11-15-2012

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The Daily Free Press

Year xlii. Volume lxxxiii. Issue XXXXII

CALL FOR CHANGE Allegations reviewed in meningitis case, page 3.

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Thursday, November 15, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

I LOVE THE ‘80s

ICA exhibit features cultural awareness, page 5.

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REMATCH ON ICE

By Robin Ngai Daily Free Press Staff

Catherine Greig, girlfriend of mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, appealed for a resentencing on her eight-year prison sentence on Wednesday, claiming that family members of victims should not have been allowed to speak at her sentencing hearing. Greig’s appellate attorney Dana Curhan filed a brief on Wednesday highlighting many problems with the trial court’s decision, including “inflammatory comments” from family members of victims who failed to address “Greig’s background, character, and conduct.” “Greig in no way wishes to minimize the suffering of people who lost loved ones, but where they were not victims of her crimes, the trial court erred in allowing them to participate in the sentencing process,” Curhan wrote. Greig, who fled Boston with Bulger in

Brookline residents and restaurants are divided over whether Brookline will benefit or suffer from a recently passed ban of polystyrene, or Styrofoam containers. The ban passed in a town meeting on Tuesday with 169 town meeting members voting for it and 27 against, forbidding restaurants from using Styrofoam food and beverage containers. “It seemed to me it was the right thing to do,” said Nancy Heller, the town meeting member who proposed the ban. “We are all concerned about our debt crushing our children, but what kind of crushing environmental debt are we leaving our children?” Heller said polystyrene offered negative environmental impacts and could take generations to break down. Polystyrene was

Data Courtesy of weather.com

CFA prof., 83, remembered as piano master

such testimony was inappropriate. “Even disregarding the more inflammatory comments, none of the challenged statements addressed Greig’s background, character, and conduct,” Curhan wrote. “To the extent that the trial court considered such information in determining her sentence, it was an abuse of discretion to do so.” Regarding the two-point firearm enhancement to her charge, Curhan argues that there is no proof that Greig was necessarily aware of the firearms that Bulger kept in his home during his time as a fugitive. “Greig contends that the evidence failed to establish either the requisite state of mind on her part or the fact that Bulger possessed the firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy,” Curhan wrote. Additionally, Curhan states that the en-

College of Fine Arts professor Anthony di Bonaventura inspired a new way of thinking, said Thomas Weaver, one of his students. Di Bonaventura was the best mentor he ever had, Weaver said. “From the first lesson when I came in, he completely transformed the way that I play,” Weaver, a CFA senior, said. “I came in, and I thought I was okay at the piano, and he just completely transformed the way that I think about music, the way that I approach the piano and I think through that, through music, we became close.” Di Bonaventura died on Monday, his 83rd birthday, according to a CFA press release. He was a professor in the School of Music for almost forty years. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Professor di Bonaventura,” said CFA Dean Benjamín Juárez in the release. “A major figure in the music world since his debut as a child prodigy, Tony enriched the School of Music with his passionate commitment to musical excellence and his advocacy of new music.” A highly acclaimed musician, di Bonaventura was also director of the Brandywine International Piano Institute at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, according to the release. He performed in 27 countries and appeared with major orchestras and conductors across the world, the release stated. “Professor di Bonaventua was a beloved colleague and a great teacher, and an important pianist who made a very large contribution to 20th century music, both new music and the master works for the piano,” said Robert Dodson, director of CFA’s School of Music, in an interview. “He is going to be greatly missed.” The release acknowledged di Bonaventura as “a master teacher of international stature.” He was awarded the Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence, BU’s highest award for excellence in teaching, in May 1992. Di Bonaventura was also given an honorary doctorate from Husson College in May 2002.

Greig, see page 2

CFA Obit, see page 2

ABBY CECCHINE/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

College of Communication senior Erika Salter asks students trivia questions about on-campus safety at the BUPD table in the George Sherman Union Link Wednesday as part of Public Safety Week.

strategies to address safety concerns highlighted by these crimes, especially in the Brookline area. “Anytime something comes up like the robberies that have occurred, we obviously change our strategies and how we’re going to approach those things,” he said. Dan Sullivan, a School of Management senior, said while safety is an important issue on campus, recent incidents make

February of 1995, pleaded guilty in March to identity fraud, conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and conspiracy to commit identity fraud. Curhan argued in the brief filed on Greig’s behalf that the court’s base offense level was set too high, as the conduct of her offense should have been limited solely to harboring a fugitive. “In this case, the record fails to establish that Greig did anything more than harbor a fugitive,” Curhan wrote. “While she was charged with other offenses — namely, identity fraud — those offenses were committed in furtherance of the harboring charge and were in fact part of the conduct supporting that charge.” In fact, Curhan wrote, Greig “did not participate in any of the alleged offenses for which Bulger had become a fugitive.” Curhan also contested the fact that family members of alleged victims were allowed to testify against Grieg, stating that

Brookline ban on Styrofoam containers approved, poses challenge for restaurants By Jasper Craven Daily Free Press Staff

Today: Partly cloudy/High 45 Tonight: Partly cloudy/Low 35 Tomorrow: 48/33

By Amy Gorel & Chris Lisinski Daily Free Press Staff

BUPD’s Safety Week more important than ever. “It’s an important issue every semester, but especially with the recent armed robberies and things going on, it [safety on campus] is definitely on a lot of people’s minds,” he said. “It’s definitely a good time to do this.”

Safety, see page 7

Bulger’s girlfriend Catherine Greig appeals for resentencing By Tyler Lay Daily Free Press Staff

WEATHER

W. hockey to face UNH Friday, page 8.

Students more interested in Safety Week since robberies With multiple high-profile safety incidents occurring on and near Boston University’s Charles River Campus since September, including armed robberies and two bodies found in the Charles River, BU Police Department’s annual Safety Week is receiving more attention than in years past, officials said. “Often times these things [safety issues] happen and everyone is concerned, but once it’s over it fades away for people and it’s not up there in their priority list,” said BUPD Captain Robert Molloy. “We’re hoping we get more people involved.” Molloy said one goal of 2012’s Safety Week is to teach students how to be vigilant while walking around the city. “We have various things including demonstrations and different strategies and ways to prevent yourself from becoming a victim,” he said. In light of the robberies and bodies in the river in September and October, Molloy said, students have been seeking more information on safety. “We encourage people to follow us on the Twitter account because we do crime updates on that,” he said. “We’ve had more followers, and we’ve had more hits on our website. People have been coming in and looking at crime data, so there may be a little more interest going on.” Molloy said BUPD has adjusted their

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also added to the U.S. Health Department’s list of carcinogens in June of 2011. “There are options that are biodegradable — people in 500 years wouldn’t find it,” Heller said. Harry Friedman, a town meeting member who voted against the ban, said he did not think the ban would hurt Brookline, but did have some concerns over the measure. “The people from Dunkin’ Donuts have banded around the number of an additional $10,000 in costs to each of their franchisees,” Friedman said. “And that appears to me to be quite a lot for a small business.” Friedman also said he was not sure how the ban would help from a health point of view. Heller said she did not foresee extravagant cost addition to restaurants with the ban.

Styrofoam, see page 2

ARTS AND CRAFTS

ABIGAIL LIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

College of Fine Arts sophomore Caroline Hoenemeyer peruses job options at the Second Annual CFA Internship Fair Wednesday.


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