3-27-2012

The Daily Free Press

Year xli. Volume lxxxii. Issue lxxxv.

Campus & City

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS: COM hosts screening of HBO pilot page 3

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University Sports Science Tuesday

LAZY LEARNERS: Can experiments replace page 5 experience?

]

www.dailyfreepress.com

‘CHIA’ LATER: M. hockey’s top scorer signs pro contract page 8

Weather Today: Sunny, High 46 Tonight: Cloud, Low 32 Tomorrow: 53/42 Data Courtesy of weather.com

New Bay State law could move voter registration from 18 to 16

By Amy Gorel Daily Free Press Staff

Teenagers in Massachusetts may be able to run to the ballot box the day they turn 18 if a bill allowing citizens to pre-register to vote passes through the State House.

The bill would allow teenagers to pre-register to vote the day they turn 16, giving them the option to vote in any election as soon as they turn 18.

“When you register people at 16 or 17 years old, they become more engaged in the process and to what is going on around them politically,” said Massachusetts Sen. Sal DiDomenico, of Everett, who sponsored the bill. “They will be more motivated to vote if they’re already registered.”

Legislators hope pre-registering teenagers will lead to increased participation among young adults in the 18- to 24-age bracket, DiDomenico said.

Only 48.5 percent of citizens 18 to 24 years old voted in the 2008 presidential elections, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

In the 2010 midterm election, 24 percent of eligible citizens 18 to 24 years old voted, according to the same research.

“We need to make sure that people know that voting is important and part of our identity as a democratic country,” DiDomenico said.

One of the main reasons youth participation is low, he said, is because young people

are just not thinking about voting – registration slips their minds.

DiDomenico said 20,000 teenagers in Massachusetts would benefit from this change immediately, with many more in the future.

“When they turn 18, they will get information, letters, flyers, and phone calls off the bat, which means they will vote in the first election they are able to,” he said, “which will in turn get them into the habit of voting.”

Since the registration and voting age is 18, many do not think of registering on their birthdays and do not vote right away, DiDomenico said.

Massachusetts Rep. Timothy Madden, of Nantucket, a co-sponsor of the bill, agreed.

“I’m sure a flood of students won’t register right away, but I see the extra two years as giving ample time to be solicited to be registered to vote,” he said.

This would be very sensible, said Kay Schlozman, a political science professor at Boston College.

Teens would be able to register at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they get their licenses or in their high schools, instead of forgetting about it when they go off to college, she said.

“Younger people tend to be more mobile,” she said. “Registering in different places can be difficult.”

If young people could register before they leave for college, they will be more likely to vote in the next election because they are not

ALY WHITMAN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Emma Finder is a student who recently voted in Boston. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is considering lowering the age required to register to vote from 18 years of age to 16.

questioning how to register in different states, DiDomenico said.

Madden said he hopes to couple this bill with increased civics education in high school to improve civic participation.

“Anything we can do to get young people engaged is great,” Madden said. “We want

people to express their right to get them motivated for the democratic process, involved and educated.”

Boston University students said they agree this bill would be a great idea to improve voter

Voting, see page 2

Union aims to confront senators’ challenges at meeting Police advise caution and if expectations need to be changed in student body and excite them about what is what may be the first step to addressing is- to come next year and in the future,” Mcafter assault of BU Student Union members discussed the sues through open discussion.

Coy, a College of Fine Arts sophomore, challenges they faced throughout the seSen. Caitlin Seele, a SMG sophomore, said. mester and how to overcome them at the said the main problem is the lack of progIt is important to establish contacts with female on Esplanade General Assembly meeting Monday night.

By Rachel Eides Daily Free Press Staff

Union Vice President Alex Staikos noted discrepancies between people’s goals and their expectations of how to achieve them within committees. The main obstacles, he said, included low attendance at committee meetings and difficulties in carrying out initiatives to completion.

“I know that we have a lot of standards in Student Union that aren’t necessary met,” the School of Management sophomore said.

Staikos asked senators what they aim to accomplish during the rest of the semester

ress people feel they’ve made at meetings.

Seele said students do not take Union seriously because they have not seen a lot of recent changes around campus.

Sen. Tarif Ahmed, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, asked if the members consider themselves the representative voice of students at BU. While Sen. Dexter McCoy said he noticed passionate vibes from members at the start of the year, he noted he would like to see members communicate with students on campus about Union’s efforts.

“We need to connect with clubs and the

the student body so people have a face to associate with their senator, said Advocacy Committee Chair D.A. Whatley.

“If people know that their senator is making a consciousness effort, maybe they will start to view Union as a more legitimate resource,” Whatley said.

A number of members, including Sen. Izzy Rahman, said developing a stronger sense of community within Union could make the experiences more rewarding.

“The environment needs to be changed,”

Union, see page 4

Nicastro receives extension for probable cause hearing

AUDREY FAIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Max Nicastro (center) appeared in Brighton District Court on Monday morning to ask the court to postpone his hearing.

By Gina Curreri Daily Free Press Staff

Former Boston University men’s hockey player Max Nicastro received a postponement for his probable cause hearing when he appeared in Brighton District Court Monday morning.

Nicastro is expected to appear in court for his rescheduled hearing on May 7 at 9 a.m.,

Judge David Donnelly said at the hearing.

Suffolk District Attorney spokesman Jake Wark said Monday’s scheduled probable cause hearing was not at a suitable time for either party.

“The only development arising out of the hearing was the rescheduling,” Wark said.

“Neither party was going to be able to make the most of today’s court date . . . It was simply a rescheduling issue.”

Hugh Curran, Nicastro’s attorney, declined to comment on specific reasons for rescheduling, but confirmed it was a mutual decision between him and the prosecuting attorney, Assistant District Attorney Gloriann Moroney.

Moroney could not be reached at press time.

Nicastro, who arrived at court with his mother, stood before the judge briefly while Curran spoke.

The former Metropolitan College junior and hockey defenseman faces two counts of rape stemming from a Feb. 19 incident, according to an article published by The Daily Free Press.

He was kicked off the hockey team shortly after his arrest and remains unenrolled at BU while his case continues through the court process.

The police report from Feb. 19 remains impounded by the court and will not be released due to the sensitive nature of the case, clerk officials said.

If found guilty, Nicastro could face up to 20 years in state prison.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman blocked 35 shots in the 27 games he played this season, registering three goals and six assists in the process. Throughout his entire BU hockey career, Nicastro registered 11 goals and 22 assists.

By Jasper Craven & Dana Finley Daily Free Press Staff

Massachusetts and Boston University police are advising students to be careful after a BU student reported she was assaulted on the Esplanade last Friday, sparking a state police investigation.

BU Police Department Chief Thomas Robbins said, in an email sent to the BU community, a female student reported she was indecently assaulted near the Silber Way footbridge.

“She described the suspect as an adult black male, standing between 6-foot-0 and 6-foot-4, slim and lanky build, with a shaved head with visible stubble,” Robbins wrote.

The victim also described the suspect as having a mole on the right side of his face and gaps between his teeth, he said.

BUPD Captain Robert Molloy said the crime occurred at about 1 a.m. and was reported at 6 p.m. Friday night.

“She was on a bench on the Esplanade, on one of those sitting benches just adjacent to the Silber Street footbridge,” Molloy said. “She came to us and reported it to us.”

