The Daily Free Press
Year xli. Volume lxxxii. Issue lxxviii.
Campus & City
MASS. MONEY: Murray signs bill to protect military bases
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University Sports Sci Tuesday
WIT WEIGHT LOSS: Researchers focus on brain to drop pounds page 5
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SUITABLE SENDOFF: Seniors win last regularseason game page 8
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Students respond to recent incidents, culture at BU Election timeline change approved by Student Union By Gina Curreri Daily Free Press Staff
This is the second part of a series examining how Boston University handles cases of sexual assault, in response to the two separate arrests of men’s hockey players for sexual assault in the last two months. Boston University students weighed in on whether recent incidents of sexual assaults and “peeping Toms” are coincidental or part of a larger “rape culture” on campus. In addition to the two sexual assault cases involving former BU men’s hockey players, BU has also reported three peeping incidents and an additional assault, which occurred Sunday night in Mugar Memorial Library, BU Police Department officials said. College of Communication junior Jenny Kadenkavil noted possible issues involving the culture on campus. “There may be something wrong in culture,” she said, “especially if sometimes certain actions are seen as okay in some sense, or if it becomes a part of accepted or norm culture when it definitely should not be.” Kadenkavil, president of Gamma Phi Beta, said the sorority leaders have taken it upon themselves to educate their members. Gamma Phi Beta has promoted women’s self-worth and encourages sisters to travel
By Rachel Eides Daily Free Press Staff
AUDREY FAIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
A set of stairs located behind the Life Science and Engineering building that connect to Beacon Street is known among students as the “rape stairs.” The recent string of events involving sexual assault has lead the university to examine the potential “rape culture.”
in groups. They have also begun talking about educating members about how to respond to sexual assault incidents. “In response to the events that have happened . . . We have planned an educational event about how women can protect themselves against sexual assault,” she
said. “I’m sure many other chapters will be doing something similar to protect their women.” Ann Masline, a freshman in the School of Hospitality Administration and School of Management, described the past few
Assault, see page 2
Student charged with assault after Mugar Library incident By Emily Overholt Daily Free Press Staff
A Boston University student was charged with assault and battery following an incident in Mugar Memorial Library Sunday night, university and city officials said. Prateek Jain, 19, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery on Monday in Brighton District Court, Jake Wark, a Suffolk County District Attorney spokesman, said. The BU Police Department received a report of the incident at 9:45 p.m., Captain Robert Molloy said. A female student reported that the male student put his hands under her shirt while she sat at a desk in the library. “There was a conversation before that, she had just met him,” Molloy said. “He asked her a question before that, then came back and sat next to her and started
up a conversation and then did that.” Officers arrested Jain, an Allston resident, in Mugar shortly after the report was filed, Molloy said. BUPD had sought a complaint of indecent assault and battery “based on the nature of the incident,” but a clerk in the Brighton District Court issued assault and battery charges, Wark said. Wark said the defendant placed his hand the victim’s stomach, which is usually considered a private area due to its close proximity to the chest. “Cases of that nature are generally charged as indecent assault and battery but the charges are actually issued by the clerk’s office,” Wark said in a phone interview. The Brighton District Court Clerk’s office was unavailable for comment at press time. A not-guilty plea was automatically
entered on Jain’s behalf in the arraignment, as is the common practice for defendants in the district court, Wark said. Jain was held on $500 bail, and he was ordered to stay away from the victim while the case remains open. Wark did not comment about whether or not he made bail. The next court date for Jain is scheduled for March 23. Wark made no comment about the defendant’s hands going underneath the victim’s shirt, but did confirm that the victim was touched on her stomach. Upon receiving the report, BUPD searched the library, identified the student and placed him under arrest. Security at Mugar declined to comment. BU spokesman Colin Riley said the Dean of Students office will determine what disciplinary actions should be taken.
Student Union narrowly passed the election timeline change proposal after mistakenly announcing at the meeting Monday night the proposal failed. Sixty-five percent of the senators who were present at the meeting voted to pass the proposal. Union required that two-thirds of members be present for the proposal to go to a vote, Male said. Of those members, there needs to be a simple majority of at least 51 percent for a measure to pass. Student Elections Commission Chair Amanda Peterson said whoever wins the election in April will serve a six-month term through the fall semester. Whoever is elected in early November will take office in January. Peterson, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said Union will notify students about the six-month term for the candidates by distributing posters and flyers, as well as posting on Facebook and Twitter. The ballot is expected to include a statement indicating that elected candidates will serve for six months, rather than a full year. The proposal went to vote in spite of the lack of consensus surrounding it. Union members spent the majority of the meeting debating over the election timeline proposal, and a number of members proposed alternatives. SMG sophomore Caitlin Seele said SMG Government agreed and supported the election timeline proposal. However, South Campus Sen. Lauren LaVelle said her constituents did not agree with the proposal. They offered suggestions for ways to enhance the transition period, such as holding elections earlier in the spring semester. Senators debated a possible compromise to hold elections in February or March to provide a longer transition period than what currently exists without expanding it to an entire semester. Peterson said, however, it would be difficult to hold elections earlier. “We already lengthened the campaign
Union, see page 4
BU community examines ‘rape culture,’ possible solutions for future prevention at town hall meeting By Mary Yatrousis Daily Free Press Staff
College of General Studies sophomore Taylor Todd said Boston University should be held to certain standards in addressing issues related to “rape culture.” “A lot of high schools and other institutions are held to that standard,” she said. “So why shouldn’t BU?” The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism held a conversation with Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore and a town hall meeting on Monday night. About 50 students gathered to explore the term “rape culture” and how to address it at BU. Students raised their hands and were selected to speak by CGSA-affiliated students moderating the meeting. The students were instructed to introduce themselves by first name, or anonymous, and to specify what gender pronoun they would like to be called. One student said part of the rape culture encompasses several misconceptions and
issues, including students’ failure to understand the terms of sexual consent and the idea that people have to guard their sexuality. The student, who did not disclose their name to the group, said rape culture is perpetuated by sexual crimes, misogyny and institutional tolerance, rather than the way in which people dress. Much of the town hall meeting focused on what more BU could do to educate people on rape culture, stop rape culture and offer more support to the “rape culture survivors” on campus. The CGSA called for additional fulltime staff members to deal specifically with sexual assault victims, according a CGSA Press Release from Thursday. The CGSA suggested mandatory trainings for all coaches, athletes, faculty and student leaders by the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, as well as a “zero-tolerance” policy for convicted perpetrators of rape
Town, see page 4
HILIARY LARSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Members for the Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism listen to student Awo Yayra Sumah as she voices her opinions on the need for aggressive management in addressing attitudes against rape victims. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the issues of passive attitudes towards rape on campus and how to help enable victims and concerned students speak up against negative “rape culture.”
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@dailyfreepress The Daily Free Press Crossword By Tribune Media Services Across 1 Ricochet
43 *Jump around on the sofa?
9 Bump off
47 Society-page word
14 Single-handed
48 Kal __: pet food
15 __ de plume
49 Actress Longoria
16 Controversially, Jane Fonda visited it in 1972
50 New Mexico art colony
17 Check, as a bill 18 *Place to keep supplies 20 *Target at the start of a point, in tennis 22 Nickelodeon explorer 23 Start of a basic piano lesson scale
CLASSIFIEDS
Sudoku
57 *The answers to the starred clues (including this one) form a continuous one—its connections are created by the end of one answer and the start of the next
61 São __, Brazil
24 Head, slangily
62 Homer’s bartender
27 Asia’s __ Darya river
63 Twin Cities suburb
6 Available and fresh
26 One way to learn
46 St. Louis NFLers, previously
7 Coll. drillers
27 Go after
8 Kiss
28 Actress Mason
9 “__ the beef?”
