visit Villani’s “Before I die … wall” on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, either before or after their shopping sprees. Countries worldwide are brought together culturally through fashion, and they’re bound together financially through the global economy. Whether visitors stroll down Newbury or meander around Copley for tonight’s event, they’ll be playing a crucial role in supporting a universal enterprise. n
Born to U.S. Congressman Joseph Patrick Kennedy II of Massachusetts’ 8th congressional district and Sheila Brewster (who divorced in 1991), Kennedy attended Stanford University as an undergraduate and then Harvard Law School, where he worked for Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, a pro bono law firm that is managed by students and serves many of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods. After this, Kennedy had a two-year stint in the Peace Corps (2004-2006). More recently, he became engaged to Lauren Anne Birchfield, whom he met at law school. Kennedy’s fraternal twin Matthew also recently announced his engagement, though he has no current political designs like his brother does. Despite how difficult it is for voters to disassociate the young politician from his family’s name—at every campaign stop, Kennedy encounters those who want to relay stories about meeting his family members or ask his exact relation to the late Ted Kennedy—he has declared that he is running because of his desire to help right an unbalanced system and represent the people, and that he intends to earn the voters’ trust. From his website, he writes (addressing website visitors as “dear friend”): “As I talk to people across the 4th District, I hear that they are really worried that this basic promise [that everyone deserves to be treated equally] doesn’t hold true anymore. I don’t blame them. From Franklin to Freetown, there are too many examples of the system hurting the people it’s
truck owners Adam Gendreau and Patrick Gilmartin, restaurants have a much higher chance of establishing a reputation and a strong customer base in the industry: “Brick and mortars have the ability to stock and sell more food than a truck does, and keep that up for a longer period of time … The City also forces us to change our schedules every year, so we never can bank on a constant stream of revenue from year-to-year. We never know what the next year holds for us.” Several owners of popular food trucks like Bon Me are planning to open restaurants of their own, further emphasizing the power brick and mortars possess. After appearing on Phantom Gourmet and dismissing the alleged misinformation put forth by the Andelman brothers, Gendreau and Gilmartin expressed their distaste of the Andelmans on Instagram. Food trucks are fighting bad stigma by highlighting their quality and work ethic. Straight from New York City, The Taco Truck made its splash on the food truck scene this summer. Public relations and marketing representative Rina Peselman describes the truck as “eco-friendly, authentic Mexican fare that is committed to sustainability.” Trucks are attempting to overturn any bad publicity and maintain steady customer bases. As the Andelmans’ heated crusade against food trucks continues, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the city of Boston will soon be forced to enforce regulations in favor of one side of the debate. n
By: Charlotte By: Arjun Parish Gajulapalli
supposed to help.” The 32-year-old politician has already gained the attention of Republican opponents, despite the fact that he is not the official candidate for the October elections. During the primaries, the three Republican candidates have lambasted Kennedy, meanwhile ignoring the other two Democratic primary candidates, Rachel Brown and Herb Robinson. Republican candidate Sean Bielat of Norfolk has accused Kennedy of being unqualified and unresolved about major issues. Kennedy dismissed the comments and includes his position on several hot button topics—for example, supporting the Taunton Business Improvement District (BID) model and affordable health care initiatives. n
The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Speeches rally and invigorate both parties’ constituents Conventions, from C10 opening ceremonies for Monday, Aug. 27. However, Hurricane Isaac caused the convention to recess until Tuesday afternoon. Monday’s events were limited to RNC Chairman Reince Priebus calling the convention to order and beginning the “debt clock,” which tracked the rise of national debt in America through the four-day convention. Ann Romney, wife of Mitt Romney and former first lady of Massachusetts, preceded New Jersey governor Chris Christie at the podium Tuesday night. Ann Romney presented her husband as a good father and caring friend, while targeting the female audience and stressing the importance of family. Her speech has been praised by critics, yet called ineffective, but Ann Romney’s intention to make her husband a more real, human-like figure was accomplished. Christie, the keynote speaker of the RNC, received more mixed reviews—the biggest critique being that his speech was more about himself than Mitt Romney. Vice presidential candidate Ryan took the stage Wednesday night, to every delegate’s pleasure. Fox News summarized Ryan’s speech in three words: dazzling, deceiving, and distracting. Ryan faced immediate criticism for inaccurate information regarding Obama’s financial policies and “Obamacare.” Critics were quick to point out Ryan’s lack of acknowledgement of his abortion policies and strong conservative views concerning morality. However, his purpose was to add energy and passion to the Republican Party, a feat he accomplished with flying colors. In terms of personality and humanizing a candidate, Ryan shone where Romney has struggled. Preceding Romney at the podium Thursday evening was famous actor and director Clint Eastwood. The former mayor of Carmel, Calif. ad-libbed his speech, addressing an imaginary Obama in an empty chair beside him onstage. His political comedy routine was “bitingly satirical,” albeit long-winded and rambling. Like other major speeches of the RNC, critics immediately attacked Eastwood for using
inaccurate figures (specifically regarding the unemployment rates in the United States). Romney’s main purpose in the “speech of his life” last Thursday night was to push through the stiff exterior and promote his ability to connect with the middle class— difficult tasks thanks to the Democratic political ads and comedians. Mixed reviews poured in from press and population alike. The consensus: good, but not good enough. He humanized himself, but not in a likeable manner. While he may connect with the working class and female population, critics did not think his nomination would be enough to sway voters who previously voted for Obama. The overarching theme of the Republican National Convention was “A Better Future.” All four days additionally had their own theme: “We Can Do Better,” “We Built It,” “We Can Change It,” and “We Believe in America.” The closing ceremony concluded with candidates Romney and Ryan officially accepting the Republican nomination, 120,000 balloons falling upon the 2,000 plus delegates, and a new Twitter hash tag—#eastwooding—thanks to Eastwood’s comedy routine. As the Democratic National Convention continues, the big question remains: does Romney have what it takes to beat Obama? Is America better off today than it was four years ago, as Obama claims and Romney vehemently denies? According to ABC News and The Washington Post, “Barack Obama approaches his nomination for a second term with the lowest pre-convention personal popularity of an incumbent president since the 1980s.” Polls as of Wednesday, Sept. 5, show Democratic favor by less than half a percent among the National Popular Vote [47.3 percent for Obama, 46.9 percent for Romney]. For the first time in his presidency, Obama is considered “unfavorable” by over half the American population. After last week’s convention, Romney saw a five point increase in the polls—but is still considered “unfavorable” by 40 percent of the U.S. population. First lady Michelle Obama sought to
increase that likeability Tuesday night in her heartfelt speech about the real American dream. While never using Romney’s name, she provided a sharp contrast between his wealthy upbringing and the Obamas’ struggle: “Barack knows the American dream because he’s lived it.” Like Ann Romney, the first lady sought to humanize her husband, discussing his role as a father and his unswerving character from the time he entered into office four years ago. Overwhelming praise for Michelle Obama, a press favorite, began immediately after her speech, especially on the social media site Twitter. Over 5,000 delegates at the DNC have voted to adopt Obama’s platform to “Move the Country Forward.” Notable speakers in Wednesday night’s lineup include Massachusetts senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren and former president of the United States Bill Clinton. Senior Senator of Massachusetts John Kerry will introduce Obama and Biden Thursday evening as they accept the re-nomination. In the following days, voters will have a full sense of each party’s platform and their campaigns. The question to ask as the DNC comes to a close this week: can Obama move America forward? n
C9
From the Golden State
America’s future rides on a tweet
Clara Kim
Courtesy of Google images
Obama is scheduled to speak tonight at the DNC.