The victim initially reported the incident to the BUPD, who then notified state police, Molloy said.

“We’re cooperating with them, we’re helping them, we’re assisting, but it’s the state police investigation because it’s their jurisdiction,” Molloy said. “But we’re giving her whatever support we can.”

Molloy said the charge was an indecent assault and battery – not rape.

Sergeant Michael Popovics of the Massachusetts State Police said no more information could be released for a case that is under investigation.

Popovics said the state police get sev-

Assault, see page 4

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

D A I L Y F R E E P R E S S

Politicians worried about liberalness of potential youth vote, prof says Voting: From Page 1

participation.

“If younger people voted, it would make a big difference – especially here, where a huge demographic of the youth are liberal,” said BU School of Management junior Vishaal Reddy.

One reason many young adults do not vote is that they think their vote does not matter, Reddy said.

High school students are probably more excited about finally turning 18 and being able to vote than college students are, said College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Jackie Robichaud.

“This bill might help college students become more politically active if they are already registered,” Robichaud said.

Registering while still at home would be a lot simpler, said CAS freshman Shanice Smith.

“I’m not registered just because

I haven’t gotten around to it,” Smith said. “I wasn’t made aware or reminded of how or where to register.”

CAS junior Brittany Schwartz said the hardest part of voting is not the actual registration.

“It’s hard to be informed, engaged and actually go to vote,” she said.

It’s easy to feel disconnected from the real world living on a campus, Schwartz said.

“You’re living in a bubble – the campus becomes your life,” she said.

Though DiDomenico and Madden both said their main goal with this bill is to improve civic participation, Schlozman said many times when legislators pass electoral reform bills, it is because of partisan reasons.

“Politicians are concerned that if there is a high youth turn out,” Schlozman said, “it will be very liberal.”

E S T 1 9 7 0

The Daily Free Press Crossword

By Tribune Media Services Across 1 White whale chaser 5 Cannes clergymen 10 Foam ball maker 14 Island nation near Tonga

48 __ Arabia 51 Not worth debating 52 She replaced Paula Abdul as an “American Idol” judge 58 1999 Ron Howard film

15 Wild animal

59 __ Mountains: south-central U.S. range

16 Leaf-to-branch angle

60 Term referring to a prev. citation

17 Difficult youngster

62 Actress Hatcher

18 Jolly holiday visitor

63 Mournful music

19 Underground missile launch site

64 Stun

20 Was disappointed, as with a performance 23 Shrinking Asian sea 24 GPA booster

Sudoku

65 Spoken 66 Seven Dwarfs’ only beardless member 67 Spud’s buds

25 Out-of-the-ordinary brews

Down 1 Ohio’s Wright-Patterson, e.g.: Abbr.

31 Lewd material

2 Give the job to

32 Compassion from the judge

3 Sink-cleaning brand

36 DDE opponent

CLASSIFIEDS

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4 Very small role 5 1970s-’80s FBI bribery sting

11 They’re marked with lit signs

33 __-do-well

48 Tend

34 Canadian tribe

49 Birch family tree

35 Lawn party site

50 Prefix with violet

21 Bard’s “before”

37 NBA Hall of Famer Hayes

53 Connecticut senator Chris

22 Spooky

38 John or Jane

54 Basso Pinza

25 Actor Morales

39 Map feature with an elev.

55 “The World According to __”

42 Torment diabolically 43 Left on the table, as a bet

56 “Buy It Now” online site (and where vowels were bought for 20-, 25-, 37-, 44- and 52-Across?)

45 Come out

57 Magnitude

46 Organ grinder’s pet

61 __ Moines Solution is on Page 4

12 Lead the life of ___ 13 Plant life

6 Fab Four member

26 Mutant superheroes co-created by Stan Lee

7 Ruination

27 Mammoth feature

8 Cornerstone abbr.

28 Hallowed

43 Lascivious look

9 Attack à la Brutus

44 Calm by nature

10 ‘70s tennis star Ilie

29 Third shoe width beyond D

37 Attorney general under Ronald Reagan 40 Big Band __ 41 Smudges in a psychological test

30 Naval Acad. grad

47 “Annabel Lee” poet

Sudoku-Puzzles.net

Difficulty: Medium

Solution is on Page 4

Campus & City

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Campus Crime BU students get sneak preview to HBO Job growth in Logs series, test overall viability of storyline Bay State not Work of Art as prosperous as prior stats show

3

By Dana Finley Daily Free Press Staff

The following reports were taken from the Boston University Police Department crime logs from March 19 to March 26.

BUPD received reports March 22 at 10:30 a.m. that there were several incidents of graffiti inside the new student center at 100 Bay State Rd. Empty beer cans were found along with graffiti on each floor after unknown persons appear to have entered the building overnight. Officers will be guarding the building with overnight security detail.

Lost connection A non-affiliate female reported to Mugar Library security March 22 at 10:37 a.m. that she was being followed by a male in the library, located at 771 Commonwealth Ave. She claimed he might have exposed himself to her. The female left the building and refused to give BUPD any additional information. Officers have had no contact with her since the incident, despite attempts to contact her via cell phone, which has since been disconnected. BUPD is working to locate the female.

Flash mob A male student walking by 985 Commonwealth Ave. March 24 at 3:30 a.m. reported that a group of four male teenagers about 16 to 18 years old assaulted him. The student said the attack was unprovoked. The group of males hit him on the side of the head, causing minor a laceration to his head. He was transported to Boston Medical Center for treatment.

Party foul A male BU student was assaulted March 24 at about 2 a.m. as he left a sorority event at the Holiday Inn at the corner of Beacon Street and St. Paul Street. The victim was exiting the hotel with his girlfriend when was assaulted by another male BU student and two friends whom BUPD has not identified. The victim notified BUPD of the assault at 3:35 a.m. and was transported from the BUPD station to Boston Medical Center by ambulance. He sustained some injuries. BUPD identified one of the suspects and turned him over to Brookline police, who will summons him to Brookline District Court.

By Shayan Banerjee Daily Free Press Staff

“The series is all about girls that . . . are trying to figure out their lives,” said Jana Herman, a HBO spokeswoman. “Every student, girl or boy, can really remember what it’s like to feel that way and the fear that you have when you get to what you want to do and you’re not really sure.”

More than 90 students went to watch the pilot and the second episode. Attendees were offered popcorn and soda and as well as bags and miniature flashlights sponsored by Comcast.

“It was interesting,” said COM senior Saiya Floyd. “I haven’t seen a show like that before.”

Massachusetts lost its standing last week as the state with the fifth largest job growth in 2011, falling to tenth lowest in the nation, according to recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

The BLS, the principal factfinding agency for the U.S. Department of Labor, revised its previous findings to reveal the department originally overvalued the amount of jobs created in the Commonwealth last year by about 31,600 jobs, a 347-percent overestimation.

The BLS reported earlier this month that Massachusetts gained only 9,100 jobs in 2011, down from its earlier estimate of about 40,700 jobs.

Critics of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said the revised numbers reflected poorly on his administration’s economic policies and his claims the Massachusetts economy is performing better than the rest of the nation.

“It appears Gov. Patrick is more concerned with grabbing favorable headlines than he is with

Girls, see page4

Economy, see page 4

PHOTO COURTSEY HBO

HBO hosted a free advanced screening of the new pilot “Girls” Monday night in the College of Communication.