29 Jazz fan?
52 Roof shingles unit: Abbr.
10 Stag
31 Stiff collars
53 Christian name?
51 Black card
30 *Patient record
64 When some nightly news shows begin
33 Ore-Ida morsel
65 Next yr.’s alums
11 “Is that __?”
32 Shadow
54 Sports shoe brand
35 Golden __
66 Prepared
12 Loving murmur
34 Paradise
55 iPhone command
36 Exchange
Down 1 Traffic causes?
13 Kipling’s young spy
38 Stand-up acts
56 More than amuse
19 Designer Gernreich
39 Windshield-clearing aid
57 FDR program
37 Hide-hair connector 39 Old way to get a number 40 “I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments” speaker
2 Sheltered, at sea 3 Pride warning 4 Like Netflix flicks 5 So-so
incidents as “terrible.” The rape and assault problem BU has addressed may have been due to the high profile people involved. “It’s inevitable that these crimes will happen in a school of thousands,” Masline said. “It’s just up to us to take proper action to educate and be there for each other.” An anonymous source, who has served as a BU faculty member, with expertise in sexual abuse cases said the issue is the “tip of the iceberg” and may reflect a larger issue for BU. “BU has a long way to go in terms of developing a comprehensive student-centered approach to intervention and prevention of sexual assault on campus,” the source said. While the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center has worked with individual offices at BU such as Residence Life, BU has not partnered with BARCC as Harvard University and other college administrations have, said Meg Bossong, community mobilization project manager at BARCC. “We don’t currently have the training and consultation relationship with administrators at BU that we have at other schools,” Bossong said. “It’s something that we’re certainly open to.” Bossong said BARCC generally gets a lot of clients in the office who are college students in the Boston area. The services one receives on their college campus may correlate with how much of a priority the issue of sexual assault is at the institution, she noted. “It’s been the case that students whose institutions have taken on that work seem to be more confident in using services and
have better experiences doing so, which leads to better outcomes,” she said. Bossong, however, declined to comment on BU specifically. COM sophomore Mike Lavallee said the incident reports may have resulted from sexual assault victims coming forward. “In today’s culture, sexual assaults are pretty prevalent in general,” Lavallee said. “I think probably the influx of incidents that have been happening has definitely caused [victims] to come out and speak their mind on what’s been happening to them.” Students tend to freely use the word “rape,” especially in reference to what some students call the “rape stairs” behind the Life Science and Engineering building. However, SHA junior Robbie Cocchiarella said students refer to the stairs as such as a joke. “I have never thought of it as a serious thing,” Cocchiarella said. “I lived in Warren [Towers] and heard about [the rape stairs] as a joke.” College of Arts and Sciences freshman Nora Lankhof said a rape culture is present on campus based off her experience with a friend who was sexually assaulted. “The first month I was here I had a friend who had an incident,” Lankhof said. “She wasn’t raped, but she was physically assaulted in a bathroom [and] it surprised me that it was one of my first experiences here.” The Daily Free Press is looking for victims of sexual assault to describe their experiences, including whether or not they sought help from BU and if their needs were met. For students interested in sending statements, email news@dailyfreepress.com
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52 *Flying need
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Assault: From Page 1
@DFPsports @DFPfeatures @DFPphoto
41 At 41, Kipling was the youngest one ever in his field
6 1040EZ issuer
‘Rape stairs’ nickname a ‘joke,’ student says
21 Demo ending? 24 Result of an unsuccessful football play, perhaps 25 End of a threat
42 __ muffin 44 Many an ex-lib 45 Cole Porter’s “Well, Did You __?”
58 Cereal grain 59 Dirt road feature Solution is on Page 4
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Difficulty: Medium
Solution is on Page 4
Campus & City
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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Campus Crime Murray signs order to protect Bay State military bases ‘99 Nights with Logs the 99 Percent’ Military bases in Massachusetts Book-smart may be more protected from anothauthor discusses er possible round of base closures Squat after Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray By Eddie Donga Daily Free Press Staff
By Dana Finley Daily Free Press Staff
The following reports were taken from the Boston University Police Department crime logs from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26. On Feb. 20 at 12:30 a.m., police responded to a call reporting a female who appeared to be homeless at Mugar Memorial Library, located at 771 Commonwealth Ave. The woman attempted to set up a place to sleep in the library. The non-affiliate was escorted out of the library and warned from returning to BU property. Three’s a crowd The 9th floor resident assistant at Rich Hall, located at 277 Babcock St., reported on Feb. 21 at 12:30 a.m. that three female students had unknown persons enter their rooms. The RA said suspects tried to enter the three separate rooms overnight over a two day period from Feb. 19 to Feb. 20. When the suspects saw that there were people in the room they quickly exited. One particular female student reported that she had a set of headphones that had gone missing and said she believes they may have been taken out of her room. Window shopper A female student living at 860 Beacon St. reported at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22 that she observed someone on the fire escape reach an arm into her apartment through an open window. The suspect attempted to take something from one of her shelves. When the victim yelled, the person on the fire escape fled. Police searched the area, but were unable to uncover a suspect. Abridged speech A female student walking home at 3 a.m. on Feb. 25 reported that while crossing the BU Bridge, an unknown male stopped and exited his car and approached her aggressively while yelling. She yelled back at him that she was going to call the police and he stopped, turned around, got in his car and left. She alerted police of the incident when she returned to her residence hall on Bay State Road. Police searched the area but did not find a suspect.
signed an executive order establishing the Commonwealth’s Military Asset and Security Task Force. The goal of the task force, which met on Monday, is to find ways to keep all six Massachusetts military bases open in case of Congressional approval for a Base Realignment and Closure process. “It’s to make sure that we’re giving our total support and commitment and doing everything we can to protect our military installations and defense industry here in the commonwealth,” Murray said at the State House. BRAC is a U.S. Department of Defense process that reorganizes or closes military bases nationwide, ultimately saving money. The last BRAC in 2005 closed two reserve centers and a base and realigned two state installations. One of the main reasons Murray wants to make sure all Massachusetts military installations remain open is the impact they have on the state’s economy, he said. Massachusetts firms received more than $14 million in defense contracts in 2010, a figure that has almost tripled since 2010, Murray said. “These sites have thousands of employees,” Murray said. “Massachusetts defense and aerospace industries generate more than 120,000 jobs, fueling local and regional economies across the Commonwealth.” Marty Jones, president and CEO of MassDevelopment, said the six military installations have
Occupy’s future By Alex Diantgikis Daily Free Press Staff
RICKY WILSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray signs an executive order that establishes the state’s Military Asset and Security Task Force Monday at the State House.