Courtesy of Google images
Twitter and social media are predicted to play a significant role in this presidental election.
THE ISSUE:
On page C10, the article “Restaurant critics slam food trucks” discusses the tension between brick and mortar restaurants and food trucks. Popular restaurant-review television program Phantom Gourmet has jumped into the fray to defend restaurants, accusing food trucks of infringing on other businesses’ territories. Food trucks like Staff Meal have begun to fight back, declaring that they have attained moderate success as a result of hard work and quality food. The question at hand is if our government should allow food trucks to step onto a pre-existing scene and freely operate at the expense of others.
Courtesy of Google images
Appreciating the free market Saving traditional business Marc Francis The term “free market” is the central element of American economics. Immigrants continue to make the journey to the United States with hopes of finding financial success. Politicians constantly feed the public the idea that anyone can climb the ladder of success in this country. If we, as Americans, are to support this foundation of our economic system, it would be hypocritical of us to interfere in an industry simply because a fresh face is trumping the competition. Food trucks deserve much praise for their success in an industry that has been dominated by brick and mortar restaurants for decades. The Phantom Gourmet has launched an attack on food trucks because they believe their business tactics are stealing customers from restaurants that have much higher expenses. However, restaurants still have the upper hand and are still making more profits than food trucks. These trucks are an example of how technological innovation has no boundaries and is not confined to one particular industry. Why would our government punish people who have worked their way up in an extremely competitive market and achieved some form of the American dream? CEO of the Staff Meal food truck
Patrick Gilmartin stated, “We’ve built our entire business model on the idea that our food and our attitude speaks for itself and, given enough time, we would rise to the top because we offer the highest level of creativity and technique that we can. To that end, we welcome competition.” Although he is striving to maintain a steady customer base in the midst of a struggle with restaurants and other food trucks, Gilmartin embodies the spirit of competition our country represents. Food trucks are not simply springing up at random locations without any credibility. The city of Boston’s website states that “In addition to the Mobile Food Truck Permit, Food Trucks must also secure permits from Inspectional Services, Boston Fire Department, and the State of Mass to ensure the safety and health of the Food Truck, vendors, and customers.” As long as trucks have obtained proper permits and licenses, the government should not place any limitations on how the trucks operate. In the end, there are winners and losers in every market—America has forever believed in letting the natural process of competition take place with almost no restraints. Marc Francis is the Asst. Metro editor for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.
Graham Beck What the restaurant owners want is a level playing field, fair competition, and reassurance that they will not have to lower prices to compete with food trucks. Restaurant owners have every right to be angry and scared of food trucks. Trucks forfeit many of the enormous expenditures that a stationary restaurant pays and they are able to sell food for much lower prices. The fact of the matter is that while food trucks try to “make it big” using the idea of a mobilized restaurant, they could inadvertently destabilize local restaurants and force overall restaurant prices to be lowered. This is not an issue of the big guy trying to bully out the little guys. This is about makings sure that everyone in the same business plays by the same rules. What David Andelman wants is for there to be an equal amount of restrictions and attention placed on food trucks as there is on restaurants. While restaurants in their essence compete with each other for customers, Andelman’s fear is that the cheapness and mobility of food trucks could drive competing restaurants to lower their own prices. That being said, food trucks certainly do not try to compete with five star restaurants. They compete with
the small, lower end shops—the shops that attract just enough customers to pay the checks. That is what is at the heart of this matter. Food trucks act as a foreign invader, a virus so to speak, in the food industry of Boston. While trucks seek to profit off hard work in the “kitchen,” they poison the cash flow to restaurants, and thus have no place near stationary restaurants that work hard but cannot change location when the customers stop dropping by. It is the job of our government to promote healthy, fair competition. Restaurants are a staple of the hospitality industry and it is our civic duty to protect them. Innovation should by no means replace tradition. Andelman, while considered harsh by some, presents a solution that does not banish food trucks entirely, and furthermore levels a playing field that is already disproportionate due to the small cost that food trucks pay to sell food. A requirement of a thousandfoot distance would not kill a food truck business, and would preserve the welfare of the stationary restaurant owner. This is not an attack, but an outcry for fair business practices. Let it be heard. Graham Beck is an editor for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@ bcheights.com.
Every four years, in a presidential election, there is always one defining, unique aspect that makes it memorable. In 2000, I remember staying up hours past my bedtime to watch as then-young George Stephanopoulos became a breakout star while the nation waited for the results of recounted votes. In 2004, America held high and optimistic spirits as she voted for the president who led the months after Sept. 11. Finally, in 2008, “hope” was instilled in America’s hearts and minds, as we voted our first African-American president into office. This time around, as the 2012 election draws near with the issues bigger than ever and the candidates more qualified than ever, there will certainly be a new twist in election trends. All thanks to Twitter. This 2012 presidential election is already being dubbed as the “Twitter election” by multiple major media outlets. In a day and age when everything (and I mean everything) is social media-based, it is no surprise that something as volatile as politics is no exception. Americans love their politics. They also love their social media. So the two together is a recipe for explosive success. Take the Aug. 27-30 Republican National Convention. According to the Independent Voter Network, the second day of the convention racked up nearly 6,669 tweets per minute—which, when all the numbers are added, results in more tweets on that day than in the 2008 Republican and Democratic Conventions combined. Twitter shared on their blog, “In fact, Tweets about the #GOP2012 convention topped two million as [Paul] Ryan took the stage—six times the Tweets sent about the 2008 conventions combined.” And on the final night of the Convention, Twitter posted, “Tonight, the total number of Tweets sent about the Republican National Convention hit four million soon after the end of Governor [Mitt] Romney’s speech—nearly doubling the total count before today.” (Although Romney sparked the highest number of tweets per minute, Senator Marco Rubio garnered 8,937 tweets per minute. Clint Eastwood was close behind with a respectable 7,044 tweets per minute, thanks to his invisible chair.) As American voters, one would hope that Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden are with the times and are open to embracing the phenomenon that is tweeting. Voters, too, should take advantage of Twitter and not only get to know their candidates’ stances on major issues, but also what kind of person they are in their day-to-day lives. Twitter CEO Dick Costolo believes that Twitter has a role in “humanizing public figures.” He said, “One of the reasons we’ve gotten so many celebrities from all walks of life [on Twitter] is because it gives them a vehicle to communicate directly with the people.” In the days leading up to election day in November, voters should take some time out of their day to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their candidates’ seemingly mysterious personal lives, whether it be by tweets less than 140 characters long or Instagram pictures. You might be surprised at what you find. Obviously, Twitter does more than just provide a window into the lives of the presidential and vice presidential candidates. Its ability to “trend” will define the upcoming election as unique in more ways than one. With the capability to retweet and reply to tweets using a hashtag, the conversation keeps going to the point where your feed will blow up because everyone is talking about it. (During the Republican National Convention last week, a friend aptly tweeted: “Snooki is basically the only person on my Twitter feed not talking about the #RNC. Digest that tidbit.”) A more engaging and informed America means more discussions. Open discussions keep the wheels turning—with them, we are nearly invincible. Our voices are heard, changes are made, and again and again, we exceed expectations. So tweet away this upcoming election. Be heard and get the vote out. Clara Kim is a senior staff writer for The Heights. She can be reached at metro@ bcheights.com.