By Becca Shipler Daily Free Press Staff

Boston University screened the premier of the new HBO series “Girls” at the College of Communication Monday night.

The pilot, which is scheduled to make its debut April 15, was shown to students as part of the College of Communication’s Cinematheque program.

“I think a lot of students who go here ask the fundamental question, ‘Why break into the industry or what’s selling now?’

And ‘Girls’ and ‘Tiny Furniture’

by Lena Dunham are good ways to get your name out there,” said Jason Hellerman, a second

year COM graduate student who helped coordinate the screening.

Hellerman descibed the lowbudget comedies such as Dunham’s latest show as “the way of the future” in the film and television industry.

Dunham screened her first film “Tiny Furniture” in October 2011 as part of Cinematheque, Hellerman said. BU remained in contact with the creator and arranged to premiere “Girls” after it had been picked up by HBO. The show “Girls” is a comedy about recent college graduates who move to New York City and grapple with their responsibilities as adults.

U.S. can store 100 years’ worth of carbon dioxide underground, study finds

By Madhurya Manohar Daily Free Press Staff

The U.S. may have the capacity to store about a century’s worth of America’s carbon dioxide emissions underground in deep saline aquifers, according to a study published last week by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists.

The scientists found that using carbon capture and storage, or CCS, is “geologically viable,” according to the study. CCS is a process that involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions at such sources as power plants and compressing and injecting them into reservoirs for long-term storage.

The nation produces about six gigatons of carbon dioxide

per year, the equivalent of about twenty million barrels of oil per day, said Ruben Juanes, the researcher who led the study and a professor of energy studies in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Researchers found deep saline aquifers – geological formations situated deeper than one kilometer underground that hold saline fluids in their pores – presented feasible storage conditions for these emissions.

Deep saline aquifers could hold up to 20,000 billion metric tons, according to the study, and CCS could hold deposits of carbon dioxide for up to 20,000 years, he said.

The nation’s carbon dioxide emission rates have hovered at

about 5.5 billion metric tons per year since the late 1990s, according to United Nations data.

“Human emissions have been increasing in a sustained fashion ever since the advent of the industrial revolution,” Juanes said.

The study sought to determine the best methods for injecting liquefied carbon dioxide to increase the maximum capacity of the aquifers, analyzing such factors as injection rates and pressures. It determined the optimal conditions for employing CCS. The study also faced constraints such as “uncertainty in geologic storage capacities and sustainable injection rates.”

It attributed the first issue to different procedures of calculating large-scale capacity. Injec-

tion rates of carbon dioxide also caused problems due to an accumulation of pressure.

In order to estimate the storage capacity for the U.S., researchers transposed data related to the behavior of fluid carbon dioxide and constraints on injection rates onto a model that applied the nation’s known deep saline aquifers, according to the study.

The aquifers are distributed throughout the country, but clusters of them center in such areas as the Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, and the area bordering Lake Michigan – Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

Storage technology similar to CSS has already been implemented in a number of places, Juanes said, in Norway and Algeria.

BU students battle BC in regional comedy competition, face elimination

By Jen Janiak Daily Free Press Staff

SPENCER WARDWELL/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

College of Communication junior Cody Brotter performs in a comedy competition at ImprovBoston Monday night. Boston University students go head to head against Boston College students at the live showcase round of RooftopComedy.comʼs National College Comedy Competition presented by TBS.

Nick Peine, a Boston University College of Arts and Sciences junior, said he didn’t do anything special to prepare for Rooftop Comedy’s National College Comedy Competition at ImprovBoston Monday.

“Preparing has been a process since I started,” Peine said. “It’s not like you prepare for a show and then you stop and then you prepare for another one. It’s just kind of a continuous amassing of material and then eventually you just pull out what you need for a particular show.”

Despite his lack of preparation, his experience with stand-up comedy over the past four years paid off. The judges voted him into the next round of the competition.

Joining Peine in the next round are CAS junior Tom Niblock, CAS senior Shawn Musgrave and CAS junior Ari Stern.

The four recounted tales about the woes of strange obsessivecompulsive habits, the “perverse marketing” of the BookIt program and buying feminine hygiene products for female roommates.

Ross Huston, a College of Communication freshman, said he didn’t have a favorite performer and enjoyed everyone’s performance.

“They were all really strong comics and did well tonight,” Huston said. “I don’t think there was a weakling among the bunch.”

Other comedians from BU included CAS sophomore Delaney Moghanian, COM junior Cody Brotter, COM junior Gaby Grossman and COM freshman Ian

Blau.

“The BU group this year is just amazing,” Blau said. “We have so many immensely talented, funny people.”

Brotter said the group not only keeps an audience in stitches, but has developed a “tight-knit” relationship as a result of the competition. The group planned to travel to ImprovBoston together.

“I think it’s got a pretty supportive vibe for BU because I know, when I don’t make it on Monday, I know I’m going to be rooting for the next four and try to get people to vote for them online and stuff,” Brotter said.

The eight comedians competed against eight Boston College students and were judged by three local comedians. Four students

Comedy, see page 4

4

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

24/7 study space still on Union’s agenda as year nears end Union: From Page 1

the SMG sophomore said. “Not everyone here really knows each other and it’s very stiff. It is not rewarding. It is just punishing if you do something wrong.”

Vivian Chao, chair of the events committee, said people tend to be less motivated when working together if they do not get a chance to know each other.

“We don’t really have the atmosphere where we are working together toward one goal,” Chao, a SMG sophomore, said.

Union Chief of Staff Sophia Woyda said she is working to get Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore to come to the next Union meeting. Woyda, a CAS junior, told members to bring friends to help get more students involved.

Members not only addressed the obstacles they faced, but also reviewed ongoing projects and their progress, including the smoking courtesy campaign, the 24/7 study space and other efforts.

The advocacy committee presented several updates and ideas, including Whatley’s plans with Executive Director of Student Activities and Operations John Battaglino for the smoking courtesy campaign. Whatley said he and the dean are set to meet on March 28.

“We do not want to be harping on smokers too much,” Whatley said. “We want it to be a fair campaign.”

Whatley said one of their ideas was to add ashtrays around campus.

Union President Howard Male

suggested adding courteous messages on the ashtrays.

“Some people need to be reminded that when you smoke, it does impact others,” Male said.

Whatley said he hopes to see the smoking courtesy campaign implemented before the summer.

Student Union should focus on getting a solid foundation for a 24/7 space and then it get be picked up in the fall, Seele said.

Each college should work with IT to get printer accessibility, said Union Chief of Staff Sophia Woyda.

Chao said Union will lead a flash mob on April 27 to bring student groups and individuals together in a fun atmosphere. Battaglino, the BU band and a number of professors will participate.

Governors affect short-term economy ‘relatively little,’ prof. says Economy: From Page 3

getting families back to work,” said the Massachusetts Republican Party in a press release Wednesday.

However, The Boston Globe pointed to the Patrick administration’s approach to the figures last week, reporting his administration continued to stand by the state’s fifth-place ranking despite knowledge that the numbers had changed.

Patrick used the unrevised BLS numbers to cast his administration in favorable light as compared to that of his predecessor and Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney as recently as Monday, according to The Globe.

