4-16-2014

The Daily Free Press

Year xliv. Volume lxxxvi. Issue XLVI

POP-UP MUSIC Student groups, Boston residents organize concert, page 3.

[

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

FOR THE LOLZ

Student improv comedy group Liquid Fun hosts 24- hour show, page 5.

]

www.dailyfreepress.com

WATER POLO?

Rain cancels yet another softball game, page 8.

WEATHER

Today: Sunny/High 45 Tonight: Clear/Low 31 Tomorrow: 45/34

Data Courtesy of weather.com

One year later, Boston remembers lives lost and saved BPD investigates unattended bags

by Copley Square

By Felicia Gans Daily Free Press Staff

When Patrick Downes lost his left leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, he gained a community of strangers willing to give their time and support. After running the marathon with his wife Jessica, who also lost her left leg, Downes witnessed firsthand the goodness of Boston’s first responders, medical personnel and community members.

“We chose to love and that has made all the difference,” he said at a Tuesday tribute in honor of those affected by the bombings.

“We [the victims of the marathon] wish that all of you, at some point in your lives, feel as loved as we’ve felt in the past year.”

On the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, a tribute was held on Boylston Street to remember the victims, support the continually healing survivors and honor the first responders and medical personnel who were first on the scene after two bombs went off at the finish line, which injured more than 260 people and killed three.

The program began with a series of speeches at Hynes Convention Center with nearly 2,700 people in attendance. At the conclusion of the memorial, all attendees and other members of the public were invited to a flag-raising ceremony outside of the Forum Restaurant, where the first bomb went off. A moment of silence was

By Stephanie Pagones and Mina Corpuz Daily Free Press Staff

FELICIA GANS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Officers stand on Boylston Street Tuesday with a wreath to honor those affected by the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings on the anniversary. A tribute was held later that day with distinguished guests and members of the community.

observed at 2:49 p.m., the time of the first bombing.

“We own the finish line,” said U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the event’s final speaker. “Next Monday, on Patriot’s Day, when I’m told up to 36,000 people line up to start the marathon, you will send a resounding message around the world that we will never yield. America will never

stand down.”

Prior to Biden’s speech, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, former Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston Athletic Association Executive Director Tom Grilk and Rev. Liz Walker shared words of gratitude and optimism

Memorial, see page 2

SHS, CARD offers counseling sessions for Marathon anniversary

By Sebastian Alamo Daily Free Press Staff

Boston University Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore sent an email to BU students Thursday encouraging them to reflect on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and provided information on counseling resources available to help students cope with emotions provoked by the bombing’s anniversary.

“It came too quick, but next week I’ll have to acknowledge that the tragedy happened a year ago,” Elmore said in the email. “The youthful energy and celebration of Patriots’ Day — a beautiful Marathon Monday — was destroyed by a bombing close to where I spend much of my time. I still find it difficult to think about the day, but try to end my reflections with a hopeful spirit.”

Resources available to students include eight support groups, held from April 15,

the anniversary of the bombings, through April 23, which are hosted by Student Health Services and the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.

Counseling sessions for students who needed help coping with the aftermath of the bombings was also provided in the past, said SHS Director David McBride.

“We had a long series of support groups and individual appointments with students and community members after last year’s events,” he said. “This is our typical approach when there is a tragic event in the community, though the scale of this event was dramatically larger.”

Elmore said he sent the email as a reminder to the student body of resources already available at BU, and acknowledged that the community might reflect on last year’s tragedy in different ways, either in mourning or in private rituals.

“We always have counseling available

for students,” he said in an interview. “All we are doing is trying to get the world out to people about it.”

McBride said counseling focused on the Marathon bombings was again made available as the anniversary of the attacks may compel those affected to seek help.

“Many students, faculty and staff were deeply affected by the bombing last year,” he said. “It is typical for strong feelings to reemerge on the anniversary of a tragic event. We want to be sure that support is being offered to those who need it.”

Elmore said one-on-one sessions as well as group conversations are available to provide a variety of counseling settings for students with differing needs.

“You [have] got to know yourself and know whether or not it’s important for you to sit with others and talk about this,” he

Counseling, see page 4

The Boston Police Department is investigating two unattended backpacks at the Boston Marathon finish line Tuesday night, on the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.