metro The Heights
Thursday, December 8, 2011
c10
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Mobilizing America
Wicked Cultured
Final echoes of WFNX
By Tricia Tiedt Heights Staff
Charlotte Parish
Charlotte Parish is the Metro Editor for The Heights. She can be reached at metro@bcheights.com
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See Conventions, C9
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Summer is more than a season, it’s an aesthetic that combines taste, smell, sight, and sound. To me, the most important sensation from this list is sound. Whether it’s driving on long distance road trips and squishing a concerning number of people into one car, blasting my kitchen radio while baking, or cranking up the bass on a chunky old radio at the beach, each summer in my memory has a specific soundtrack. Part of the reason is that summer forgives any unusual or embarrassing musical choices. It’s okay to want to listen to Carly Rae Jepsen’s new song “Good Time” with the cringe-worthy Owl City. If “Call Me Maybe” isn’t a guilty pleasure anymore simply because the Olympic swimming team embraced it, this new track is still one to hide in headphones. It’s not just obnoxious pop that ages well in the warmth. Country music suddenly becomes better as well. During the winter, if I hear a banjo twang, I want to slap the radio—or maybe the person who turned it on. But in the summer, Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” or the (still ridiculous) “Chicken Fried” have an optimistic and whimsical feeling that make any other faults forgivable. But these slightly shameful musical pastimes are not what I most strongly associate with summer. Summer time is when I drive around, listen to WFNX endlessly, and get introduced to new, amazing talents who I miss out on during the year when crushes of homework and tests force me into a silent bubble of focus. Alas, this favorite aesthetic of the summer was cruelly taken from me and the entire Boston area this summer. One of the last independent radio stations, WFNX was a gem in its ability to fastidiously march the line between a hipster (who you begrudgingly admit found a band first) and your best friend (the one with great music taste who just wants you to love the new album they found). WFNX pushed back against the Kiss 108 stations of the world that insist Justin Bieber, Gotye, and Karmin are the only artists who put out tracks this summer. WFNX was always there to shake its head at this and unobtrusively present an alternative to songs repeated ad nauseam. And now WFNX is dead. Not because it was unloved, but because the times have not been financially kind to independent stations. Has anything replaced it, you ask? There is, in fact, a new station, called The Harbor. What is its tagline? “We play anything!” No, that’s not a joke. “We play anything”? That’s equivalent to a chef saying, “Well, I can make whatever. I don’t really care.” You go to a restaurant looking for passion about food, a chef with expertise in a certain style, or at least enough autonomy to decide what goes on the menu. It’s the same idea for radio. Fans become dedicated to a station because the DJs run certain types of music, have particular tastes and talents, discover rising artists and then share them with listeners. The average person is not going to have the time or inclination to do any of the above. But we give listenership based on these stations doing it for us. We reward them with our loyalty (which sells their ads and earns the station money). But now, 101.7 is going from the most interesting and unique station in Boston to ones that “plays whatever, dude!” Does that include Of Monsters and Men? I wouldn’t have known to ask for them, the winner of the annual Icelandic Battle of Bands, who a WFNX DJ insisted be played. Or how about Walk the Moon? Their song “Anna Sun” has been adored by everyone whom I’ve badgered into listening to it, but you’ll never catch the track on Kiss 108 or the new Amp radio, which replaced Boston’s last dedicated oldies station. I really don’t mean to be a grouch. All in all, 2012 was a wonderful summer, filled with the smell of a campfire, delicious BBQs, and beautiful vistas on day trips—almost everything I need to feel complete in the summer time. There was something missing when I lost WFNX, though, and I think most of Boston is still feeling the sting, bringing us into the fading leaves of autumn with heavy hearts.
On Aug. 27, the already heated race for the November 2012 presidential elections officially began. The Republican National Convention [RNC], held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., solidified the nomination of Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican ticket. Senator Paul Ryan of Wisconsin joined Romney as the vice-presidential candidate on the ballot. The Democratic National Convention [DNC] began Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to accept the nominations for the Democratic ballot tonight, Sept. 6. The Republican National Contion originally scheduled its
WE
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courtesy of Google Images Alex Manta \ Heights Editor
Comedians beguile at annual fest
Fashion’s Night Out ready to shine
By Natalie Blardony
By Ariana Igneri
For The Heights
Heights Staff
It’s September, and that can mean a number of things. The start of a new academic year. The return of muchloved television shows. The birth of new fall fashions. And it also marks the beginning of Boston’s beloved Comedy Arts Festival. Not to be confused with the Boston Comedy Festival that runs from Sept. 13-22, this is an equally exciting, side-splitting event all it’s own. Tuesday, Sept. 4 marked the opening of this event, which lasts until Sept. 9. The highly esteemed and famed Cambridge Footlights, from across the pond, made their way over to Cambridge, Mass. for a two-show, one-night kick-off to this festival on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Once seen, it is no wonder that they are so widely-known and praised. This internationally famous group has produced some of the funniest comedians of our time. John Cleese (Monty Python), Hugh Laurie (House),
increasing fitness. An unofficial test by a biking blogger living in Cambridge showed that biking to Kendall from Alewife T station was faster than using public transportation or driving. To encourage workers to take advantage of this, many companies, such as Ironwood, allow employees to keep any unused part of their travel subsidies
It’s no secret that the economy has been faltering. Like a pre-teen in high heels for the first time, it has been awkwardly stumbling about trying to find its footing and obtain some measure of balance. People have stopped spending during the recent recession—they’ve pinched their purses shut and have made the economy’s climb to recovery an even steeper challenge. The fashion industry—large department stores and small boutiques alike—has been struggling noticeably to stand tall. Thus, in an effort to stabilize retail businesses, the city of New York established Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) four years ago. Enticing consumers with high excitement events such as surprise designer appearances, famous celebrity guests, exclusive fashion shows, and musical performances, the fashion industry of New York City, including Vogue Magazine, The Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Co., and the city of Manhattan itself, fell together to organize this then unprecedented, now global, initiative. Over the past few years, the event has evolved into an iconic extravaganza for fashionistas worldwide. FNO is coordinated in the cities of 18 individual countries, from Milan to Bombay and from Tokyo to Boston. Though this year will be only the second year Beantown takes part in celebrating the occasion, FNO Boston is expected to be a stunning success. It was planned and produced by city locals and fashion experts Michelle
See Hubway, C8
See FNO, C8
Natalie Blardony \ For the heights
The Comedy Arts Festival featured several performances by the city’s greatest comedians. Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), and Emma Thompson (Love Actually) are only a few of the well-known names to come forth from this group. An hour-long performance of various satirical, surrealist, and downright hilarious sketches had everyone clapping for more. From the moment these five talented members, Emma Powell, Pierre Novellie, George Potts, Phil Wang, and Jason Forbes, stepped onto
the stage under the spotlights, laughter was instantaneous. With tons of sketches for everyone’s tastes, nothing was off-limits. They even managed to derive humor from twisting Monopoly into a hilarious “movie trailer” that was not at all what one would expect from this childhood favorite. They managed to poke fun at ev-
See Comedy, C8
Eco-commuting takes off in Cambridge By Charlotte Parish Metro Editor
What if employees were offered money to get to work in quicker, cheaper, healthier, and more eco-friendly ways? Cambridge can attest to the benefits of exactly that scenario, as recent reports demonstrate surprising statistics about the city of squares. Kendall Square, one of the busiest areas of the city, has seen a 40 percent increase in commercial space,
amounting to 4.6 million square feet developed in the past two years. Their automotive travel rates, however, have fallen by 14 percent. The benefits of these findings have inspired many local areas to reconsider their own city planning tactics. Ecologically, not only is the reduction of exhaust an immediate benefit, but it will also reduce fossil fuel consumption in the long term. In addition to external benefits, biking saves time and money while
Restaurant critics slam food trucks By Marc Francis Asst. Metro Editor
Charlotte Parish \ Heights Editor
Clove is one of many food truck businesses that have taken off with immense success recently.