Jason Lefferts, a Patrick administration spokesman, said job numbers are only “one part of the puzzle” when measuring economic well-being. He said critics and others should take note of other data, such as the state’s increas-

ing revenue from payroll taxes and exports.

“The overwhelming picture is that Massachusetts is doing better than the rest of the country,” he said, referring to the BLS’s announcement Thursday that the Bay State created 9,000 new jobs in February alone.

The BLS also revised its original January numbers from 6,600 new jobs to 13,000.

“What the revised [2011] numbers are saying is that we created nine to 10 thousand jobs all of last year,” said Lefferts. “What these numbers from January and February are saying is that we created 22,000 jobs in Massachusetts in two months.”

This amounts to a 0.7-percent growth rate in jobs in the state, which included a 0.9-percent growth rate in private sector jobs, said Greg Freed, the director of communications at the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Those 2012 findings will like-

ly be revised significantly since business establishments open and close over time, said Professor Kevin Lang, who teaches labor economics at Boston University.

“The BLS has to reweight the data to reflect these changes,” Lang said. “This probably accounts for most of the revision to the annual data.”

Lang said he advised caution in evaluating any government policies on job growth, adding that this type of BLS data often appears different in the long term and does not take into account other factors that influence the economic health of a state, such as the distribution of income.

Lang said that the long-term success of a state’s economy depends more on its regulatory environment, public infrastructure and workforce quality.

“There is relatively little that governors or state legislatures can do,” he said, “to affect the economy in the short term.”

Students call new HBO show ‘unique,’ ‘very odd’ Girls From Page 3

Herman said HBO visits BU more than once a year with new programming, especially new series, because students make great judges and reflect how real audiences will react to shows. “[We aim] to sort of listen, see what they have to say, if they liked it and if they didn’t and go back and report back,” Herman said. “I think BU’s always a great place.

We always have good screenings

here so we like to come.”

COM junior Fior Fabian said she attended because Cinematheque is required for her classes, but also because she likes watching HBO series.

“I just want to see what HBO’s been up to,” she said.

Dunham graduated from Oberlin College in 2008. Her first short film, entitled “Dealing,” premiered at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival. Her first feature, called “Creative Nonfiction,” pre-

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miered at South by South West in 2009, according to Dunham’s website. She is also the creator of two web series, “Tight Shots” and “Delusional Downtown Divas.”

“Girls” focuses on more than just career challenges after college. It deals with drug, sex and issues with friends as well.

“It was definitely very unique,” said College of Arts and Sciences junior Sarah Duke. “It was very odd.”

{BU in a week} TUESDAY

BU Dumbledore’s Army’s first meeting - a Harry Potter-themed community service and fundraising group will be held in CAS116 at 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

“No Way Out But One” a documentary on domestic violence and custody issues in the U.S. Family Courts, produced by COM Professor Garland Waller will be screened in COM 101 at 6 p.m.

THURSDAY

“The American Way of Eating” a guest lecture and book signing with Tracie McMillan, who recently wrote “merican Way of Eating: Undercover at WalMart, Applebees, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table” will be held in SHA 110 at 6 p.m.

FRIDAY

“Beanpot of A Cappella,” an a cappella concert, hosted by BU’s “In Achord,” featuring groups from Northeastern, Stanford and Suffolk will be held in Stone B50 at 7:30 p.m.

‘Personal commitment to own safety crucial,’ BUPD chief says Assault: From Page 1

eral reports a year similar to the one filed by the BU student. He offered several precautions that can be taken in order to avoid being assaulted.

“Try to use the buddy system [and] always have a charged cell phone with you,” he said.

The victim was alone when the crime occurred, Molloy said.

“The best thing for people to do is stay in a well lit area [and] know your surroundings,” Popov-

ics said.

Robbins said in the email students should always remain aware of their surroundings, walk with friends at night and call the BU escort service if they do not have anyone to walk with.

“It’s very important for you to take a moment to remember that although your chances of being the victim of a crime are small,” he said, “your personal commitment to your own safety is crucial.”

Winners of nat. comedy competition to head to Chicago Comedy: From Page 3 from each college were chosen to move on to the next round, where they will depend on online voters to ensure their way into yet another round of competition.

“I expect BU to win, to kill, so that one day we won’t have to do anymore competitions, we can just tell our jokes,” Brotter said.

The ultimate winners of the NCCC, sponsored by TBS, will have a chance to perform in Chicago.

Brotter said one of the main challenges was collecting jokes that fit the short three-minute time slot.

“I think some of it is getting some new stuff and working some old stuff and try to find our best three minutes,” he said. “Some of us could maybe do a couple of

SPENCER WARDWELL/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

College of Communication junior Cody Brotter preforms in a comedy competition at ImprovBoston Monday night.

hours or so. So, what’s the absolute best three minutes we could do?”

Grossman, who was eliminated in Monday’s competition, said the outcome would not affect her

future in comedy.

“Either way, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing,” she said.

“I love to perform stand-up and this is what I love to do.”

5

Experiments Replace Experience Researchers may have found a way for people to learn skills . . . without trying at all.

By Leah Calderon

E

Features Staff

ver wanted to learn how to play an instrument, but just never had the time? Ever wanted to learn how to play a sport, but did not have the coordination?

Luckily for you, you might not have to worry about finding the time or maintaining enough coordination to labor through these skills.

Boston University’s very own professor of neuroscience Dr. Takeo Watanabe and his team of researchers at BU and at Japan’s ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories have developed a “neurofeedback” method that can potentially enable you to learn a skill without exerting any physical effort at all.

This idea is built upon the natural phenomenon of visual perceptual learning, co-researcher Kazuhisa Shibata said in an email interview. She explained the theory using an analogy to trained jewelers.

“Experienced jewelers can rapidly classify diamonds that appear very similar to the novices into different grades with high precision. Such a feat is possible because the expert’s eyes are trained through practice and experience. Such experience-induced improvement is called visual perceptual learning.”

of Samuel Adams beer went up. This is the correlation approach; one cannot determine that the Red Sox’ win caused these sales to increase, only that they happened to occur around the same time.

MUTATING METHODS In order to solve this issue, the team had to come up with a method in which they could manipulate a pattern within the early visual cortex without any visual stimulation. This method would make it possible to establish whether or not repetitive induction of a specific pattern of activity causes visual perceptual learning related to that pattern because

asked to recreate the pattern by themselves without the help of the visual stimulus and without any knowledge of what the target pattern was based on.

“We conducted this induction training in 10 days. At the beginning, of course, the subjects had no idea about how to do it. But, to my surprise, they gradually built up their own way to make the similarity between their activation pattern and the target pattern larger,” Shibata said. “I had not imagined that humans could achieve such a feat!”

Before and after this training, the subject’s performance was measured in the Grating Stimulus Discrimination Task and was analyzed for how it had changed.

LEARNING THROUGH VISION

The researchers discovered that the subjects’ discrimination performance significantly improved in generating the target orientation. “The result indicated that repeated induction of a particular activation pattern leads to plasticity in the visual cortex, concluding that it is possible for the brain to learn skills through this repetitious “feedback,” thus validating the hypothesis that visual perceptual learnAN EVER-CHANGING BRAIN ing can occur within the human brain.

