The Daily Free Press [
Year xlii. Volume lxxxiii. Issue XXXXI
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
SPJ lecture encourages nonviolent protest, page 3.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University
WHAT A LAUGH Student comedians test comfort levels, bring laughs, page 5.
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www.dailyfreepress.com
DEFLATED
M. basketball struggles with losses, lack of seniority, page 8.
WEATHER
Today: Sunny/High 47 Tonight: Clear/Low 34 Tomorrow: 45/35 Data Courtesy of weather.com
Area where BU bicyclist killed hectic, locals say Menino remains in hospital for further back complications
By Jasper Craven & Regine Sarah Capungan Daily Free Press Staff
A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus was involved in the accident that killed a Boston University bicyclist on Monday night near the corner of Harvard and Brighton Avenues, an intersection that bikers and workers said is prone to accidents. While there is no confirmation that the bus directly hit the student, an MBTA bus was involved in the incident, said Suffolk District Attorney spokesman Jake Wark. “Because it’s early on in the investigation, there is no clear cut set of facts,” Wark said. Wark said investigators are conducting interviews with witnesses and tracking down surveillance tapes. Collision reconstruction experts are working on tracking down the steps of the crash, which could take a few weeks, Wark said. The driver has not yet been charged with any offense. “The facts and the circumstances from start to finish are under investigation both by Boston police collision reconstruction experts and by prosecutors experienced in motor vehicle fatalities,” Wark said. The MBTA has removed a Route 57 bus driver, who has worked for the T for six years, from service while the investigation is ongoing. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in an email on Tuesday that the driver of the bus was tested for drugs and alcohol, following standard procedure. “There’s been no suggestion of wrongdoing
By Tyler Lay Daily Free Press Staff
COURTESY PHOTO BY MATTHEW J. LEE/THE BOSTON GLOBE
Authorities are investigating the bicycle accident that killed a 21-year-old Boston University student at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Brighton Avenue Monday night.
on the part of last night’s bus driver,” he said. Boston University spokesman Colin Riley confirmed Tuesday morning that the biker was a BU student. “This is just a terrible tragedy,” Riley said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends.” Boston bikers and workers in close proximity to the scene of the crime said they were not surprised the biker was hit in the area he was. “It’s a really busy intersection,” said John Griese, a biker and sophomore in the College of
Engineering. “It’s like, one of the busiest intersections there. Obviously there’s going to be a lot of traffic, so I can see why it would be more dangerous than somewhere else, especially if you’re not being careful.” Griese said the accident spurred him to look up helmets online. Eddie Cohen, an employee at Pizza Days located on Brighton Avenue between Harvard Avenue and Linden Street, said MBTA buses are notoriously hazardous on the road.
Cyclist, see page 2
Vets’ edu. benefits under scrutiny after Obama’s Veterans Day promise By Nora Philbin Daily Free Press Staff
In his Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, President Barack Obama said that, after a decade of war, America’s heroes are coming home and he will welcome them back with the honor they deserve. Boston University also welcomes veterans who are returning home with about 400 veterans enrolled, including spouses and dependents, in a variety of different programs, said Thomas Swift, manager of Veterans’ Services at BU. Swift said he hopes reelected Obama will keep his promise in continuing to take care of America’s veterans. “I think if they could continue the education benefits [for veterans], it’s worked out well for a lot of veterans and it’s been helpful,” he said. “I think that’s tremendous, and I think that it’s well deserved.” Obama pledged to continue meeting the needs of veterans as the wars in the Middle East come to an end.