a huge economic impact on the state’s economy. “These bases do play very important roles in contributing to both our national security and in doing so also impacting the Massachusetts innovation economy,” Jones said. The Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westover Air Reserve Base combine to represent the fifthlargest employer in western Massachusetts, Murray said, and their economic impact is felt in that regional economy and beyond. Murray said the state is positioned extremely well to protect its military assets. The state’s intellectual capital, educational institutions and innovation sectors are thriving, and the unemployment rate has dropped to 6.8 percent, he said. But Murray said he and the rest of the task force were not taking the possibility of closures lightly. “Let me be clear,” Murray said. “We are clear-eyed that the Penta-
This month, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail may have performed more efficiently than it ever has in Februaries past. The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company will have recorded the highest rates of punctuality for any February at the end of the month if current trends continue, according to the MBCR. “In February, trains have operated at 95 percent on time for the month” thus far, said MBCR Spokesman Scott Farmelant. This will “establish a new performance record for the month of February.” The MBCR, the company contracted by the MBTA to run the commuter rail, also record-
Occupy, see page4
Boston ranked eighth-best city for job growth, occupation quality By Meg DeMouth Daily Free Press Staff
Boston is among the top U.S. cities for jobs, as Forbes ranked the Hub eighth in its Best U.S. Cities for Jobs List in a list published Monday. Forbes used statistics that accounted for factors such as unemployment rates, household incomes and projected job growth in the rankings. “Boston’s solid educational and biotech industries kept unemployment low during the recession,” according to Forbes, adding that the city’s unemployment rate “is on its way back down to an expected 5
percent in 2016, while household income is expected to rise 17 percent to $94,000.” The city’s unemployment rate was about 5.4 percent in December, according to the most recent data available from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which placed the city below the state’s 6.5 percent rate for the same time period. The nationwide unemployment rate in December was about 3 percent more than the Boston mark, 8.5 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In addition to the Hub’s relatively
Commuter rail sets record for Feb. efficiency By Madhurya Manohar Daily Free Press Staff
gon and the various branches will be undergoing a belt-tightening, but again we think that there are things here that we can do to lead the way in efficiencies and help us save costs.” The task force follows a proposed $11.25 million increase in services for veterans and their families in the fiscal year 2013 budget. The efforts have not gone unnoticed by the Massachusetts military personnel. Following Murray’s speech, Brigadier General Gary Keefe said for the past year Murray has been putting together this team. “I’ve said this before. The benefits that Massachusetts gives its soldiers, airmen, marine, navy personnel are second to none,” Keefe said, “and this is just a nice second step to know that we’re part of a team that’s looking forward, highlighting the importance of the six military installations that are in the Commonwealth.”
It is “remarkable” the Occupy movement had not happened sooner, journalist and author Chris Faraone said Monday night during the signing of his book, “99 Nights with the 99 Percent.” Faraone introduced his new book to an audience of about 50 people in the basement of Brookline Booksmith. Attendees listened as Faraone spoke about his book and read an excerpt from the introduction. He also read his own “occupaikus” and answered questions from the audience. “Chris is an amazing writer for the Boston Phoenix and we welcome him here to talk about his book as it really describes the Occupy movement in a way that gets in-depth,” said Evan Perriello, the Brookline Booksmith events director. “He offers an interesting perspective.” Faraone discussed various topics after the reading, including the future of Occupy, its influences in Europe, its influence on the upcoming election and the fate of the economy. “The brand Occupy sprung up recently, but the outrage has been simmering for years,” Faraone said. “It’s remarkable that this hadn’t happened sooner. The economic meltdown really kicked off. We’re
ed higher-than-average rates of punctuality in January, with 93 percent of trains arriving on time, he said. The commuter rail’s increased punctuality during the year may be a result of the relatively mild weather, Farmelant said, in addition to the MBCR’s increased attention to the commuter rail’s operation. Last year, commuter rail trains arrived punctually 73 percent of the time in January and 76 percent of the time in February, according to MBCR records. “The winter of 2011 was one of the harshest winters on record. Unlike many rail lines across the USA, the MBTA and MBCR continued to provide service during the worst weather,” Farmelant said in an email. “Unfortunately, the cumulative effect of the
weather resulted in [an] unacceptably high level of delays.” “Deferred maintenance, overwhelmed system infrastructure and high levels of failures on aging locomotives and coaches” also contributed to last year’s winter delays, he said. But this year the MBCR and the MBTA invested in technologies that deal directly with snow removal or help to prevent problems that originate from freezing weather, such as “jet-engine powered snow blowers” and protective coverings for equipment that links coaches together, Farmelant said. The MBTA also constructed a “Truck Stop” for commuter rail trains, he said, which repairs “the
MBCR, see page 4
low unemployment rates, the city also reported a general growth in the amount of available jobs in recent years. “Boston continues to be one of the best job growth cities in the country,” according to the most recent city job report. “The city was . . . named number one among 100 major cities for job growth [in 2011].” The report linked the city’s economic framework to its vigor in the job market, citing such factors as the strength of Boston’s four main economic areas – medicine, education, hospitality and financial services. The report also listed Boston’s
public education system as a contributing factor to the city’s competitive job environment. “Education reform has driven graduation rates to record highs at Boston Public Schools,” the report states. In 2011, about 64.4 percent of students who had entered high school four years earlier graduated from Boston Public Schools, the highest rate recorded, according to the Boston Public Schools website. The site also reported the percentage of students who graduate from high school in four years has increased steadily in recent years.
A HELPING HAND
CHELSEA DIANA/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Louie, a homeless man who suffers from a “serious medical condition” that affects his health, lives in Kenmore Square at the steps of the abandoned Westgate building.
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
BU shuttle ad space, better app also on Union agenda Union: From Page 1
period to give candidates enough time to decide that they want to be candidates and then find people to help them with a campaign,” Peterson said. “It is a crunch period so we couldn’t push things further forward.” A number of Warren Towers residents suggested alternatives to the proposal, said School of Management freshman D.A. Whatley, Vice President of Warren Towers Residence Hall Association. Whatley’s counter-proposal stated that instead of changing the election cycle there could be a formalized effective method of transitioning power. One benefit of the counter-proposal included allowing seniors to serve on the executive board. The transition of power would show BU students that Union is undergoing changes and gaining increasing participation from freshmen, Whatley said. The e-board is an important role and seniors have had four
years to network so they are in a good position, said CAS junior Tarif Ahmed. “How will formalizing what already occurs change anything?” Male asked. “We [current eBoard] think having an entire semester of overlap would be better.” School of Education sophomore Haley Jensen also had her questions unanswered. “If we are concerned about having enough time for campaigns and platforms, why are we moving them to first semester when there would be even less time to prepare?” she said. First semester is always a difficult adjustment, Jensen said. “The biggest issue is not the timeline, but rather preparing leaders for a position on the eboard and to make sure everyone is prepared,” said CAS senior James Boggie. “The group is struggling with the fact that people do not understand how [the] process works and how to run.” Union Chief of Staff Sophia
Woyda said the use of time and training is key, rather than the move to calendar-year elections. Union members also discussed advocacy committee projects, “rape culture” at BU and socially responsible investing. Members gave updates on a number of projects, including the 24-hour study and printing space, advertising space on the BU Shuttle and improvements on the BUS mobile application, among others. Student Union voted to support BU Take Back the Night rally, which will address the issue of rape culture at BU. Union also decided to create an ad hoc committee in which two students will be nominated to join the Board of Trustees on socially responsible investing, Male said. “The committee will advise the Board of Trustees on how we can ethically invest the university’s endowment in a way that reflects the social climate of the university community,” he said.
four years into this.” Faraone also spoke of his transition from writing about music to writing about the Occupy Movement. He said hip-hop music really spurred his interest in social justice and the music he listened to fueled his writing. Nancy Friedrichs, who lives in Maynard, came with her friend Shirley Farmer. Friedrichs said her daughter was very involved with the Occupy movement. “She keeps me informed and involved,” she said. “She helped with a lot of organizing and is now working with smaller towns. She’s set up
a democracy group in Acton.” Farmer, who is from Hudson said she and Friedrichs are both interested in the same political issues the Occupy movement addresses. “It’s just amazing to see a movement like this,” Farmer said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my time.” Phillip Theise said he came to see Faraone because he cares about Occupy. “I went to the New School in New York, where I think Chris went to for a semester,” Theise said, “and I thought Chris would be interesting to listen to, as I am interested in music and journalism as well.” Theise said he thought it was really neat to follow how Faraone’s passion through music stimulated
TIM HEALY/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Red shirt freshman forward Mat Piotrowski, left, and senior guard Matt Griffin embrace as senior forward Pat Hazel, right, hugs classmate Chris Kurz. See page 8 for a full story on men’s basketball’s Senior Day.