Another interesting discovery was Shibata explains further that in order that the “subject’s discrimination perfor this type of learning to occur, the formance improved without awarebrain must maintain a certain amount ness of the corresponding target stimof “neural plasticity.” Long after most ulus,” meaning that the person’s skills of the brain development has ceased, improved without consciously acting repeated exposure or training can imon or thinking about it. prove visual abilities and cause “neural BU students had differing opinions reorganizations” in the matured brain. about this research project at BU. These neural changes, or “reorganiza“Our generation is too focused on photo illustration by/audrey fain tions,” have coined the term “neural In the future, people may be able to laze around and still learn valuable skills. technology,” said Tiegan Hatch, a seplasticity,” which measures the extent nior in the College of Arts and Sciencto which a brain can absorb information and allow these it observes the two phenomena separately. The research- es. “Although it has allowed us to move to places we never neural changes to occur. ers soon discovered that the key to this approach lay in the imagined, it also stunts us in other ways. Learning someAfter discovering how visual perceptual learning occurs newly created decoded neurofeedback method or “decnef.” thing without physical effort allows humans to be rewarded through neural plasticity, several obstacles arose while “Decnef is a method that allows us to link neural activity for wanting instant gratification. Society is too distracted trying to utilize its abilities. One in particular came about patterns to a target state, or the ‘skill’ pattern in which we with no effort ideals. when visual perceptual learning contradicted the traditional want to replicate,” the researchers said their documentary “Slogans like, ‘Lose 10 pounds in one week without hitidea that the early visual cortex is thought to be hard-wired video. ting the gym!’ have brainwashed us to think that we can get after development, leaving little to no room for neural plasThey began the experiment by focusing their subjects’ at- whatever we want with little effort. We lose track of what’s ticity to take root. tention on the center of a computer display and were asked really important and that’s the experience.

Previous studies have attempted to navigate their way to conduct a visual task. The subjects, mostly college stu“You cannot install an experience into someone scientifiaround this obstacle by using what they called the corre- dents, were then expected to “discriminate” the orienta- cally. That’s destroying the definition of the word ‘experilation approach. This approach examines how changes in tion of the presented visual texture pattern, called a Gabor ence.’ It makes it sound less human and I personally do not brain activity are correlated with improvements in visual patch. The activation patterns within the subjects’ visual want to be treated like a computer.” performance by repetitive training. The problem with this cortex was then measured and recorded by fMRI, or funcAnisha Vinod, a sophomore in CAS, said she disagreed approach is that it does not shed light on the cause-and- tional magnetic resonance imaging. That one specific ori- with Hatch. effect relationship between these changes in the brain and entation was chosen as the target pattern.

“If we close our minds to new research and ability, we are the performance of each task by training; rather, it can only The next step involved the neurofeedback induction train- killing progress,” she said. “The purpose of research and tells us that they occurred around the same time, according ing. The subjects were asked to adjust their own activation technology is to revolutionize the human experience. This to Shibata. patterns without visual stimulation and without moving is all science fiction thinking to assume it would turn us “Assume that activity in the brain area X changed while their bodies until it matched the target pattern. into some sort of robot society. visual perceptual learning had been observed after exten“I thought this was the most difficult part of the study,” “This research could, instead, open our minds to what we sive training. Does this indicate that the activity change Shibata said. “How can we control activation patterns in a are capable of and expand the amount of energy and intelin brain area X caused the improvement?” Shibata asked. specific area of our brain?” lect we use. Just because it is scientifically founded doesn’t “The answer is no, because it is impossible to determine Though it seemed impossible, they pressed on. The sub- mean that it is anti-human at all. Historically speaking, huthat visual perceptual learning caused the activity change. jects attempted to somehow control their brain activity, and mans have been able to adapt and grow when society and This ambiguity cannot be solved with the correlation ap- each time a new pattern appeared the team would compare implemented new ways of communicating, etc.” proach since the approach tells us about a relationship be- it to the target pattern to see how closely it matched. Once Despite speculative controversy, the researchers say dectween the behavioral and neural changes but not about a the pattern created by the subjects significantly resembled nef will be used “as an important method for neurosciencause-and-effect relationship between the two.” the target pattern, it would be “fed back” to them in the tific research and as a technical application to try and find Shibata explained that it is comparable observing two sep- form of visual stimulus. new treatment methods for diseases that currently have no arate phenomena: The Red Sox won a game and the sales After several repetitions of this process, the subjects were efficient cures.”

For more Science Tuesday, check out our blog! freepblog.wordpress.com

6T

uesday,

Opinion

March 27, 2012

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University 42nd year F Volume 82 F Issue 86

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

Praise Hong, Advertising Manager Kaylee Hill, Layout Editor Valerie 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.

Missing links The Internet has evolved and grown to encompass all kind of material, and naturally with this influx in material comes a need to enforce filters to prevent younger users from accessing inappropriate or graphic content. Yet in the case of any form of censorship there is a line between filtering content that is inappropriate and filtering content that only certain factions consider harmful. This is the issue that has manifested at Camdenton High School in central Missouri. According to an article published in The New York Times yesterday, the school has filters in place that prevent students from happening upon any site that portrays the gay community in a positive light. Students have access to websites that promote individuals becoming heterosexual, but they are prevented from viewing websites or even court cases that rule homosexual behavior as illegal.

However, these filters are not necessarily representative of the individual school’s wishes, but rather the school district’s decision to keep the filters unchanged, despite receiving instructions to do the opposite.

Consequently, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the district of Camdenton

last summer. Obviously in such a climate, individuals in the school are hesitant to step forward in fear of being socially ostracized.

The school claims that some students have presented plans for a Gay-Straight Alliance club and they would have equal opportunity of school recognition. Yet the club still has not been established, and there doesn’t seem to be any plans to re-visit these plans anytime soon.

Having websites blocked in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act is pivotal. The only concern is when this law is abused in attempts to force a certain mindset or omit information from an issue. Blocking websites that contain no graphic content but just another side to a pertinent issue in society today is incredibly unfortunate. The educational system is where children should be educated to become well-informed citizens who promote open-mindedness and acceptance.

Instead, abusing the filter system will only infringe upon high school students’ right to be informed on both sides of a debate. By creating an environment of oppression, the whole spirit of education and information will be tainted.

Brothels as business?

Prostitution’s legality has been an issue for decades. In America, the profession is illegal and consequently dangerous. A lack of security and an influx of people who turn to the trade out of financial desperation mean that many who enter into prostitution have no way out and no legality on their side. However, the complexion of this issue is set to change in Canada. According to an article published in The Globe and Mail yesterday, the highest court in Ontario has just legalized brothels and allowed for prostitutes to have security guards and other personnel for protection. As of next year, brothels will be classified as just another regular business place. Prostitution on street corners is still illegal; overturning that law was narrowly rejected.

Of course, the last portion preventing prostitution openly on streets will dispel a lot of criticism regarding this issue. Legalizing prostitution will ensure that the profession is much safer and regulated. If handled correctly, this new legislation will ensure prostitutes will be safe and have access to proper benefits and health checks.

Another concern is that prostitution will be a burgeoning profession as a result of its

new legality. However, these brothels have been in existence for decades, so allowing regulation, which would endorse these workplaces paying rent and being included under taxation, may be beneficial to all involved.

Nevertheless, this legislation is sure to prompt debate as to whether legalization is a governmental endorsement or not, and whether this should be a profession that should be lawful. The reality is this: Prostitution will occur whether it’s regulated or not. Since it’s an industry that shows no signs of ceasing, the only way to have some semblance of control over this issue will be to legalize it.