BPD took a male suspect into custody and asked questions in relation to the suspicious packages. The bomb squad was on the scene with police to investigate the objects, and the area, which included Boylston Street, was evacuated and closed at approximately 7:30 p.m. All residents were asked to avoid the area, said a BPD spokesperson.

BPD Superintendent Randall Halstead said in a Tuesday press conference that a police officer first noted suspicious behavior when he saw a man walking barefoot down Boylston Street in the rain.

“My officer observed this action, and based on the action observed, did what he did,” he said. “I have the utmost praise for my officers.”

Halstead said he could only offer basic facts at the press conference because the incident is still under investigation.

The Boston Fire Department was also at the scene “on stand-by” for the police, said Steve MacDonald, spokesman for BFD. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that the Copley T station was closed at the street level and all trains were passing through without stopping. Later, a tweet from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authoirty official Twitter account at about 10:25 p.m. stated that service was suspended from Haymarket to Kenmore to avoid the area.

The bomb squad employed a bomb-detecting robot prior to detonating both suspicious objects, a spokesperson from BPD said.

The area was eventually cleared, with the closed streets being re-opened and the MBTA resuming service, according to an MBTA tweet at about 11:30 p.m.

Because this incident occurred on the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, several news crews and media outlets were in the area to report on memorial

Unattended Bags, see page 2

Despite challenges, BU Dance Team clinch first place in national competition

By Brogan Calkins Daily Free Press Staff

The Boston University Dance Team took first place Saturday in the Division 1 Hip Hop category for their routine, inspired by Boston’s recovery from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, at the National Cheer and Dance Alliance Collegiate National Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla. “Winning a national title was beyond all of my wildest dreams,” said co-captain Michaela Main, a senior in Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

“It is a milestone I hoped this program would eventually see,” Main said. I just never imagined it would be in my time.”

BUDT Co-Captain Alyssa Marion, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, said the team aimed to embody Boston’s recovery from the Marathon bombings through their performance.

“We wanted to represent the strength and resilience of the city with our Boston Strong routine, and we definitely were able to do that,”

she said. “We were able to connect with our routine and show our heart in ways that other teams weren’t able to do.”

The team danced to music they felt was representative of Boston’s recovery, including “Hometown Glory” by Adele, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys and “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Marion said the BUDT “defined resilience” this past season after three members left the team, which suffered from major performancerelated injuries and tackled the Hip Hop competition for the first time.

“Having to balance two nationals routines is enough of a challenge, but what most people don’t know is that our girls came to BU first and foremost for academics,” she said. “Not a single girl on our team was recruited, nor given scholarships of any kind, so the Dance Team is a secondary commitment to us. To have our girls succeed both academically and athletically is unbelievable.”

Marion said earning the national title re-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY DANCE TEAM

The Boston University Dance Team won the national title for Division 1 Hip Hop this weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla. at the National Cheer and Dance Alliance Collegiate National Championship.

quired countless hours of practice.

“Training for Nationals started day one,” she said. “Practices were harder than they have ever been, as the team had to balance training

between Team Dance and Hip Hop. We didn’t want to sacrifice either routine by training for

Dance, see page 2

2

Wednesday, april 16, 2014

Walsh: Boston learning ‘perseverence, resilience Coach: BU Dance Team won rooted in hope’ facing 118th Boston Marathon competition by slim margin MeMorial: From Page 1

with the audience, while remembering the lives of Krystle Campbell, Sean Collier, Lu Lingzi and Martin Richard, who died as a result of the bombings or during the manhunt that followed.

Marathon survivors Downes, Luis Yepez, David Yepez and Adrianne Haslet-Davis spoke about their experiences at the finish line and the journey they have taken toward recovery in the past year. Between speeches, the program featured musical performances from a variety of guests, including the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and the Boston Children’s Chorus.

Menino, who was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation, said the anniversary of the marathon bombings will always be a hard day for the Boston community, but there’s a comfort in gathering with family and friends.