CGS assistant dean: ‘There will be action’ in addressing sexual assault Town: From Page 1
Occupiers, non-occupiers alike attend ‘99 Nights’ book discussion with author Occupy: From Page 3
HUGS GOODBYE
him to write about social justice. “I really believe that if you have the energy and curiosity it can find motivation to make change in the world,” Theise said. Still, not all of the people in the audience identified as Occupy protesters. Lisa Bolduc said while she is not an occupier, she could sympathize with many of their complaints. “In order for the country to move forward, we need greater regulation of Wall Street and a voice to be given back to middle class America,” Bolduc said. “I would like to see politicians supporting tax breaks for the low to middle classes. Chris’s book is a good read for anyone looking to better understand the 99 percent.”
and sexual assault. “I think one of the most important tools is media, and creating a social taboo,” said Devyn Buckley, a College of Arts and Sciences junior. Buckley said it is the students who need to take action with help of the administration. A number of students at the meeting agreed that people need further education on rape culture. “Get them while they’re young,” said Bethany, a BU student who addressed the audience. “Let’s take over Orientation.” Elmore said he agreed with much of what students spoke of. “We’ve got to continue having these conversations,” Elmore said. However, he did not confirm any plans for change through BU. “At least right now, let’s continue putting information out there for folks,” he said.
Stacy Godnick, assistant dean of CGS and advisor to the CGSA, said Elmore can only do so much. “I think there is an urgency here that he would agree with, and the students want things done today, and I think . . . there’s a method to madness if you will,” she said. “He’s listening and . . . there will be action items that come forth, he just couldn’t promise anything today.” Allison, another student who spoke during the meeting, told the forum to continue to be respectful to BU administration, but continue to call attention to issues related to rape culture. “You can be respectful and still really assertive about your dissent and how things are not okay here,” she said. “They are still operating like a business. They do just care about the money and their image, so keep giving them bad publicity, until . . . they are taking sexual assault seriously.”
MBCR ‘cautiously optimistic’ efficiency trend continues MBTA: From Page 3
wheel chassis structures underneath commuter rail coach cars.” The measure has reduced the amount of time commuter rail coaches spend in mechanical shops by about nine days, Farmelant said, improving the overall performance of the MBCR. As a final measure, he said, the MBCR realigned its management structure and hired new conductors and engineers to decentralize management and “create direct oversight and accountability for each commuter rail line.” To reconcile the increased
manpower, the MBCR executed safety programs that placed the commuter rail second in the Federal Railroad Administration’s national rankings for the lowest amount of workplace injuries in a passenger railroad. Statistics from the FRA show a 58-percent decrease in workplace injuries over the past year, he said. “This campaign, which has focused on additional training for every conductor, engineer, track worker and mechanic, has produced positive results,” Farmelant said. The measures taken by the MBCR “will obviously allow
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them to address their needs within the facility,” said Lydia Rivera, MBTA spokeswoman. “That will allow for improvements to performance.” She said the difference between last year’s commuter rail performance and this year’s performance is a positive change. “Last winter, it was pretty severe,” she said, adding that the winter weather had what she called a “dramatic impact” on the commuter rail’s 13 lines. But this year, Farmelant said, the “MBCR remains cautiously optimistic that customers will continue to enjoy high levels of service.”
D
F
The Daily Free Press is looking for victims of sexual assault to tell their stories. Including whether or not they sought help from BU and if their needs were met, for an upcoming story. Those interested should send a statement via email.
news@dailyfreepress.com
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Losing Weight With the Brain Scientists target a new part of the body to combat weight loss. By Kimberly Clark
W
Features Staff
eight loss is an obsession upon which the diet industry feeds, supplying numerous weight loss programs, pills and patches. There are the wellknown, celebrity-endorsed programs and products, such as Weight Watchers and Zantrex-3, which involve diet and lifestyle changes. Then there are the lesser-known diet tactics, including earrings designed to decrease hunger by stimulating acupuncture points. “I would say weight loss is a big deal to most people, especially girls,” said Kristina Woolf, a freshman in College of Arts and Sciences. “And they usually don’t want to lose weight in order to be more healthy. They sacrifice their health to look a certain way.” The latest focus of weight loss drug manufacturers is the endocannabinoid system. Located throughout the body, endocannabinoid receptors and proteins play a key role in the regulation of numerous physiological—including hunger. In June of 2006, Rimonabant, a weight loss drug sold by pharmaceutical company, Sanofi-Aventis, became available in Europe. Rimonabant targeted the CB1 endocannabinoid receptors in the brain to suppress hunger. In the summer of 2007, rimonabant had been rejected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to numerous reports of adverse side effects including nausea, depression and suicidal tendencies. In December of 2008, after addressing health concerns per request of the European Medicines Agency, Sanofi-Aventis removed rimonabant from the markets in Europe. OUT OF THE BRAIN, INTO THE GUT
mals are maintained on a high fat diet,” Sharkey said. Despite the promise AM6545 demonstrates, Sharkey said that the compound should not be used as quick fix or permanent solution for obese or overweight individuals “I would imagine that once a stable reduced weight was accomplished it would make sense to use lifestyle changes to maintain it, and not have to use a drug,” he said.
lay, a sophomore in CAS. “I’m not saying that a drug like that should not be made but it definitely should not be marketed.” BACK INTO THE BRAIN Researchers’ interest with the endocannabinoid system does not end with hunger and obesity. Many believe that further research could result in new drugs for numerous diseases, addictions and ailments such as alcoholism, epilepsy, depression, pain, anxiety and Parkinson’s disease. The system’s involvement in managing dopamine levels makes it a prime target in the treatment of addiction to dopamine-boosting drugs. Zheng-Xiong Xi, a pharmacologist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, figured that interfering with the CB1 receptors to decrease dopamine levels, similar to the way rimonabant worked, would deny cocaine users the high associated with the drug. To test his theory, Xi studied the effects of THC, the active compound in marijuana, which is believed to increase dopamine levels by stimulating CB1 receptors, in the brain. Instead of finding the dopamine levels rising with a dose of THC, Xi found that they dropped. The same dopamine decrease occurred in mice without CB1 receptors. The only way this could be possible would be if THC was acting on CB2, the other endocannabinoid receptor, instead of CB1. This possibility was strange considering that CB2 receptors were thought to be located outside of the brain. To discover whether or not CB2 receptors were in the brain, Xi used JWH-133, a dopamine-decreasing compound developed to attach to CB2 receptors. He found that the dopamine levels decreased in the brain which confirmed that CB2 receptors had to be located there. He also found that the compound reduced the number of times cocaine-addicted mice pushed a lever for a shot of cocaine. In addition, the mice exhibited no adverse side effects. STAY IN THE BRAIN