i nside Metro this issue
On the Flip Side
Famed New England restaurant review television program, Phantom Gourmet, recently pledged its alliance to brick and mortar restaurants in their ongoing battle with food trucks. Food trucks are found throughout 20 major Boston locations, including Back Bay, Cleveland Circle, and the campus of Boston University. Many argue that food trucks attribute a vital vibrancy to the city’s economy, but the issue driving the current debate is more geographical—should food trucks
Do food trucks have an unfair advantage over traditional restuarants and should they be more regulated?...................................................... C9
be allowed to operate alongside stationary eateries and threaten pre-existing businesses? David Andelman, president of the Restaurant and Business Alliance and CEO of Phantom Gourmet, Inc., proposed that food trucks should maintain a distance of 1,000 feet from all brick and mortar restaurants (500 feet in highly congested areas), and that food trucks should open business at events like the SoWa Open Market and in large, open areas like the Boston Common. His cam-
See Food Truck, C8
Restaurant Review: Lucca..........................................................C8 Person to Watch: Joseph P. Kennedy III...................................................C8
scene and heard
‘Shore’ no more
the popular mtv reality show finally bites the dust, page D2 Star value
Dakota Johnson
The step-daughter of antonio banderas makes it big, page D5
album review
‘north’
rob thomas returns with his matchbox twenty bandmates on the group’s new effort, D3
Thursday, sEPTEMBER 6, 2012
crew love
By b r e n n a n c a r l e y A r ts & R e v i e w E d i to r tay l o r c ava l l o a s s o c . A r ts & R e v i e w E d i to r , da n s i e r i n g a s s t . A r ts & R e v i e w E d i to r
aLEX mANTA / heights photo illustration
The Heights
D2
Friends and pop culture make summer
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Scene and Heard
BY: ALLAN GUZMAN
Brennan Carley If there’s one thing I took away from this pop culture-clogged summer, it’s that there exist increasingly more and more places to turn when in need of a distraction. There’s the goofily fun and nostalgic “quintessential summer stuff” that always offers respite from long days in the office, like amusement parks and barbecues. In July, I had the pleasure of coming close to death over and over at Rye Playland, a theme park that has been open for eons and is home to the fortuneteller that ages Tom Hanks in the movie Big. Then there’s the exciting stuff, the things that you feel like you’ll only get to experience once in a lifetime that make summer the most magical of seasons. Twice I had the true honor to dine at Mission Chinese in downtown New York City, a Danny Bowien-helmed implant from San Francisco that is serving up the most heart-pounding Asian-inspired food I’ve ever eaten before. I sampled wacky dishes like pork jowl and radishes alongside red braised pig tails, slow cooked in root beer and sweet and sour pineapple. Kung Pao pastrami sat beside thrice cooked bacon, both dishes generously laden with freshly ground peppercorns that destroyed my taste buds for days afterwards. In the weeks following the Channel Orange explosion, I braved the New York derecho—during which I literally saw a fruit stand get whipped into the air like it weighed nothing—to witness firsthand Frank Ocean’s vocal perfection at his Terminal 5 show. The concert was simultaneously reverent and ratchet, audiences chanting along to each and every word to songs like “Thinkin Bout You,” “Pyramids,” and the days-old “Bad Religion” as Frankie grinned and shuffled around the stage in awe of our complete devotion. It was, as I still attest, a total religious experience, and nothing was cooler than seeing his Odd Future buddy Tyler, the Creator thrashing about in the balcony, clearly thrilled to see Ocean achieving such grand success. More than anything else, however, I learned that nothing is as amazing of an experience as it is when you’re experiencing it with friends. This summer brought flocks of Boston College folks to the Big Apple and I’ve never quite felt so in love with the city as I did when traversing its nooks and crannies with those I love. My associate editor Taylor, assistant editor Dan, and fellow editor Christina played along happily when I bussed them around the town to events like the eagerly awaited Governor’s Ball. A twoday long festival, the Ball culminated for me when Major Lazer—essentially just Diplo at this point, who fans can catch at the House of Blues in Boston this October—dropped a one-minute long segment of The Heights’ approved “Express Yourself” as a topless woman drunkenly flung her arms in the air onstage. Taylor claims to still have the scratch marks on her arm from when I grabbed her as the reverberating “womp-womps” signaled the track’s start. I know Margaret still has the duck masks (“TOO LITERAL,” we screamed) from Duck Sauce’s set. As a group, we took trips to local joints on the beach, food festivals in Brooklyn (The Great Googa Mooga, which also featured a giant mechanical pig spitting flames in front of a performance by Lez Zeppelin), a doublebill Rye Rye, Sleigh Bells show on the beautiful Hudson, and far-flung house parties in Battery Park City. We greeted our summer with a wallet-busting meal at a speakeasy tucked away behind a pawn shop on Essex Street. We passed on Beach House in favor of diner food, got drunk and danced the night away at Lana Del Rey’s show, and learned that our Metro assistant editor is extremely competitive at badminton. This was the summer that I truly learned how to be independent for the first time, but it was also a time at which my friends helped save me and helped shape me, for which I’m eternally grateful and forever in their debt. I write this at the conclusion of the first day of classes, my last first-day of school at BC. As I look back on the last several years, and especially this summer, I know now that I wouldn’t have done anything any differently. As much as I’ve enjoyed it all, I’ve never been more excited for a semester at school. Bring it on, BC.
Brennan Carley is the Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
1. ABC SERIES FOR COPS
And the reboots live on. CBS network is preparing a pilot for fall 2013 that will serve as a sequel to the popular 1980s and ’90s Beverly Hills Cop films, which starred Eddie Murphy as detective Alex Foley. There will be a few differences, though. The series is set to be a drama that will follow Foley’s son, Aaron, around the gilded streets of Beverly Hills as he hunts down rich and dangerous criminals. Murphy, who will be executive producer, will star in the pilot and perhaps in future episodes if the show finds an audience.