The Globe and Mail article further states that since the law will be enacted in a year, an appeal of the decision is likely. How the case unravels in the coming months could jeopardize the new sense of safety many will feel comes with regulation. Here is an opportunity not to promote prostitution as a viable career path, but to have control to eradicate trafficking of sex workers and mistreatment of prostitutes. Should these issues be resolved, legalization would be justified as a wise decision.

letters@dailyfreepress.com letters@dailyfreepress.com letters@dailyfreepress.com letters@dailyfreepress.com

Stream of Consciousness

A threat to justice DANY VASQUEZ Break time. I closed my books and eagerly opened up my preferred websites of procrastination. I briefly skimmed over Facebook and Twitter, and aimlessly scrolled down Tumblr. My right hand held up my face, and my tired eyes were slowly closing. Just as they were about to cross the point of no return, two words caught my eye: “Miami” and “death.” I sat up, immediately concerned and alert. I scrolled back up to the beginning of the post. It started with a photograph of a young black kid followed by a bolded headline that read “Unarmed Black Teen Gunned Down By Neighborhood Watch Leader After Being Deemed Suspicious.”

This was a few weeks ago, and it was the first time I heard about Trayvon Martin and what happened to him in Sanford, Fla. I could not believe my eyes when I first read the articles, and I cannot believe the world right now that this case has still not been rightfully resolved. It hit so close to home because Trayvon is from Miami, and I could not believe this actually happened in my home state. It is as if a giant neon sign has sprung up in the center of our society screaming, “HEY GUESS WHAT? RACISM STILL EXISTS.” What shocks me the most – perhaps even more than what actually happened – is the fact that there is actual controversy over this. Let’s take a look at the basic facts: George Zimmerman, the 26-yearold neighborhood watch leader, followed around Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black kid, because “the way he was walking or appeared seemed suspicious to him.” Zimmerman, based only on this irrational suspicion, got out of his car and approached Trayvon with a loaded pistol. He did this against the direct orders of the police to stay in his vehicle. Trayvon was wearing a hoodie and had in his possession the deadly items of a cellphone, an iced tea and a bag of skittles.

George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. He confessed to the police. He claimed self-defense based on his bloodied nose. The police did not take him into custody. They did not arrest the man who explicitly went against their orders and confessed to killing a person. This is all the proof anyone needs to see the blatant racism that occurred that night.

Yet people are actually arguing about this. This is what I cannot wrap my head around. The blame is falling on the most irrelevant facts of the case, such as that Trayvon was wearing a hoodie. This is disgusting. It is the equivalent of blaming a rape victim for wearing shorts. These victims were not “asking for it.” They do not deserve the blame that society is too afraid to take responsibility for.

There is a 26-year-old man in a car following a 17-year-old kid at night. This man has all the power: He is older, he is more familiar with the area, he is inside his car, and he is armed. The only way something could possibly occur is if he gets out of his car. If I was walking home at night in an unfamiliar neighborhood and a car began to follow me, I would be completely terrified of that car and its driver. There is every chance I would react aggressively if I was approached in this manner. The flimsy reports of Zimmerman’s nose bleeding that hold up his claim of self-defense are not enough to excuse the fact that this is a terrifying situation for any young person to find him or herself in. There is only one person in this situation who should be held responsible: the grown man who deemed it appropriate to follow a young kid around in the dark, get out of his car and confront him with a weapon, especially after the police dispatch explicitly told him not to do so.

George Zimmerman let his racism dictate his actions, and it resulted in an innocent death. Now, that same racism is allowing him to walk free. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We cannot allow racial profiling and racism to run rampant in our society. It is crucial for the advancement in humanity to eradicate these sentiments. We need to recognize that Trayvon Martin represents every single death caused by racism. We need to fight the terrible injustice of this case and make sure it will never happen again.

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

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

7

BU extends winning streak to four in win over Catamounts

By Shep Hayes Daily Free Press Staff

JUNHEE CHUNG/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Junior attack Danielle Etrasco had five goals during BU’s win over Vermont on Saturday.

For the first time this season, the Boston University women’s lacrosse team has a winning record.

The Terriers won their first America East game of the season beating the University of Vermont 16-15, improving their record to 5-4 on Saturday and extending their win streak to four games.

“It felt good to come out strong because [conference games] are the games that mean the most in the end if we want to make the playoffs,” said senior attack Hannah Frey The game began with a back-andforth first half after Vermont (6-3, 0-1 America East) scored only 18 seconds into the game. The Terriers scored twice in 20 seconds to take the lead immediately after, and continued to score through the first ten minutes of the half. By the end of the first 20 minutes, BU held a 5-3 advantage.

One goal from Vermont senior midfielder Allison Rounds with 17:46 to go and goals from BU senior attack Catie Tilton and Frey put the Terriers in control by three, the Terriers’ largest lead of the half, with 12:38 left in the half.

“One of our goals has been to come out hard in the beginning,” Frey said. “I think the midfielders do a great job getting it off the draw and they just get us the ball.”

Keeping with what developed into the tone of the half and the game, however, Vermont was down, but most certainly not out. The Catamounts pulled the game to within one by halftime, cutting the BU lead with two goals in less than a minute and making it 9-8.

The Terriers stumbled at the start of the second. Junior attack Danielle Etrasco was called for a yellow card 41 seconds in and the Catamounts scored 18 seconds later on a freeposition shot to tie the game. But Etrasco returned to avenge the penalty, returning to grab the lead back for BU with a goal.

“Yellow cards aren’t ideal,” Etrasco said. “I try not to get them.

But it’s kind of just like no matter if I’m off the field, I’ll try to bring my presence right back on, to make a spark or to do anything I can to make the team bring that momentum back into it.”

Vermont, however, would jump back out into the lead with goals involving Rounds, one she assisted sophomore Sydney Mas on and the other she scored herself. “[The team] handled the lead [change] better than I did,” said BU coach Liz Robertshaw. “I was getting a little tight and I think they were like, ‘Hey, we can get this next draw, we can turn it around.’ I was extremely impressed with the confidence they had on the field.”

It was Etrasco who responded for BU, with two goals to put the Terriers back on top for the last time at 24:28.

Both teams would score four more times, but the Terriers maintained possession over the final minutes to hang on for the win.

The Terriers controlled nearly every statistical category throughout the game. BU took 37 shots – including 23 in the first half – to Vermont’s 29. The Terriers captured 20 ground balls, only one more than the Catamounts. BU won 19 draw controls, while Vermont controlled 13 draws.

The Catamounts did score, however, on one of their two extra-man opportunities, an advantage the Terriers did not get. Vermont was also 4-for-7 on free-position shots, an area where BU only went 1-for-3.

Etrasco led the Terriers in goals, shots and draw controls with five, 14 and seven, respectively. Behind Etrasco in goals was Frey, who scored four times. Both Stookesberry and sophomore attack Becca Church picked up four ground balls to lead the team. Tilton had seven assists, second only to her nine assist performance at Saint Mary’s College a week prior.

Robertshaw praised the way BU controlled the game statistically.

“I told the girls they had a nice team effort of getting the draw controls, getting the ground balls,” Robertshaw said. “I saw Annie Stookesberry had four caused turnovers.