“For family and friends, who will always miss their loved ones, you are strong at this broken place,” he said. “That strength thrives even in the hardest of days because of you, because of the passion that took hold of this

city. It’s the heartbeat of Boston, and it’s a mighty force. This day will always be hard, but this place will always be strong.”

A variety of firsthand responders, medical personnel and marathon volunteers attended the tribute event, many of who will be attending the 118th Boston Marathon on Monday.

Dr. Lyle Micheli, who has been the medical coordinator at the finish line since 1975, told reporters the medical care at this year’s finish line would be significantly different. At least 10 trauma kits have been purchased from the Israeli Defense Force to keep at the finish line in the event that a runner or attendee needs a sterile dressing, splint or other urgent medical care.

“Our great frustration was that we had no equipment [last year],” he said. “We didn’t expect wounds. We’re there to take care of runners who are dehydrated or hypothermic. It was a sneak attack, and it’s not going to scare us away. It makes us realize the potential vulnerability we all have.”

Walsh said the Marathon bombings tested Boston’s faith and produced a new sense of per-

severance that will be felt in this year’s marathon.

“We are learning not just perseverance, but resilience … resilience rooted in hope,” he said.

“The 118th marathon will be a living, breathing example of our city’s resilience. We have survived the dark night to face the future with hope and confidence.”

Patrick, who took the stage after Walsh, said the tragedy of the Marathon bombings revealed the strength of Boston and the triumph of the community.

“There are no strangers here,” he said. “We are all connected to each other, to events beyond our control, to a common destiny.”

At the conclusion of Biden’s speech, he said the Marathon survivors, first responders and other members of the Boston community are defined by their courage and redeemed by their loyalty, which is a lesson his mother taught him as a child.

“You’ve become the face of America’s resolve,” he said. “No memorial, no words, no acts, can fully provide the solace that your heart still yearns, but I hope it eases your grief.”

events held near the finish line throughout the week. BPD prohibited live video reporting and required news reporters to move a safe distance from the finish line, a BPD tweet confirmed.

“BPD confirming that the unattended bags at the Finish Line have been disrupted for precautionary reasons,” BPD tweeted at about 9:52 p.m.

Several residents said the incident was unsettling, but not surprising on the anniversary of the bombings.

Katie Olds, 23, of Allston, said people love to instill fear in oth-

ers, especially due to the significance of the day.

“It’s really scary because of what happened [last year],” she said. “It’s an open invitation to cause fear. I wonder why people would want to do this, especially because today is the one-year anniversary.”

Samarth Virk, 21, a Boston University School of Management junior, said he is more cautious and suspicious about events in the city following the Boston Marathon bombings.

“I understand what an issue this is today and leading up to the marathon event,” he said. “My friends and I were at the mara-

thon last year. I understand why people would be extra cautious and suspicious about today.”

Carla MacLean, 28, of Brighton, said she expected an incident like this to happen on the day of the marathon.

“In a way, I thought there would be a lot more security today and leading up to the marathon,” she said. “There are very evil people out there and someone must have kept track of the [anniversary] date. It’s sad that anyone would want to copy what happened. I hope there will be enough security to prevent anything from happening.”

The Daily Free Press Crossword

By Mirroreyes Internet Services Corp.

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the other, so we had to just amp up training and practice all around.”

The team also placed second in the NCA & NDA Division 1 Team Dance competition.

BUDT Co-Captain Kelly Mar, a senior in SAR, said she is still in shock since accepting the team’s award.

“We had zero expectations,” she said. “Winning the national title for Division I Hip Hop was the most unexpected, yet hard-earned victory this team could’ve ever experienced.”

BUDT Head Coach Elizabeth Stilwell said the team won the national title by a slim margin.

“Before they announced second place, the announcer stopped to tell the crowd that there was less than one-tenth of a point between the top two teams. I knew at that point that it could go either way,” she said. “Before I could react, Kaitlyn and the

38. Dispersion 41. A parcel of land 42. Rejoinder 44. Japanese apricot 45. Belief system 46. Employed 47. Iron 48. Welt 50. All excited

51. French for “Head” 52. Fastens 53. Hotels 54. Satisfy 55. A young lady Solution is on Page 4

team’s choreographer were hugging me. It’s a moment I will certainly never forget.”