2. RISES TO $1 BILLION The final film in Nolan’s Batman trilogy has become the 13th film in history to surpass the $1 billion mark worldwide. The film also surpassed The Dark Knight—while The Dark Knight grossed higher domestically, The Dark Knight Rises made more money internationally. Despite the film’s impressive box office performance, however, it is eclipsed by the $2.7 billion fortune that James Cameron’s Avatar, which currently sits atop the list, has made.
4. Lincoln’s premiere It used to be that movie trailers were intriguing and mildly exciting previews of films to come in the near future (except for superhero movies—geeks turn frantic at the reveal of even a photograph). But mildly exciting is not enough for Steven Spielberg. The director of the upcoming biopic Lincoln, which stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th president, will see first daylight at a live broadcast premiere in Times Square on Sept. 13. Spielberg and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who also stars in the film, will be present as part of a live conversation via a Google+ Hangout.
3. Michael C. Duncan Dies
The actor, best remembered for his Oscar nominated role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, passed away this Monday after failing to recover from a heart attack he suffered in July. The news was reported by his girlfriend, reality star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth. Duncan, who appeared in Planet of the Apes and Sin City, also lent his trademark deep voice to many animated films and TV shows. While most considered him a B-list actor, he always graced the screen with both his hulking 6-foot-5 frame and his ear-to-ear grin.
5. NO MORE JERSEY SHORE
MTV viewers hoping for more GTL will be disappointed to learn that the network is ending its most successful series after six seasons. Weakening ratings have influenced MTV’s decision, but producers insist that they have nobler reasons for the result. Snooki is now a mother, which, despite the possibility of a miniature ninth cast member, complicates her schedule. There are also the growing careers of the rest of the cast, as well as MTV’s desire to introduce new primetime material. Thursday nights will never be the same.
@robdelaney (Rob Delaney, Comedian)
Attend our Sunday meetings in McElroy 113 at 4:30 p.m. and try your hand at writing for the most fun section of the paper.
“MY FANTASY FOOTBALL THINGIE IS TOM BRADY HUGGING ME IN A BARN WHAT IS FANTASY FOOTBALL.’” @Sophia Rossi (sophia Rossi, Cofounder ‘Hello giggles’)
“i can’t make you love me but i can make you super co-dependent on me & that i promise you” @sarahksilverman (sarah silverman, comedian)
“‘hey let’s get a bunch of spoons and split this cream-based soup’ - gross asshole”
@max_read (max read, comedian)
“bill clinton met a witch that told him if he can give a speech for 24 hours then the curse will be lifted and he can be president again.” Submit your favorite tweets of the week for consideration at artseditors11@gmail.com.
The Heights
Thursday, September 6, 2012
D3
Altered sound depletes ability to embrace powerful ‘Sun’ By Matt Mazzari For The Heights
This week, the American indierock scene hails the subversive return of Cat Power, which, frustratingly enough, is not the name of a band but rather the self-assumed title of a single musician. Chan Marshall, whose problems with alcohol abuse have limited her output in recent years, was a ’90s no-hit wonder turned celebrated singer-songwriter in 2003 with her release of You Are Free. Marshall’s moody ninth album, Sun, though bearing flashes of warmth, is musically intent on staying clear of its eponymous namesake, preferring the submarine coolness of distorted chord strums and pulsing oceantinted sound. The layering invokes a shimmering neo-grunge, which in these trying times essentially just means “modern new wave minus pop appeal.” Despite it all, however, when her music occasionally picks at upbeat, end-of-a-long-winter vibes, Marshall does have something relatively meaningful to add to the conversation on self-destructiveness. Staying Western for Marshall means minimalist riffs layered in electric arpeggios. The earliest-release from the album, “Ruin,” is probably the most energetic and explicit track, and the first track, “Cherokee,” has an interesting surrealism to its chorus as Marshall chants for an upside-down burial and a marriage to the sky. That said, when Marshall ventures into the foreign tones of
world music, the best way to describe the result is a colossal drag. Indistinct harmonizing meets watery backgrounds in these chime-y, comatose melodies, such as “Always on My Own” and “Real Life.” The band’s piano and guitar work is painstakingly simple, usually no more than seven or eight notes played over and over. One of the later tracks, “Manhattan,” has the audacity to capitalize on a spacey, four-note cycle played listlessly (and infectiously) on the piano. On that note, I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to Cat Power’s bass in general. This is quite possibly the laziest bass I’ve ever heard. No, no, please buddy, don’t strain yourself! It’s not like there’s anything urgent about anchoring the drums and guitar in alternative sound. The instrumentals of Sun are mostly passable, if reductively tuneful, but the overall lack of percussiveness outside of the drum kit is noteworthy. Seriously, I think I could have played the bass of Sun with a rubber band tied across a coffee mug. That actually may be what happened. All right, let’s move on. The quality of Marshall’s vocals is one of non-descript prettiness, the sort of voice that gets you by without a lot of questioning. What’s exasperating about this, though it isn’t unappealing, is that Cat Power never seems to break itself or split its sides. The message is angry, tortured, and even seditious, but it never seems to be trying. As the novelty wears off, the blue-green tracks begin to mesh into
Sun Cat Power produced by Matador Records released Sep. 4, 2012 Our rating C courtesy of Matador records
Chart Toppers Singles
1 We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together Taylor Swift 2 One More Night Maroon 5 3 Some Nights fun. 4 Whistle Flo Rida 5 Good Time Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen 6 Home Phillip Phillips 7 As Long As You Love Me Justin Bieber 8 Everybody Talks Neon Trees 9 Want U Back Cher Lloyd Top Albums
Cat Power, otherwise known as Chan Marshall, makes her return to music following some time off with ‘Sun.’ each other, and it doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the studio. This “effortless” mode of stylistic singing isn’t necessarily uncommon, as great musicians have been winging breezy power-tunes since before Tom Petty. Still, whereas a Cat Stevens album has its explosive moments amid the ease, a shouted “never” from “Maybe You’re Right” or the thunderous end of “Peace Train,” Cat Power’s voice never truly crackles. Hence the blanketing wateriness of the album, like a feminine Automatic for the People without the nonsensical depth. Even
on the more buoyant tracks, Sun is rarely incendiary. The lyricism, though occasionally striking, is often subdued by the ambience. The songs that break this pattern are “Human Being,” “Silent Machine,” and the finale “Peace and Love.” It’s on these tracks that Cat Power calls for its vague revolution, citing people being shot in the street and a new, antagonistic generation as reasons for passionate outcry. Chan Marshall does some legitimate teeth-gnashing, and the discontent is palpable throughout these songs.