That’s huge in getting us the ball.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Christina Sheridan was in the cage for all 60 minutes for BU. She made eight saves and allowed 15 goals.

Mas led Vermont with four goals, while Rounds scored three. Senior defender Caitie Izzo picked up four ground balls and Mas won five draw controls. Senior goalkeeper Laura Barber played all 60 minute in net, allowing all 16 BU goals and making 14 saves.

In the end, Robertshaw did find one flaw in the Terriers’ loss.

“The amount of goals Vermont scored on us,” Robertshaw said, “makes me realize we have a lot of work to do before [playing the University of Maryland-Baltimore County].”

Etrasco and Tilton connect during conference victory over Vermont

By Shep Hayes Daily Free Press Staff

On paper, the last goal of the game for Boston University junior attack Danielle Etrasco looks like nothing out of the ordinary. It was scored with 20:20 remaining in the second half, concluding an open to the frame packed with offense. It made the game 14-12, continuing the build of the Terriers’ lead over the University of Vermont, and was assisted by senior attack Catie Tilton.

That last chunk of information gleaned from the box score matters most. For only the second time this year, BU’s leading goal scorer, Etrasco, and its leading assister, Tilton, connected for a goal. It was also Etrasco’s last goal and Tilton’s last assist of the game, a contest in which they led both teams in their respective categories.

It was a picture-perfect play as Etrasco, with the ball in her stick, swung around the top of the crease from the left, entering in an attempt to break her defender at the apex.

She passed the ball to Tilton, who was standing a few feet to the goalkeeper’s right and front. Tilton then tossed the ball back over to Etrasco, who shook a few more of the many Catamount defenders in the inner crease before firing the ball into the back of the net.

“That was awesome,” said BU coach Liz Robertshaw with a bit of a grin. “That goal was the prettiest I’ve seen all year.”

Two players key to the Terriers’ success of late have been Etrasco and Tilton. Both have seen their leads in goals and assists either grow in Etrasco’s case or build from the bottom up in Tilton’s.

Etrasco’s position as the leading

goal scorer for BU should not come as much of a shock. Last season, she started all 17 games for BU and was named the America East Co-Player of the Year. When the Terriers faced the Catamounts last season in Burlington, she set the program singlegame record with nine goals.

Her five goals against Vermont marked the fourth time she has done that this season, each time leading the Terriers in that categorey. Only once has she scored a single goal: last week against Yale University.

Thinking about both the win over the Catamounts and the four-game win streak, Etrasco said the Terriers were coming together because of how they have had to respond to some more negative scenarios in games.

“It’s all about the overall fight that we have,” Etrasco said. “Even if we went down like we did in the be-

ginning of the second half, we came back and we fought. There was no thought in our minds of losing that game, and I think we played and showed that.”

Tilton is a slightly different story.

Last year, she had only 23 assists and over her career a grand total of 39.

She already has one more assist than her total last year with nearly half of BU’s season left to play. Last week, at Saint Mary’s College, she set the program record for assists in a single game at nine and she came close to that accomplishment with seven versus Vermont.

During the Terriers’ two other games of its four-game win streak - during which more than threequarters of Tilton’s assists have been recorded - she has slightly less of an impact. She only had two against the University of California and one against Yale. Before the streak, she

only had assists in two games this year: two in an 11-9 loss at Harvard University and three in BU’s first win of the year at George Mason University.

But what Tilton may lack in consistency, she makes up in total dominance of her statistical category. She is the only Terrier in double digits for assists on the season, and her closest competitor is Etrasco at nine.

Etrasco’s 32 goals, however, are closely followed by 27 from freshman attack Mallory Collins. The player closest to the pair is junior Kristen Mogavero at 16, who did not play against Vermont.

“They’re starting to click,” Robertshaw said of her team. “Do I think we’re perfect? No, and they’ll hear me say that on Monday. We have a lot to work on, but I really like where we’re going.”

Early Terrier runs cap off shutout, sweep Schuppert earns weekly conference pitching honor Softball: From Page 1

son.

After junior pitcher Whitney Tuthill allowed a run in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, the Terriers built their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Clendenny added another RBI to her season total when she brought sophomore third basemen Megan Volpano home with a single to center, allowing the Terriers to enter the seventh with a two-run advantage.

This advantage wouldn’t hold for long as Tuthill could not fight off the Bearcats offense. Errors also plagued the Terriers, as they mishandled the ball twice in the top of the seventh, allowing Binghamton to tie the score at 4-4.

The Terriers’ bats proved productive in the bottom of the sev-

enth as a combination of two errors and smart baserunning allowed the Terriers to score in the bottom of the seventh, finishing the game with a 5-4 victory. “[The two games] weren’t the prettiest games,” Rychcik said.

“We had two come from behinds and struggled a little bit with the bats.”

The Terriers closed out their three-game series against Binghamton with a 3-0 victory off the arm of junior pitcher Erin Schuppert. She pitched a complete game, striking out nine batters and controlling every at bat from the moment the game started.

In an effort that evened out her record to 3-3, Schuppert allowed only two hits as her team backed her up with a strong defensive ef-

fort marred only by a late inning error in right field by sophomore Jayme Mask.

All of the Terrier’s offense came in the first inning, with Mask starting BU off with a walk. She quickly stole second and was joined on the bases by O’Connor.

A ground-out by Volpano drove in the Terriers’ first run of the game.

O’Connor scored after on a single up the center by Roesch. Then Roesch stole second after Ekart struck out and was driven home for the Terriers’ third and final run

by Clendenny.

BU threatened again throughout the game, the Terriers did not get another runner across the plate.

“The bottom line is good teams figure out ways to win,” Rychcik said.

Schuppert: From Page 1

whacked a double to right-center in the fifth inning. During the ensuing at bat, a pinch runner entered the game and attempted to steal third base, but was beat by the throw from sophomore catcher Amy Ekart. Not a single Bearcat advanced beyond second base over the course of the game.

Schuppert gave up her only walk of the game in the sixth inning, but the following six Binghamton batters went down in order, submissively.

Schuppert punctuated the sweep of Binghamton with an exclamation point by forcing the final two batters of the third victory to whiff

on third strikes.

Schuppert, who was named the America East Pitcher of the Week on Monday, finished the game with nine strikeouts, allowing two hits, one walk and no runs. The nine strikeouts are a season high, and makes up for nearly a third of Schuppert’s total of 28 on the season.

Her earned run average is now 3.75, and she maintains the lowest opponent batting average in the rotation with .197.

“Erin Schuppert was the name of today’s game. . . . That was probably her best game of the year – in a much needed time too,” Rychcik said. “It never gets old saying ‘Hey, nice pitching performance.’”

“

Quotable

[Jack Parker] thought if in my heart that’s what I wanted to do then he was going to support me through it.

“

-Alex Chiasson

Page 8

Sports

Lax

The Daily Free Press

[ www.dailyfreepress.com ]

leaders

Junior attack Danielle Etrasco and senior attack Caitlin Tilton lead the Terriers in goals and assists, respecitvely. The two BU players connected during BU’s win over Vermont on Saturday, p. 7

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Chiasson signs three-year deal with Dallas Stars

By Kevin Dillon Daily Free Press Staff

JUNHEE CHUNG/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Alex Chiasson, BU’s assistant captain for the 2011-12 season, signed with the Dallas Stars Monday afternoon.