The issue with rimonabant was that it interfered with the body’s ability to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating the reward and pleasure centers of the brain. Without the ability to attain a natural high, a person taking rimonabant was more susceptible to depression. Dr. Keith Sharkey, a neuroscientist studying endocannabinoids in the stomach at the University of Calgary, WIKI COMMONS/ PHOTO COURTESY along with medical chemist Alexandros Makriyannis and A woman measures her waist. Xi’s discovery suggested there could be an alternative a team, synthesized a compound to mimic rimonabant to Sharkey’s method of avoiding the brain all together. with a few important changes. Rather than targeting the same CB1 receptor in a differThe compound, AM6545, targets the CB1 receptors in QUICK FIX FOR WEIGHT LOSS? ent area of the body, an effective drug for weight loss could the stomach but remains outside of the brain. They theotarget the CB2 receptor instead. rized that the compound would promote weight loss just as The development of a drug that could be used to achieve The very nature of the CB2 receptors makes them a likely rimonabant had done without compromising the dopamine an ideal weight without any real effort, as demonstrated by focus in the research for new drugs. levels in the brain. AM6545, does not seem to be improbable. The utility of “The problem with the CB1 receptor is the fact that it is In animal trials, AM6545 has been a success. A study in such a drug as the only method of treatment for obesity is one of the most widely distributed, highly expressed recepthe British Journal of Pharmacology reports that mice and not recommended. tor,” Sharkey said. “The CB2 receptors have a much more rats on AM6545 had lost weight without any side effects of “Since the etiology of obesity is complex, it only makes restricted distribution so you can target them more with a nausea or depression. sense that the treatment requires a multipronged approach. less potential for side effects.” The question that remains is whether or not the compound Standard treatments include both medical and nutritional The endocannabinoid system presents an opportunity and will have the same effect in humans. Research has found management,” said Kelli Swensen, Social Media Manager a challenge for researchers and drug designers. There is no that the placement and distribution of endocannabinoid re- for Sargent Choice Nutrition Center in an email interview. doubt that continued research on the system will yield new ceptors is different among species. Still, the compound is a “Weight loss requires a total lifestyle change that can only types of treatments and therapies for numerous conditions. step in the right direction. be completely achieved by lifestyle modification, including Nevertheless, there is always a risk of unwanted side effects “I’m optimistic. I would say that humans would lose changes to behavior.” and the far reaching influence of the endocannabinoid sysweight, that they would have improved metabolic profile. While there is no quick fix for obesity or an easy way to tem increases that likelihood. I would hope that they would have less or no side effects,” lose weight, many people are attracted to the idea of such “I think it is a worthy investment of our research,” said Sharkey said in an email interview. options. Adnan Hussain, a freshman in CAS. “The fact that the sysThe compound might also be able to maintain effective“I feel like people would abuse a drug that could make tem is found throughout the body probably means we will ness without any lifestyle changes. people lose weight without really doing anything because it learn more about the body in the process.” “In our preclinical studies we do see effects whilst ani- would be a quick and easy solution,” said Martine Trembe-
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Opinion
February 28, 2012
The Daily Free Press
The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University 42nd year F Volume 82 F Issue 74
Chelsea Diana, Editor-in-Chief Tim Healey, Managing Editor Steph Solis, Campus Editor
Sydney L. Shea, City Editor
Meredith Perri, Sports Editor
Sofiya Mahdi, Opinion Page Editor
Kira Cole, Features Editor
Audrey Fain, Ricky Wilson, Photo Editors
Kaylee Hill, Layout Editor
Praise Hong, Advertising Manager
Valeria Morgan, Office Manager The Daily Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is published Monday through Thursday during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co.,Inc., a nonprofit corporation operated by Boston University students. No content can be reproduced without the permission of Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright © 2010 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Harmful harassment
Yet again, Boston University was the scene of an instance of inappropriate behavior toward a female student. According to an article published in The Daily Free Press today, on Sunday night a student was studying in the Mugar Memorial Library on campus. A male student – someone she had never met before – proceeded to strike up a conversation with her. She began to feel slightly uncomfortable, and the male student retreated. Moments later, he approached the girl again from behind, and the police report stated he touched her stomach under her shirt. This should go without saying, but that a female student can’t even study in a library space without fearing a stranger will grope her is completely unacceptable. The term “rape culture” is constantly cited, we joke that exams and assignments “raped” us. Our desensitization to assault is more and more prevalent. In recent weeks, the university has been flooded with scandals regarding alleged rape, sexual assault and “peeping Tom” incidents. An enormous amount of media attention has surrounded the campus, and only a select number of BU students have taken action to ensure the debate is perpetuated through conversation between students and administration. Despite the intensity of public scrutiny, some students
just haven’t gotten the message. One can’t be certain whether this is a regular occurrence that has gone unreported before these scandals occurred, or if it’s another unfortunate instance highlighting the serious discrepancies in college culture. Alarmingly, we have no way of knowing whether such high profile cases of sexual assault were the only reason this incident was reported. The fact that minor incidents like these are more shocking than hearing about sexual assault on campus further proves there is a serious problem. Yet again, we are forced to ask: What can actually be done? How can you prevent college students – supposedly mature young adults – from acting so inappropriately? This occurrence will fuel the fire of media scrutiny surrounding BU’s campus and community. Nevertheless, we can only hope devoting more attention to the issue of inappropriate conduct and sexual assault will allow victims to overcome their fear of social stigma and come forward with their experiences, consequently gaining access to help and support that will hopefully improve. With such an onslaught of cases, the administration can no longer ignore a societal problem that desperately needs to be addressed.
On the frontline
When we think of journalism, our minds usually revert to tired stereotypes of reporters sitting in offices transcribing quotes or staring intently at cameras as they recount the latest stories. Our minds do not automatically turn to those who travel to scenes of war, famine and political unrest. These individuals risk their lives in order to inform the public on what occurs around the world. Often, these news stories promote awareness and provide the opportunity for a population to remain informed. However, as the unrest in Syria escalates, civilians and soldiers have not been the only casualties. According to an article published by the BBC last Wednesday, veteran journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik lost their lives while reporting events in the volatile nation. Colvin, no stranger to reporting in unsettling circumstances, lost her eye reporting on war in Sri Lanka in 2001. According to an article published by the BBC yesterday, efforts by the Red Crescent to evacuate two injured journalists failed. In addition, the bodies of the two journalists who died last week still remain in the area; the deceased were supposed to be evacuated along with the two living reporters. These events have prompted debate on
whether it is ethically or morally correct to allow reporters to enter such dangerous situations for the sake of effective journalism. Many conclude an average newsreader often skims a story without taking any time to see who wrote the story, but for many reporters it’s the information that takes precedence over accreditation given to its source. Because reporters cannot be heavily protected to the point where it inhibits their purpose, pursuing one’s passion means taking such risks. Reporters who devote their lives to spreading news will put their lives on the line to do what they love; no one forcefully places journalists in conflict zones, they venture there by their own volition. Recounting the atrocities in Syria from a secure office in New York would lack the immediacy and essence of a story recounted live from the country, and journalists who wish to capture the heart of a story will agree: Reporting from a distance would compromise the aim of journalism as a profession. There are numerous jobs that require risking one’s life. We should not shun these journalists by labelling them as reckless; those who brave the frontline of conflict for our benefit deserve to not die in vain.