Sun as a completed project has some glimpses of vivid color, but the heavily overdubbed and manufactured sound restricts its capacity for humanity. A conspicuous lack of negative space and a gripping riff make for a slow burn of an LP with not quite enough variety or clarity to salvage its own statements. It’s admirable, however, that Cat Power at least sacrifices a great deal of commercial potential to record with her own emotion invested and bared, even if it can’t ante up a bass line to save its soul. n
1 Eye On It TobyMac 2 Welcome To Our House Slaughterhouse 3 Chapter V Trey Songz 4 Now 43 Various Artists
Source: Billboard.com
‘Centipede’ gives patient fans a challenging, layered new listen By Dan Ottaunick Heights Editor
Growing up is tough once you’ve run out of room to grow. Where do you go from there? Some bands try doing the same thing they’ve just done, releasing
an album similar, yet inferior, to the landmark they just put out. Others try reviving an older sound. So how is Animal Collective, whose 2009 Merriweather Post Pavilion is lauded by critics and fans as one of the best albums of
that decade, supposed to proceed? Lyrics such as, “And there’s no way to remind me of pacific plates or what the text was” stand out. Is this line from “Moonjock,” the opening track of Centipede Hz, about the difficulty of ac-
Centipede hz Animal Collective produced by Domino released Sep. 4, 2012 Our rating A-
courtesy of Domino
Despite their seasoned career as influential musicians, Animal Collective delivers a new experience with ‘Centipedes.’
cessing memory? Or have I taken it out of context? When “Today’s Supernatural,” the lead single, tells us letting go is “not a question for your head,” what could that possibly mean? It’s difficult to tell, and that sort of surface-level awareness is present in each of Animal Collective’s previous efforts , leading up to this ninth release. Animal Collective’s aesthetic is in their ability to remove you from your element, to show you a world of startling frequencies and contrasts. This approach crescendos on the standout “Applesauce,” which is mostly an ode to fruit. One of the more pop-friendly tracks on the album, “Applesauce” slides through loops and plays with a lot of frequencies, exploring highs and lows of sound (and fruit). “Wide Eyed” is another high point. The domestic and mature lyrics, provided by Panda Bear, are reminiscent of MPP, though the track itself is far from the sound of that album. “How am I still holding on … I feel my strength is failing.” The song considers
the fear that comes with aging and change. While these realms are familiar to the band, and to Panda Bear in his solo work, they seem refreshing amongst the track’s spacey and jumbled sound, which is a contrast to the poppier backdrops provided in previous iterations. Worries about the murkiness of memory, the frailty of the present, and the mystery of the future are strongly asserted throughout the album. Sometimes , as in “Monkey Riches,” fear comes at us directly through contemplating how to live genuinely and meaningfully in a messy universe. At other times, gravity weighs us down. “Mercury Man” laments: “When I’m one thousand hertz from home, sometimes I wish for a short wave home.” The fantastical distance of “centipede hz” sounds a lot less scary than the real and pressing, yet equal, “one thousand hz.” But can we rely on these thin and contrived fantasies to slip away from reality, as would a man composed of mercury? “Amanita” peels this question open, addressing the frailty of
fantasy while still concluding that perhaps escape can be a legitimate answer to reality. But this comes with a subtle warning: the track’s title is the name for a genus of extremely deadly fungi which are often mistaken for psychedelic mushrooms. So, does Centipede top MPP? Is it a return to the sound of Feels? Less interesting than debating these difficult and abstract questions is the reality that Centipede is a solid album from a band that has produced a lot of solid albums. Its music possesses a staccato attention span, which snaps through varied spectrums of invention and true awareness. Ultimately, we give up on pinpointing its sound. The music is simply meant to be experienced. This album will challenge you to listen multiple times over, discovering which of its disjointed elements form a chance melody, which of its chaotic sounds you may have missed. It’s not worth comparing to its predecessors, because it attempts—successfully—to achieve a wholly different sound. n
Twenty’s mediocre album lacks spark needed to attract new fans By Carolina Del Busto Heights Staff
It has been a decade since Matchbox Twenty has released a new studio album—not including their 2007 compilation album, Exile on Mainstream. So with the release of North, has it been
worth the wait? If you’re already a Matchbox Twenty fan, then yes, but if you’re not, this album certainly won’t be the one to turn you on to them and keep you hooked for life. Matchbox Twenty really hasn’t changed their sound since their heyday in the ’90s—therefore,
North sounds more of that decade, with a forced modern pop fusion than anything else. The band didn’t stray far from what its fans are used to hearing, so this new album should be sure to please old fans. However, it doesn’t sound like an album that’s been 10 years in the making.
North Matchbox Twenty produced by Atlantic released Sep. 4, 2012 Our rating C+ courtesy of atlantic
Matchbox Twenty’s album will be successful among the band’s already loyal fans, but won’t do much for first time listeners.
The first single off the album was released earlier this summer, titled “She’s So Mean.” What’s really mean about this song is making the listener—that’s you—listen to the poorly constructed lyrics. With lines like “she’s an uptown, get-around, anything-goes girl,” and “she’s a hardcore, candy store, giveme- s ome-more g irl,” you’re there listening and thinking, “what?” You certainly can’t go wrong rhyming “hardcore” with “candy store” … yeah, you can’t go wrong at all. Well, somebody out there must really like the song because “She’s So Mean” is currently No. 53 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. You can forgive these unfortunate lyrics in “She’s So Mean” because the overall song is upbeat. The music video, however, is a little lame. It is basically just a “hardcore girl” trashing the set while the band plays in what looks like a train terminal. And when Rob Thomas sings, he looks a bit uncomfortable when he says “I kn-kn-know a girl / She gets what she wants all the time / Cause she’s fine / But for an angel
she’s a hot, hot mess” (because even he’s thinking, What am I saying?). Most of the album sounds like it would make great background music in a cheesy and predictable romantic comedy—like that song playing during an inspirational scene. “Parade” is just one of those songs that screams “put me in a movie!” On a more fun note, “Put Your Hands Up” is arguably one of the best songs off the album. It has a great sound to jump around in your room—when no one’s looking, of course. It also has the makings of a song you dance to while you’re getting ready to go out with your friends—a pumpup song, if you will. For the most part, the songs on North, no matter how strange the lyrics may be, will get you tapping your foot along to the beat. “Like Sugar,” for instance, is an interesting track with an enticing beat that you can’t help but follow along to without moving some part of your body. Lead singer and front man Thomas is known for his songwriting talents, as well as his brief stint at a solo career. Some
of the better lyrical songs on this album are “I Will,” “English Town,” and “How Long” – so basically the whole middle chunk. Thomas’ voice is always pleasant to listen to, and with a nice backdrop of guitar and drums it sure does the trick. The 12-track album ends with a softer song called “Sleeping at the Wheel,” which is actually a nice conclusion. Their ballad-like tunes are where we really see them shine, so it was a wise choice to finish the album with this type of song. “Sleeping at the Wheel” gives the album a bit of a philosophical feel— when you’re done listening to North in its entirety, it makes you think “huh, well, now what?” In a way, Matchbox Twenty leaves you wanting more—that is, of whatever it was you just spent 40 minutes of your life listening to. North is definitely one of those “it’s so bad, it’s good” albums. How exactly that works, I cannot say. After you take a listen, one thing still remains a mystery: why exactly is this album titled North? n
Radio singles by allan guzman Imagine Dragons “Amsterdam”
Apathy and Celph Titled “School For Scoundrels”
Alicia Keys “Girl On Fire” Alternative rockers Imagine Dragons are newcomers to the mainstream scene. “Amsterdam” is the first single in their debut album, Night Visions. The track enters with an airy intro, and by the time all the instruments kick in together the sound is reminiscent of Kings of Leon with a smidge of Coldplay. “Amsterdam” is an overall pleasant tune.
In anticipation of her new album, Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys has released the title track as her first single. Interestingly, she has released three versions. The “Inferno” features Nicki Minaj, while the “Blue Light” version takes a more stripped-down approach that’s easier on the ears. The original version is the most organized and feels the most complete, displaying Keys’ impressive vocal range.