Boston University men’s hockey junior assistant captain Alex Chiasson agreed to terms with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League on a three-year entry-level contract on Monday, ending his hockey career at BU. The professional contract ends a successful career with the Terriers for the 6-foot-3 forward, who totaled 99 points in 108 games played. The Stars’ former-second-round draft choice said he made his decision on Monday after a meeting with BU coach Jack Parker.

“We had a good conversation and afterwards I cleared up my mind and made sure it was the right decision for me that I was ready to leave and go on for a new challenge and a new experience,” Chiasson said. “[Parker] thought if in my heart that’s what I wanted to do then he was going to support me through it.”

The next stop for Chiasson is Cedar Park, Texas, where he will join the Texas Stars, the American Hockey League affiliate of Dallas. The 21-year-old will likely play in the final eight games of the squad’s regular season.

“It’s going to be good for me to see where I’m at personally and what I need to work on this summer and obviously my goal next year is to make a good impression at camp and try to go in the Stars right away,” Chiasson said.

Chiasson led the Terriers in points (46) and was tied with senior captain Chris Connolly in assists (31) this past season. With his strong regular-season performance, Chiasson was named a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star. One of his most memorable moments of the year was his game-winning goal in double-overtime of game three of the Hockey East Quarterfinals against the University of New Hampshire that propelled

the Terriers into the conference semifinals.

Those type of plays are a result of the great improvement Chiasson has undergone since he arrived at BU. Chiasson jumped from only seven goals and 12 assists his freshman season to 14 goals and 20 assists in his sophomore year, a 15-point improvement. Chiasson made another big jump in point totals between his sophomore and junior years, as he improved by 12 points.

Many of Chiasson’s former teammates congratulated his decision over Twitter, sending their best wishes to the St. Augustin, Quebec native.

“Congrats to Chaser on signing with Dallas,” tweeted junior forward Ben Rosen.

“Great classmate and one of the best Frenchies out there.”

Sophomore forward Sahir Gill also wished his former teammate luck over Twitter.

“Congrats to Alex Chiasson on signing.

Love to see him go, but ya hate to watch him leave,” Gill said.

Chiasson said that his decision was a challenge because of the friends he had made while playing for BU. “I have made some great friends here and I have met some awesome people, and it was definitely a great epxerience,” Chiasson said. “It’s probably the best three years I’ve had so far.

“I really love the school, love the city . . .

I think we appreciate what BU gave to me.”

While Chiasson will leave BU this semester, he will finish up his economics degree in the College of Arts and Sciences over the summer.

“You never know what is going to happen with hockey,” Chiasson said. “You’re not going to play hockey for 30 or 40 years so I think there is always something to rely on and like I said, BU was the best thing, for me, to happen.”

Softball earns eighth straight win in weekend sweep of Bearcats BU gets jump start in conference with wins

By Sam Simmons Daily Free Press Staff

The Boston University softball team extended its winning streak to eight games this weekend after sweeping Binghamton University in a three game set to open America East play. The Terriers improved their record to 19-8 on the season with games marked by two different styles of play.

“A sweep is hard to come by,” said BU coach Shawn Rychcik. “Everybody knows each other so well, the teams make such good adjustments so to get three wins is just a great thing.”

BU opened conference play with a 4-3 victory over Binghamton (7-14, 0-3 America East). Despite striking out eight and pitching a complete game, sophomore pitcher Holli Floetker struggled to keep the Bearcats off the bases, allowing six hits and two earned runs in her 12th victory of the season.

The Bearcats scored first in the top of the third inning, putting two runs on the board to hold the lead until the bottom of the seventh.

The Terriers’ first run came in the bottom of the fourth after junior second basemen Emily Roesch hit a sacrifice fly. Bingham-

ton added to its lead again in the top of the sixth.

BU’s offense picked up the slack in the bottom of the seventh inning, entering the inning down 3-1 before staging a seventh inning comeback rally.

“We had a good calm about us going into the seventh innings of those games,” Rychcik said. “[We believed] that we were going to have an opportunity to do something.”

Sophomore catcher Amy Ekart started things off with a leadoff home run to left field, bringing her team-leading total to five.

Sophomore shortstop Brittany Clendenny also knocked one out of the park, hitting the homer to the opposite field to even the score at 3-3.

After reaching base on an error, senior left fielder Erica Casacci scored the winning run after a walk-off single by sophomore center fielder Chelsea O’Connor.

In their second game of the day, the Terriers staved off a late-inning rally by the Bearcats to claim a 5-4 victory.

BU took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after a three-run homer from rookie Mandy Fernandez. It was the outfielder’s second three-run homer of the sea-

The Bottom Line

Tuesday, Mar. 27

No Games Scheduled Tiger Woods win a tournament for the first time since his incident. It’s a good week to be a stripper.

Wednesday, Mar. 28 Softball @ UConn, 4 p.m.

Track @ Texas Relays, All Day

Softball see page 7

Schuppert throws complete game shutout

By Tyler Lay Daily Free Press Staff

After squeaking past Binghamton University with a couple of wins in a doubleheader last Saturday, the Boston University softball team returned to the BU Softball Field for a third match against the Bearcats on Sunday.

The two late-game comebacks kept both sophomore Holli Floetker and junior Whitney Tuthill somewhat fatigued overnight, and BU coach Shawn Rychcik decided to give the starting nod to junior hurler Erin Schuppert.

Before stepping on the mound Sunday, Schuppert had pitched the least of the three in the rotation. She had totaled 29 innings-over the course of six games and held a record of 2-3. However, this past weekend, Schuppert was the team’s ace, as she threw her way to her third shutout win, and the Terriers came away with a 3-0 victory.

“It’s good to see [Schuppert] kind of getting it going now,” Rychcik said. “She got a win at Bryant . . . and then [came] back today in the conference and [won] the final game.”

In the top of the first, Schuppert quickly subdued Binghamton. The first two batters struck out swinging, and the third managed only to hit a weak foul-ball that was caught

Thursday, Mar. 29 Track @ Texas Relays, All Day

by sophomore third baseman Megan Volpano.

The Terrier offense drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of hits and a Bearcat error led to three runs for the Terriers. The team was unable to score during the remainder of the game, but there was no need for extra padding as Schuppert kept the Bearcats at bay all game.

“We got runs early . . . and Erin came out and just kept shutting them down,” Rychcik said. “Today was a great effort from her on that part.”

The second inning was similar to the first for the Binghamton offense. Schuppert prevented the Bearcats from producing any base runners by striking out the side. The second went down swinging while the first and third hardly took the bat off their shoulders before being sent to the bench by called third strikes In the third and fourth innings, the Bearcats warmed up to Schuppert and began to put the bat on the ball. Schuppert let up a single to catcher Lisa Cutrona, but the hit was surrounded by weak fly outs or lineouts hit right at the BU defense.

After another strikeout and a weak ground out, Bearcat third baseman Chelsea Horne

Friday, Mar. 30 Men’s Tennis @ St. John’s, 3 p.m.

Track @ Texas Relays, All Day

Schuppert see page 7

Saturday, Mar. 31

W. Lacrosse @ UMBC, 12 p.m.

Softball vs. Stony Brook, 1 p.m., 3 p.m.

M. Tennis @ Stony Brook, 1 p.m.

W. Tennis @ Dartmouth, 1 p.m.