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Stream of Consciousness
War on women
When I was twelve years old, a family friend described me as a “rebel without a cause.” I have no idea why he said this, but I remember not being pleased about it. It didn’t make sense to me because to be a rebel, you have to disagree with something. And by disagreeing, you’re believing in its opposite. Therein lies the cause. In a way, I rebelled against his statement. I told myself to always have a cause. When controversy arises, I acquire all knowledge possible and then make an informed decision. Stick to it. Fight for it. And most i m p o r t a n t l y, never become so proud that I can’t DANY VASQUEZ admit when I make a mistake. The past couple of weeks have put this philosophy to the test. Boston University has turned into a hotspot for breaking news and scandals that all seems to revolve around one broad issue: sex. Within a few days, they raised concerns and controversies evoking the whole spectrum of human emotions. As a female student, these issues concern me. In light of the recent arrests of two BU hockey players, there has been a surge of awareness regarding this negative trend. All students and faculty received the letter from Robert Brown, the president of our university, in which he addressed this particular problem. When I opened this email, my anger increased. The words “sexual assault” and “rape” were not mentioned. The cowardly tiptoe around the real issue enraged me. Every line reeked of concern for the hockey team, rather than the victims. The vague solution of a “task force” proposed in the email doesn’t even include students and alumni, according to the letter. The appropriate response to rape and sexual assault charges is through direct approach and acknowledgement of the sexual violence towards women that is occurring in front of us. The root of the problem is not in the “hockey culture.” It is in society. Boston University needs to take more forthright and active steps to assess this ugly reality. The task force is about protecting the integrity of the university. Call me crazy, but when the health and safety of students are at risk, I don’t care about how it looks. I care about how it is. And this is how it is: We live in a society that teaches “Don’t get raped” instead of “Don’t rape.” And if that sentence alone doesn’t make your skin crawl, nothing will. If this situation does not open your eyes to the repulsive inequality of this patriarchal so-
ciety, then think about this next point. You know you’re living in a sexist environment when the choices of two male athletes trigger widespread media attention and a personal letter from the president of the university, but the fact that female students are getting videotaped in their own dormitory showers gets little to no attention by the administration. The “peeping Tom” incidents were briefly covered by the main publications and then left alone. As far as I know, there has been no follow-up to what I see as a prominent and disgusting problem on our campus. The very title it was given down-played its importance, making it sound like a simple game little kids play in the sandbox. The truth of the matter is female students do not feel safe in their college homes. This is an issue that deserves just as much media attention and focus. What is even more appalling is the advice given to the female students to stop this from happening. They were told to consider “extra precautions” and for roommates to look out for one another while showering. The responsibility is put on the victims. A woman should be able to feel safe in her college environment. I am astounded that this problem has not received more attention; it is further proof of the so-called “war on women” in our society. There is gross injustice in our world still going on today. Women are still not treated as equals in so many different ways. Feminism has a negative connotation, further proving this patriarchal society. The reason for this is a simple lack of awareness and understanding. So many people, men and women alike, have such a twisted notion of what it means to be a feminist. It is not a dirty word. It is not even a controversial word. It’s all about equality. Women can be feminists. Men can be feminists. And I would like every man that says he is not a feminist to explain to his mother, his sister, his daughter, his wife or girlfriend why he does not believe in equality for women. Our society has a problem. Can BU be blamed for its cause? Not at all. It can be blamed for fostering an environment that flows with the current, rather than against it. It can be blamed for not taking a stronger stand against sexual violence towards women. It can be blamed for continually failing to address the real problem and consequently failing to provide concrete and effective solutions. Do something, BU. Do something to keep me safe. Stop spewing senseless words and stringing together media-friendly phrases. Stop talking in your sleep. Wake up to the reality and start listening. Dany Vasquez is a sophomore in the College of Communication and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at vasquezd@bu.edu
Letter to the Editor: Fan support will not fade This has easily been the most dramatic year off the ice in the history of our hockey program. My personal philosophy has always been that this program is so much bigger than anyone on it, no matter how talented, popular or controversial those players may be. This is the main reason when the 2009 National Championship team did an autograph session in the GSU upon returning from D.C., I did not bring my jersey. Sure, they brought me on the wildest ride of my life, but those 27 men only represented that year’s version of the Terriers. They did not embody the entire program, unlike the scarlet and white jerseys we don every weekend. Along those lines, the alleged actions of a couple individuals, although utterly horrifying, do not make me question my support for those on the team now and in the future. I am delighted to see that so many BU students and fans appear to have the same beliefs. The final weeks of the season will not be the easiest to take as players or fans. I’m sure many opposing fans will hurl inappro-
priate remarks in our direction. Despite the fact that these schools have had scandals of their own, I would urge other BU fans not go down the path of referencing hazing incidents, recruiting violations or other disgraceful actions. Instead, should the insult be an offensive chant, drown them out in a pro-Terriers chant. Should someone say something to you wh Our team raised thousands for Autism Speaks, and one of the members co-founded a charity of his own. The Dog Pound’s members have donated hundreds of dollars to the relief of fire victims, Boston’s Rape Crisis Center and Autism Speaks. Isn’t that more indicative of our university as a whole than what has recently made headlines? That is what The Dog Pound is: passionate, loyal and dedicated. It will take a lot more than the alleged actions of a few or the misguided words of opponents to change that. There are infinite reasons to be proud to BU; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. -Will McColl, SMG 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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McLAUGHLIN: Athletes treated differently everywhere, not just at BU McLaughlin: From page 8
be great if everyone treated them like nothing more than 25 typical students, and it would be great if they acted like that’s all they were. Some people (cough, Boston Globe) seem to think the hockey program should be cut if that can’t be achieved. I have news for you – that can’t be achieved, and the team isn’t getting cut. It’s just not realistic. Athletes are treated differently, not just at BU, but everywhere. In fact, I would argue that it’s much worse in other places than it is at BU. If you don’t think football players at Alabama or basketball players at Kentucky are worshipped even more than hockey players at BU, then you’re being incredibly naïve. Just look around the very city you’re in now. Red Sox and Patriots players (and Bruins and Celtics players to a lesser extent) are treated like heroes. Even those who are accused of
cheating (David Ortiz) or sexual assault (Julian Edelman) are ultimately cheered the next time they hit a big home run or come up with a big punt return. I’m not saying any of this is OK. It’s that sort of “win above all else” attitude that allowed the horrific crimes that took place at Penn State to be swept under the rug for so long. I’m just stating a fact – athletes in America are put on a pedestal. Nothing this task force recommends and nothing BU does is going to change that. That isn’t ideal, but it isn’t the end of the world either. The problem at BU isn’t that hockey players are treated differently than the rest of the student body. The problem is that two hockey players made poor decisions and allegedly assaulted other students. Everyone at BU needs to do everything they can to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. The university needs to make
sure all students are taught about sexual assault and how to avoid situations where it might occur. The athletic department needs to make sure student-athletes, especially hockey players, understand how to handle being celebrities on campus and understand how to deal with all the responsibilities that go along with it. Students need to look out for friends, and athletes need to look out for teammates, to make sure people who are too drunk to control themselves don’t go home alone or don’t go home with strangers and wind up in situations where they might do something they regret. Perhaps most importantly, BU needs to make sure victims of sexual assault have the means to come forward and get help. This paper is in the midst of a very good series on some of the school’s shortcomings there, and that certainly needs to change immediately. Unlike the pipe-dream goal of changing
the entire sports culture of America, these goals can actually be achieved. It’s easy to flip out after news like Nicastro’s arrest and say Parker has lost control, that hockey players are animals and that the school needs to make drastic changes in how the program is run. Ultimately, though, we just don’t have enough evidence to support any of that. If it turns out that Parker and the athletic department have lost control, that they could’ve done a lot more to prevent these incidents, then by all means, flip out. I’ll be right there with you. Until or unless that happens, though, let’s not drag the entire team and the entire school through the mud because of the alleged actions of two players. You can be furious with the situation and furious with those two players. You can also still be a fan of the team. In fact, there’s no reason not to be.
Rebounds seal win for Women’s basketball Robertshaw confident despite start W. Basketball: From page 8
sive, and Kristen came up big in different situations.” Neither the Terriers nor the Hawks established a truly convincing advantage over the course of the battle. Each team found itself unable to inflict anything greater than a six-point deficit over its opponent, and the lead changed hands seven times. Ultimately, the victor was decided in the final four minutes of play. The Terriers gained a tenuous two-point lead with 3:52 remaining when sophomore forward Whitney Turner scored on a layup. The Hawks then retained possession of the ball until fewer than three minutes remained, at which point sophomore forward Rashidat Agboola, who also accounted for 12 points, grabbed a rebound at BU’s end of the court. The ensuing offensive try by the Terriers was unsuccessful, but Agboola grabbed the clutch offensive rebound and cleared the ball out to Moran at the top of the key. Moran then missed a jumper, but senior guard Alex Young grabbed another BU offensive rebound.
“[Rebounding] ended up being better than scoring,” Greenberg said. “The clock is ticking and it’s in our favor – we had the four-point lead . . . That was huge; we could kick it back out and we didn’t try to force anything.” Rebounding was certainly a deciding factor on the night, as the Terriers nearly doubled the 23 boards grabbed by the Hawks with 41 of their own. BU then killed another 30 seconds off the clock before Alford was fouled on a drive to the bucket. The former America East Player of the Year managed to score all five of her points in the last two minutes of the game on 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) free-throw shooting. In the final five minutes of play, the BU defense held Hartford to just six points, while its offense managed to put up 12. “[Hartford is] tough. They have real solid [players] at all five positions,” Greenberg said. “It’s not like you can really focus in and maybe double the post too much, because they can knock down threes . . . I thought, overall, our defense made good adjustments and did a nice job.”