“Three years ago, I promised your generation that when your tour comes to an end, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil, you’ll be welcomed home to an America that will forever fight for you, just as hard as you’ve fought for us,” Obama said. “And so long as I have the honor of serving as your commander-in-chief, that is the promise that we will never stop working to keep.” The College of General Studies was specifically created for veterans in 1946, said Natalie McKnight, associate dean for faculty research and development at CGS. “It was designed as a college for mature and able students, many of whom were veterans returning from service,” McKnight said. “It was meant to be a very rigorous and challenging curriculum really designed for older students to integrate them back into academia.” Once there was no longer an influx of veterans returning from war, the school changed its curriculum, she said. “When we were founded, we had mostly
Korean War veterans,” McKnight said. “Then after a while you don’t have as many veterans returning and so you need to redesign and reshape your program for the majority for students who go to college who are in the 18- to 20-year-old bracket.” McKnight said since the school started catering to younger students out of high school they have gone through many names. “In 1962 we took the form that we currently have with the team system and the core curriculum that we offer here really took shape at that point,” she said. “And then in 1992 we renamed the College of Basic Studies to the College of General Studies.” Despite these promises, veterans still face many issues when they come home, including psychological, emotional or economic problems, said Andrew Bacevich, veteran and BU professor of international relations and history. “There are some military occupational specialties that rather easily can translate into civil-
Vets, see page 2
After spending weeks at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, doctors said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has been successfully treated for a viral infection and a blood clot, but will remain in the hospital for complications with his back. Dr. Dale Adler, vice chairman of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said Menino’s condition has fluctuated since his admission to the hospital in October, according to a New England Cable News video of the press conference held Tuesday. “It was clear that he had some kind of infection in addition to a blog clot in his leg that had seemed like it had traveled as well to his lungs,” Adler said. Adler said the focus of medical investigation is on Menino’s back, which he injured while undergoing treatment for his other complications. “Very recently, the back, instead of going in a good direction with him getting better and better, started to hurt more, and that has prompted some more investigations,” he said. Menino, after returning early from a vacation in Italy, was hospitalized due to a virus on Oct. 26 as the city braced for Hurricane Sandy. A spokeswoman from the mayor’s press office who asked to remain anonymous confirmed that Menino had his blood clot and virus treated and said a compression fracture in Menino’s back had been causing discomfort. But Menino is doing well and feeling better every day, she said. “He continues to run the city and be engaged in decision-making from the hospital,” she said. Menino stayed in the hospital throughout Election Day and also remained active during the approach of Hurricane Sandy, making the decision to close all Boston Public Schools on Oct. 29. Adler said Menino has been in the hospital for such an extended period of time because of doctors’ decision to appropriately rehabilitate him, according to a video of the conference provided by WCVB Boston. “There was a period of time where we were trying to figure out, ‘what is the best way to let him get some rehabilitation?’” Adler said. “We decided maybe the best way would be for him to stay right here … Now, in terms of his back feeling worse, he needs to be in the hospital.”
MBTA could raise prices without future long-term plans to address deficit By Shannon Nargi Daily Free Press Staff
Faced with a potential $84-million deficit for the fiscal year of 2013, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority struggles to find a solution to a growing financial crisis, as officials signal that another round of fare hikes and service cuts could be implemented. “Implementing these increases and other minor changes has obviously helped cut the debt, if by a minimal amount,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokeswoman Sara Lavoie. “It may be necessary to repeat them while more definite plans are being formed.” Despite recent fare increases, ridership on the MBTA continues to rise. Contrary to an originally projected drop in overall usage, bus ridership was up 2.3 percent while subway ridership increased by 3 percent in September, according to the MBTA website. But while the importance of the public transportation system remains high, it will do little to help with the deficit, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo in an email.
“The recent increases in ridership have little impact on the MBTA’s structural financial crisis,” he said. “But the numbers make it abundantly clear that the MBTA plays a critical role in not only moving people, but also in moving the economy forward.” Pesaturo said a plethora of short-term bandages will not revive the MBTA, and a long-term plan is necessary. “It will be difficult to maintain satisfactory levels of service without a long-term fix that addresses the MBTA’s budget problems,” Pesaturo said. “Without a permanent remedy, the MBTA is going to face growing budget deficits each and every year.” As part of its short-term solutions, the MBTA recently imposed a 23-percent fare increase to help curb the debt. Other proposed solutions have included the reduction of energy costs, introduction of single-person train operation on the Red Line and enrolling more MBTA employees in a lower-cost health care plan, according to an information booklet on the MBTA’s website.
MBTA, see page 2
HEATHER GOLDIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Passengers line up to board the Green Line. MBTA officials say that fare hikes and service cuts may continue for T riders.