This song displays catchy beats and quirkiness, but upon further examination, is no more than a generic rap track with few standout features. Some clever references to van Gogh and Walker, Texas Ranger elicit a chuckle, but amid the childish profanity and pile of sample effects, Apathy and Celph Titled’s new track can’t be taken too seriously.
P O THE fRONT RUNERS OF rAP ARE EVER CHANGING. H S P THE SCENE TAKES A LOOK AT SIX SUPER GROUPS I E h RO THAT CURRENTLY REIGN SUPREME. E H
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Heights
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yOUNG mONEY
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Lil Wayne, leader of Young Money (YMCMB), went from the top of the rap music scene to taking a back seat. Lucky enough for the YMCMB crew, he’s taken a back seat to some of his fellow crew members, s u c h a s T yga , Nicki Minaj, and Drake. Minaj is the hottest female rapper on the scene right now, and continues to shock her fans with outrageous costumes, bold lyrics, and equally bold fashion statements. Drake’s smooth-as-silk voice and undeniable flow has placed him at the top of the rap scene, replacing Weezy as Cash Money rap royalty.
Nobody is hotter in hip-hop right now than G.O.O.D. Music, a crew helmed by America’s most arrogant and opinionated rapper, Kanye West. Consisting of Pusha T, Q-Tip, Best Track as a Group: “Mercy” Common, Big Sean, John Best Solo: “Dance (A$$) Remix” by Big Sean Legend, and several others, G.O.O.D. (short for “Getting Out Our Dreams”) is set to release its debut album as a unit, entitled Cruel Summer. After the group’s inescapable trap-hit “Mercy” commanded radio airplay this summer, West dropped “New God Flow” in a freestyle on the BET Awards. Expect fALL to be full of heavy drops (courtesy of Hit Boy), references to cash and Kim Kardashian (the rumored track “Perfect Bitch”), and oodles and oodles of 2 Chainz. If the group’s 30minute set at Jay-Z’s Made in America Festival is any indication, it’s about to be a G.O.O.D. September.
G.O.O.D. Music
2 cHAINS AND kANYE wEST “bIRTHDAY sONG”
rOC nATION
Jay-Z is a rapper who can do no wrong. And that applies to his record label, Roc Nation. New York City’s finest rapper decided to share the love with a variety of artists, ranging from J. Cole to Jay Electronica. The crew boasts a young face in the pint sized, but still sassy Willow Smith. On the rise British star Rita Ora has recently taken off with some new tracks off her highly anticipated debut summer album Ora after signing to the label in 2009. While many crew members haven’t yet reached the popularity of Jay-Z and to a certain extent J. Cole, there are some hidden gems amidst this solid crew.
“lAST bIRTHDAY, SHE GOT YOU A NEW SWEATER / pUT IT ON, GIVE HER A KISS, AND TELL HER, ‘dO bETTER’”
Founded by the robust Rick Ross, Teflon Don, or whatever other name he has currently decided to call himself, Maybach Music Group, or MMG, is a rap crew notorious for their mixtape and album turnover. Mixtapes and albums seem to be coming from all angles at all times from this multifaceted and successful rap crew. Meek Mill, French Montana, Wale, Omarion, new member Rockie Fresh and of course, the Don himself, Rick Ross, show fantastic support for one another-it seems as if each MMG superstar member is featured on every hit. This summer’s God Forgives, I Don’t, following the latest MMG mixtape Self Made 2, makes it clear that despite the volume of albums they produce, MMG still has it.
mAYBACH mUSIC gROUp
ODD fUTURE Perha ps the most unique of the crews, OFWGKTA, or sim ply Odd Future, is an LA- based, somewhat a lternative hi p-ho p grou p led by the grou p’s producer and profanely quirky pu ppet master Tyler, the Creator. Other members include Ear l Sweatshirt, Hodgy Beats, and Domo Genesis, to name a few. Each member has his own style and persona l flavor that adds an interesting dimension to the crew. A part from the grou p’s shocking lyrics with limitless flow, what stands out about this hi p ho p crew in particu lar is the dedication to their own so lo careers. Near ly a ll members have embarked u pon some so lo endeavor, the most recent and successfu l being Frank Ocean’s summer smash Channel Orange.
A$AP Mob There’s something relentlessly charming about the ragamuffin A $ AP Mob, a motley band of Harlem-raised rappers who shot to prominence this year due to member A $ AP Rocky’s track “Goldie” and subsequent appearance in Lana Del Rey’s “National Anthem” video. The group’s sound is gritty and psychedelic, often turning grandiose melodies into tri p-hop tracks oozing from one’s speakers. The recent Lord$ Never Worry mixtape let Da $ h and A $ AP’s Ferg, Twelvyy, Ant, and Nast have their moment to shine alongside Fools Gold signees Flatbush Zombies on top of AraabMuzik-produced beats. Look for Rocky’s solo debut in October. Best Track as a Group: “Bath Salt” Best Solo Release: “Goldie” by A $ AP Rocky Maggie Burdge
The Heights
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Thursday, September 6, 2012
Star value by Allie broas
Dakota Johnson leaps out from her parents’ spotlight With famous parents like Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith (and a stepfather like Antonio Banderas), you’d think that Dakota Johnson would have made her mark on Hollywood a long time ago. After small roles in The Five-Year Engagement and 21 Jump Street, Dakota Johnson is only now making that mark with a starring role in Ben and Kate, an upcoming sibling comedy on Fox. Johnson will play Kate, a young single mom who finds herself raising both her daughter and her recently moved-in older brother, Ben. Johnson began her career as a model with IMG Models before her film role as Justin Timberlake’s one night stand in The Social Network. Followed by a string of minor roles, Johnson has finally landed top billing in one of the most highly anticipated shows for the fall lineup. Perhaps this role is exactly what Johnson needs, something that proves that she has earned her status as a rising star rather than a reputation for mooching off of her family tree. We are sure to see a rise in Johnson’s celebrity following the premiere of her show—if only her mother’s relationship with Banderas was shining as brightly as this upcoming star.