Lacrosse: From Page 1
sponded with two goals of its own thanks to Collins and sophomore attack Becca Church. Collins completed her hat trick with an unassisted goal after a forced turnover. Church then followed with her first collegiate goal off an assist from Mogavero. With 16:43 remaining in regulation, Harvard extended its lead to two, 9-7. Etrasco brought BU within one six minutes later though, when she scored a free position goal to make it 9-8. The teams then traded free-position strikes, with Etrasco’s third goal cutting the Crimson lead to 10-9 with 5:19 left on the clock. The Terriers’ comeback fell short, as they were could not convert on scoring opportunities in the final five minutes. Harvard extended its lead back to two, 11-9, when attack Jenn VanderMeulen netted her third goal of the game off a BU turnover. Despite the loss, BU coach Liz Robertshaw said that she was impressed with the way the team played. “Defensively, I was very impressed with the team and our ability to stick to our game plan of
slowing down the one-on-one attacks that they are known for,” Robertshaw said. Harvard was limited to just 50 percent shooting, scoring 11 goals on 22 shots, thanks in part to sophomore goalkeeper Christina Sheridan’s eight saves. The Terriers also forced 12 Crimson turnovers. Robertshaw also thought that the team made “huge improvements on the draw controls,” as BU won the draw control battle 14-8. The Terriers have been getting better in many areas including turnovers. With 13 total turnovers in the game, BU recorded two less turnovers than the previous game. Also, while they shot under 50 percent, the Terriers stayed within two goals of nationally-ranked Harvard for the most of the game. “Obviously nobody likes to lose,” Robertshaw said, “but to hold a team like Harvard to 11 goals is a huge statement for us.” Despite the tough start, Robertshaw does not sound worried about the team. “I have confidence [in the team] in the fact that they fought back,” Robertshaw said. “We’re getting better every day.”
Pelage only four-year Terrier on squad Third seed men’s basketball to play school no less, but he said learning different Hartford in America East quarterfinals things from different coaches, while not ideal, Seniors: From page 8
ing to surely be missed,” Jones said. “It is just a great group of guys. We’re going to miss their energy and their attitude. They’ve been terrific, so I was happy to see those guys go out with a ‘W.’” Fittingly enough, Jones began the game with every senior – guards Matt Griffin and Darryl Partin, centers Jeff Pelage and Patrick Hazel, and even little-used forward Chris Kurz – in the starting lineup, setting the tone for a day in which the seniors would play an all-toointegral part. Partin, BU’s leading scorer this season, again paced the Terriers in points with 21, making him the only player with double figures in scoring, while Griffin added eight, Pelage seven and Hazel two. But beyond the box score, the seniors had a profound impact on this team and the program as a whole. It was a collection of players with different styles of play, personalities, as well as different backgrounds, with four brought in by former BU coach Patrick Chambers as transfers, and only one four-year player at BU in Pelage. Most of all, though, was that it was a group that came together and not only coexisted, but succeeded just as they did Saturday. “It was a lot of fun because you’re suiting up with your best friends, guys who you’ve been through so much together with,” Griffin said. The day was especially sweet for Pelage, who has been used throughout his BU career as a reserve center. Coming out of the Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2008, Pelage committed to BU and then-coach Dennis Wolff. After a promising freshman season for Pelage, Wolff was fired after completing his 15th season with the program and replaced with Chambers. Pelage never expected to play for three coaches in four college seasons, all at the same
helped him as a player. “These four years here, three coaches in four years, it’s been an interesting ride here,” Pelage said. “The best part about it is that each of those coaches taught me something and definitely helped me every year in my development and growing as a person. Pelage finished the day with a season-high seven points, his highest scoring output since his sophomore year, but his defining moment came with just over 15 minutes remaining in the game. With BU leading 37-32, the Terriers got in transition after a missed 3-pointer by Hartford. With Griffin captaining the fast break, he saw Pelage running alongside him and threw up a lob. Reaching the height of his leap, with just his left hand, Pelage emphatically dunked the ball, bringing the crowd to its feet. “Griff is usually the one that gets me in practice for it, so I guess he probably saw me coming on the wing and said, ‘You know, I’m going to throw this up,’” Pelage said. “And I just went up to go up and get it because we do it in practice, so why not? “I’m glad I was able to capitalize and finish on it. It was pretty cool to see everyone get excited about it.” Pressure undoubtedly builds up for seniors this time of year knowing that each game they play could be the last of their collegiate careers. But regardless of how the season finishes,seniors like Griffin are happy with the chance they’ve had to play here at BU, with Saturday’s game confirming as much. “It was a special day for us because a lot of us have been through the ups-and-downs of college basketball, we’ve had success and failures,” Griffin said. “It was just fun to go out there one last time on your home court. You realize that it’s gone quick, but you’re just thankful for the opportunity that you had.”
Hartford: From page 8
The lead did not mean BU had won the game yet. Hartford responded to end the first by putting 11 points on the board, answered only by one 3-pointer from sophomore forward Travis Robinson. The Terriers survived another Hartford charge midway through the latter portion of the second half, and they forced four turnovers in the final minute to prevent the Hawks from swooping in for the win. Hartford, however, would end up outscoring BU in the second half by one point, 34-33 “Well, it wasn’t pretty, by any stretch,” said BU coach Joe Jones at the beginning of his post-game press conference after emitting a few groans while looking at the stat sheet. Both teams finished with 18 total fouls, led by Hartford forward Mark Nwakamma with five. Though 16 other players between the two teams would be whistled for an infraction, no other would have more than three. Despite the four final turnovers, the Terriers still gave the ball to the Hawks without scoring a basket 20 times, the most since their second game of the season at the University of Texas when they turned the ball over 24 times. Hartford also had 14 turnovers, half of which originated from senior guard Andres Torres. “I think 20 has been the most we’ve had – wow, maybe since the beginning of the year,” Jones said. “I can’t remember the last time we had 20 turnovers.” Senior guard Darryl Partin had a gamehigh 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting. Partin was the only Terrier in double digits for points, with Robinson and senior guard Matt Griffin the closest scorers behind him at eight
points each. Partin and Griffin were also two of the Terriers’ three leading rebounders, along with sophomore forward Malik Thomas. All three had five boards apiece, with Partin leading the team with three offensive rebounds and Griffin leading the Terriers with four defensive rebounds. Griffin had five assists with sophomore guard D.J. Irving right behind him at four. “I thought [Griffin] played great,” Jones said. “D.J. got the two fouls in the first half and, you know, Matt just came in and did a terrific job of running the offense, making really good decisions. I thought he was terrific, especially in the first half.” Overall, BU out-rebounded Hartford 3718. The Terriers grabbed 13 offensive and 24 defensive boards to the Hawks’ 14 defensive and only four offensive rebounds. “There are some games where we haven’t done a good job, but tonight I think we did a great job of rebounding,” Jones said. “Right from the start of the game I thought our guys went to the glass really hard. That’s gonna be something, if we’re gonna make a run next week, that’s gonna be important.” The America East regular season officially ended on Sunday, with the final game serving as a prelude to next weekend’s conference tournament when both teams will meet again in Hartford in the quarterfinals. BU will have the third seed in the competition, behind Stony Brook University and the University of Vermont, while Hartford will be the sixth seed. Hartford coach John Gallagher said he does not think the two squads playing one another so close will have much of an effect. “We all know each other so well,” Gallagher said.
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Quotable
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It was pretty cool to see everyone get excited about it.