Keeping with the current
Posters can pose quite a challenge
Dan Siering
Photos courtesy of google.com
Fashion Forward
Let your inner Sasha Fierce scream Channel Beyonce’s bold style in your own wardrobe
Therese Tully Almost three years ago, my small red-headed niece, then four years old, stood in her ballet class and answered her teacher’s question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” with a single word: Beyonce. I kid you not. This was her hope and her dream. This, to her young mind, was as good as it gets, and I must say, I wholeheartedly agree. I am going to go out on a limb and say that Beyonce is one of the most amazing women in pop culture today. And that is why Ms. Beyonce Knowles is the subject of this first fashion column of the school year. I know Fashion’s Night Out is tonight, and everyone around the world is excited for all of the festivities and giveaways, but something else momentous happened this week, something else worthy of note - it was Beyonce’s birthday, of course. Though without a doubt, I definitely will be heading out and enjoying the night Newbury Street style. In honor of this important day, I would like to honor Beyonce in this small way. Thank you for inspiring women everywhere to make bold and strong choices, from the youngest in our societies, to the oldest. Beyonce’s style is unique, bright, and unapologetic at all times. It is this sort of confidence that the fashion sphere, and the whole world for that matter, needs to witness. Beyonce does it big despite what others say, and for that, she is a role model to many. Beyonce has built her illustrious career on this fact. It seems she never takes a day off, and she always manages to wow, even now that she is busy being a mom to little Blue Ivy Carter. Although young Suri Cruise is often toted as the most stylish celebrity child (just check out her enviable collection of high heels!), I am sure Blue will give her a run for her money. How could she not with her mom’s closet to borrow from? She is one lucky little girl. Beyonce’s style epitomizes a beautiful balance between masculine structure and a feminine feeling. She embraces clean lines and hard silhouettes, but can also make girly frocks look super wearable. Above all, her looks are always memorable. She is not afraid to use fashion as a
means to convey a message of female empowerment that perfectly compliments her popular lyrics. Though Beyonce’s fashion choices may intimidate some, she doesn’t seem to be changing her tune for anyone. No woman does confidence on and off the stage quite like she does. Not only can Beyonce rock pretty much anything she wears, but she is also a fashion entrepreneur in her own right. The star, along with her mother, is the mind behind the House of Dereon. The company’s tag line “Couture. Kick. Soul.” perfectly embodies Beyonce’s fashion sensibility, with an emphasis on soul. It is evident to anyone who has seen her most recent House of Dereon ad campaign that Beyonce feels passionately about the clothes on which she puts her name. She exudes confidence in each piece she models, and it is easy to imagine her wearing her own line. One way to channel your inner Beyonce is to consider bold silhouettes, maybe seeking structured jackets with architecturally inspired shoulders. Consider one in a stunning fabric, or with an unusual twist. Derek Lam makes a strong sequined version that I would love to own, but is sadly out of my price range. Pattern is a staple in Beyonce’s wardrobe, and finding a cool jacket or blazer in a pattern you love will garner Beyonce-style attention even when you are heading to classes. Pair a bold silhouette with a boldly hued lipstick to double the impact. Though orange ruled the summer months when it came to lipstick trends, cranberry is the “It” color for fall lips. With dozens of shade variations to choose from, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the perfect one to complement your unique skin tone. And to top off your Beyonce moment, shy away from conventional neutrals when it comes to the rest of your outfit. Instead, choose a chicer alternative, like this season’s wildly popular hunter green, as a backdrop for your louder pieces and busier patterns. Ditch black, grey, navy, and tan in favor of something a little different—think, “What would Beyonce do?” This fall, I vow to take a cue from Beyonce and make confidence a main ingredient in each outfit I concoct. I will wear what I love. I will wear things that are bright and show stopping. And mainly, I will wear things I can dance in. In addition to her sparkly, fabulous wardrobe and her perfect life, I definitely want her dance moves.
Therese Tully is an editor for The Heights. She can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
With Beyonce’s birthday earlier this week, there’s no better time to emulate the Destiny’s Child signature style. Whether riding with Jay-Z in the “Crazy in Love” video or asserting her womanly independence in the smash hit “Single Ladies,” Beyonce has remained a stylistic icon for the length of her career. She never takes a day off, even now that she is busy being a mom to baby Blue Ivy Carter. Follow her lead when it comes to cranberry lips this fall, and don’t be left behind, because the Beyonce fashion train is always on the move.
Like This? Try That! by Carolina del busto
Coldplay vs. Wolf Gang Coldplay has been compared throughout the years to another legendary rock band by the name of U2, but who can we compare to them? It’s difficult to find another band that sounds remotely close to Coldplay’s savory, unique sound. But at last, a worthy band has been found! This past summer, during Coldplay’s 2012 North American tour, a littleknown band from the UK who call themselves Wolf Gang was honored to be their opening act—and it was soon clear why. Both Coldplay and Wolf Gang’s sounds are so similar in style and form, and just overall quality. Wolf Gang—not to be confused with the heavy metal band Wolfgang—have some soft and sweet tunes paired with more upbeat numbers in their debut album, Suego Faults. They are definitely Coldplay-worthy, so if you’re a fan of the former, you should consider checking out Wolf Gang. And for those concert-going folk, Wolf Gang is now headlining their own small North American tour, and on October 25th they will be coming to Brighton Hall right here in Boston. Photos courtesy of google images
To kick off the new year, I wanted to discuss the most crucial and time consuming facet of the dorm decoration process—poster selection. My three plus years have taught me that nothing in the college world produces a bigger internal dialogue, divides more roommates, or has bigger social implications than what we pin up on the drywall in our bedroom and common areas. It’s for these reasons that so many of us have meticulously searched through the temporary stands around campus and poster websites online in search of the poster/banner/flag that most adequately expresses us. A few of you might think I’m exaggerating the significance of dorm room poster selection. I’m sure there are some out there that don’t think twice about it—those who throw up a headshot above their bed simply because Audrey Hepburn looks so classy with that two foot cigarette holder or pin a movie poster in the common room because they love the scene when Russell Crowe split that chariot rider in half. But for those rash poster posters, take a moment to consider what the graphics on your dorm wall say to the world. Still don’t see the significance? Think about every time you walk into a new dorm, perhaps going there to meet a friend of a friend in a Gonzaga forced triple, or you weasel your way into a classy soiree at a Gabelli townhouse. Just like any animal in an unknown landscape, you assess your surroundings to get a better understanding of the place and the people who live there. Nothing provides an outsider more definitive info than wall decorations. A Mod that, for instance, has a poster with a pyramid of red cups sub headed with the poetic, ironic phrase “Get Your Balls Wet” is going to throw a much different party than a mod with a mural of two toddlers kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower. And the eight-man with a headshot of Thom Yorke is going to provide a much different atmosphere than the nine-man with the Tom Brady Fathead in the bathroom. Okay, I know, of course, that I may be jumping to conclusions and assigning crude stereotypes to a relatively insignificant facet of college life, but what’s on your wall in your dorm is no different than, say, what’s on your wall (or, I guess now, “timeline”) on your Facebook. It’s a way to show the world what you are interested in, or, more superficially, what you want the world to think you are interested in. But before I get into a more expansive argument about social projection identity, things should be put into perspective. It is still just a cheap piece of shiny paper. It’s not the end-all be-all if you choose to hang Lil Wayne over Drake, and you shouldn’t tear down a poster of your favorite Pulp Fiction scene just because it’s in another couple dorms. Just take a few seconds to think about what you’re saying to other people. I know for my roommates and me (and I’m sure this is the case for others), it has taken a long time to agree upon what we want on our walls. Currently we only have Dean of Partyology Spuds Mackenzie, the canine Bud Light sponsor for decades past, hanging on our wall. It shows to the outside world a message that we all agreed upon—that we are a dog loving, fun-time having Mod that indulges in adult beverages from time to time. So the message that I’m trying to convey is quite simple—hang up what you want to hang up. If you love Nicki Minaj but aren’t the intended audience demographic, who cares—hang up the cover art from Pink Friday. If you are still obsessed with Pokemon, throw up a Charizard banner above your bed. Boston College is a surprisingly diverse school when it comes to personalities, so hang up, and for that matter, wear, eat, sing, and watch what you want. You’ll still find friends whether you have a poster of 2 Chainz or Three Dog Night. n
Dan Siering is the Asst. Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
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