-Senior center Jeff Pelage on the crowd’s reaction to his dunk against Hartford
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Ghosts of Editors Past BU alum’s perspective on Nicastro arrest By Scott McLaughlin Daily Free Press Contributor
The following column is the third in a series written by former Daily Free Press sports editors. Scott McLaughlin, who was the sports editor during the Spring 2009 semester, wrote today’s column. McLaughlin graduated from the College of Communication in 2011. I was hoping my return to the back page of this fine paper would be a joyous occasion, one filled with a bunch of sarcasm and a few moderately humorous one-liners. Instead, all I’ve been able to think about for the last week is Max Nicastro’s arrest and the state of the Boston University men’s hockey program. Like most of you, I had a number of different reactions when I first read the news. Shocked. Disgusted. Disturbed. Horrified. I felt awful for the victim and hoped she was OK, both physically and emotionally. I wondered how on earth something like this could happen just two months after Corey Trivino’s arrest. I wondered if this was symptomatic of a larger problem with BU hockey. Judging by the reactions I’ve seen and heard from fans, friends and fellow alumni, these were all common thoughts. The last one – about whether there is a culture problem surrounding BU hockey – has become the focal point of seemingly everyone over the last week. It’s a question that needs to be asked, and one that President Robert Brown’s task force will hopefully be able to answer. Unfortunately, too many people are trying to answer that question themselves. “Of course there’s a culture problem,” they say. “Have you seen the way hockey players are treated on campus?” Yes, I have. A lot of people treat them like gods. A lot of guys want to be them, and a lot of girls want to be with them. A lot of professors are more likely to let it slide when they miss class than they would be if it were any other student. Bars let in players they know are underage. I saw all of that in my four years at BU, and I’m sure most of you have as well. What I haven’t seen is any sort of concrete connection between any of that and sexual assault or rape. I’m not saying there definitely isn’t. Maybe Brown’s task force will find that there is. All I’m saying is that we don’t know if there is, so stop jumping to conclusions. I’ve seen way too many students, alumni and media operate under the assumption that, yes, there is a clear cause and effect here. I’d love it if hockey players at BU weren’t worshipped. It would
McLaughlin, see page 7
Sports
No Games Scheduled During Monday’s trade deadline, the Bruins traded for 39-year-old former Bruin Brian Rolston...
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points
Women’s basketball junior guard Mo Moran earned her 1000th point during BU’s win on Saturday. She is the third Terrier to accomplish this milestone this season, p. 8
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Terriers edge out resilient Hartford squad
Seniors add 38 points in win
BU survives Hartford’s late comeback bid
By Craig Meyer Daily Free Press Staff
By Shep Hayes Daily Free Press Staff
Ahead by 10 points at halftime, the Boston University men’s basketball team survived a series of attacks from the University of Hartford in the second half to win 64 its final regular BU season game of the year on Sat55 Hartford urday, 64-55. The Hawks (8-21, 7-9 America East) built a four-point lead during a slow beginning, but the Terriers (16-15, 12-4 America East) brought the game close midway through the first half. A jumper from freshman guard Zach Chionuma put the Terriers ahead 20-18 with 4:56 left in the half. The basket began a 13-3 run for BU, a run that closed out the first half of Senior Day.
Hartford, see page 7
MICHAEL CUMMO/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Senior center Jeff Pelage, who scored seven points during Saturday’s win over Hartford, was one of five seniors that were honored during BU’s Senior Day.
For some, the Boston University men’s basketball team’s game Saturday against the University of Hartford would seem moot. The Terriers were playing a team they had already throttled earlier in the season and, more importantly, they had already locked up the third seed in next week’s America East Conference Tournament. Good luck trying to tell that to BU’s seniors. Playing the last regular season home game of their college careers, the Terriers’ five seniors contributed 38 points to help carry BU past an energized and resilient Hartford team 64-55 Saturday at Case Gymnasium. With the end of the Terriers’ season quickly approaching, first-year BU coach Joe Jones used the moment as a chance to stress how important this senior class has been to the program. “I’m telling you – that class is go-
Seniors, see page 7
Lacrosse opens season with worst start since 1998 By Josh Delgado Daily Free Press Contributor
The Boston University lacrosse team suffered its second consecutive loss to No. 19 Harvard 11 start the season 9 this past BU weekend, this time to No. 19 Harvard University. Despite hat tricks by both junior attack Danielle Etrasco and freshman
attack Mallory Collins, BU fell short of Harvard, 11-9. With the back-to-back losses to begin the season, the Terriersm (0-2) are already off to their worst start to a season since 1998, when they lost their first two games of the season before beating Boston College in their third. Senior midfielder Annie Stookesberry opened up the scoring to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead 5:22 into the first half as she put a shot past Crimson goalkeeper Kelly Weis off of a
pass from senior attack Catie Tilton. The goal marked Stookesberry’s second of the season. The Crimson (1-0) answered with two goals, but their lead lasted just 37 seconds. With 18:52 remaining in the frame, Collins scored her first of three to tie the game up 2-2 off another assist from Tilton. Collins scored again with the help of sophomore attack Elizabeth Morse to answer a Crimson goal to make it 3-3 with 12:00 remaining in the first half.
Harvard scored another two to take the lead 5-3, but with 2:00 remaining in the first half, Etrasco made a run to score an uncontested shot. Harvard opened with a quick goal to start the second half, and the Terriers answered with a tally by junior midfielder Kristen Mogavero off a free-position shot. The Crimson tallied twice to extend their lead to 8-5, but BU re-
Lacrosse see page 7
Terriers claim regular season America East title By Tyler Lay Daily Free Press Staff
GRACE DONNELLY/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Junior guard Mo Moran scored her 1000th career point during BU’s win over Hartford.
The Bottom Line
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Mo
The Daily Free Press
Wednesday, Feb. 29 W. Lacrosse vs. Yale, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 1
No Games Scheduled ...With the acquisition, the team has now filled retired forward Mark Recchi’s old spot as third line senior citizen.
For the second time in three seasons, the Boston University women’s basketball team finished as America East champions of the regular season. In the final post-season tuneup, the Terriers defeated the University of Hartford 57-52 on the Hawks’ home court, where the America East Tournament will also be played. N o t 57 BU only did BU (22-7, 52 Hartford 15-1 America East) earn the title with this last victory over Hartford (19-11, 10-6 America East), but a significant milestone was also reached when junior point guard Mo Moran scored her 1000th career point. This marks the first time three Terriers have ever reached 1000 points in the same season, as classmate Chantell Alford and senior Alex Young surpassed the mark earlier this year. “[Moran] really carried us one
Friday, Mar. 2
M. Hockey vs. Northeastern, 7 p.m. W. Basketball vs. TBA, 12 p.m. Softball @ Memphis, 3 p.m. Softball @ East Tennessee St., 10 a.m.
minute at a time in today’s game,” said BU coach Kelly Greenberg. “When things weren’t going our way offensively, she was huge for us.” “Huge” may not sufficiently characterize the play of Moran on Saturday. The junior went the distance, playing all 40 minutes of the game, and racked up 20 points and six rebounds. Moran was a successful 2-for-4 from deep, and didn’t miss a single one of her eight free throws. With Alford – the team’s leading scorer on the season – spending more than half of the game on the bench, Moran’s play was crucial in the win. Junior guard Kristen Sims saw extended minutes as a result of Alford’s time off the court as well. Sims had a favorable outing on both sides of the ball, scoring seven points and recording a team-high two steals. “[Alford’s] wrist is bothering her [to the point] where she is not being as aggressive as she usually is,” Greenberg said. “We just thought if she’s not going to be herself then let’s go with Kristen and be more aggres-
W. Basketball, see page 7
Saturday, Mar. 3
M. Hockey @ Northeastern, 7 p.m. M. Basketball @ Hartford, 3 p.m. W. Lacrosse @ George Mason, 12 p.m. Softball @ Middle Tennessee St., 10 a.m.