Despite the tenacity the team had during training, Stilwell said she never expected the team to bring home the win.

“Our goal was to perform the routine with no mistake,” she said. “It was really the energy and strength the team brought to the stage that won them the national title.”

The 17-member team wore shirts featuring the words “Run 617,” Stilwell said.

“The team’s motto for Hip Hop was 17 Strong,” she said. “It certainly took all 17 of them to capture the national title.”

Main said that the team was honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the city of Boston.

“We had to pour our hearts into this dance,” she said. “Representing our city in this way was an honor and responsibility and we had to do it the justice it deserved.”

Resident: Mayor’s charitable leadership role sets precedent Boston shines: From Page 3

Suspicious packages left at Boylston Street near finish line disrupted by bomb squad Unattended Bags: From Page 1

dance: From Page 1

“Not everyone has the same volunteer interests, so creating different avenues of volunteer opportunities creates interest,” she said.

“For example, Ringer Park cleanups [include] landscape improvements [and] inclusive social interactions with community neighbors.”

Patrice Keegan, executive director of Boston Cares, said volunteerism encourages people to participate in their communities and take pride in their up keeping, and she said she hopes Boston Shines will continue to keep this effort alive.

“People who care are the ones who are more likely to stick around and get involved,” she said. “It’s in everyone’s best interest because they stay and become part of the city’s success.”

Keegan said Walsh has always shown a commitment to volunteerism in the city and Boston Cares is excited to see the execution of Walsh’s plans to further civic engagement within the city.

“I’m excited to see that the Mayor is committed to volunteerism,” she said. “When we had that horrible

blizzard, the mayor was out and participated. It was really awesome that he is putting a stake to the ground.”

Several residents said the rejuvenated Boston Shines program under Walsh’s lead will foster community involvement and promote volunteerism throughout the neighborhoods.

Ian Stuart, 45, of Brighton, said he was born and raised in Boston and anything people can do to improve the communities can have a large impact.

“I am not volunteering [in Boston Shines], but I am good at not littering and doing my part,” he said. “When people care, they can only make the city better.”

Madeleine Brown, 19, of Back Bay, said Boston Shines could beautify the city and welcome in the spring season.

“It’s nice to start new and be surrounded by cleanliness and a fresh feeling,” she said. “It’s great that he [Walsh] is taking a leadership role in something that is charitable and doesn’t have anything to do with money or politics. It’s for the good of the people and it’s a good example to set.”

Campus & City City Crime Logs April 9 to April 15

By Mina Corpuz Daily Free Press Staff

The following crime reports were taken from the AllstonBrighton D-14 crime logs from April 9 to April 15.

Victim’s scream causes suspect to flee On Wednesday at about 1:38 p.m., officers received a call to 194 Kelton St. for a breaking and entering. The victim said the suspect opened the window and damaged the window guard. When the victim screamed, the suspect fled the scene. Detectives arrived at the scene and processed the evidence.

Victim chases suspect out of apartment Officers received a call to 21 Greylock Road on Thursday at about 2:27 a.m. for a breaking and entering. The victim reported thwt she was reading in her room when she heard the door open. The male suspect entered through a kitchen window, and the victim chased him up, then down the stairs and out through the kitchen door. The victim provided a description of the suspect to officers at the scene, who stopped a man in the area who met the description, but the victim could not positively identify the man as the suspect.

Victim missing key after breaking and entering On Thursday at about 9:45 a.m., police arrived at 2 Everett Square for a breaking and entering. According to the victim, unknown persons gained entry into her apartment. They stole a laptop, Xbox 360, games and a backpack. The victim found no signs of forced entry, but she noted that her spare key was missing.

Victims threatened at knifepoint At about 10:17 p.m. on Thursday, officers received a call to Boston Food and Liquor at 223 Cambridge St. for an armed robbery. The two victims said two suspects outside the store approached them. One wielded a knife and threatened the victims while the second suspect prevented the victims from leaving. One suspect ran off before police arrived. The other remained outside the building and was identified by one of the victims. Detectives saw the suspect drop his knife as he stood outside, where was then arrested and transported for booking.

Suspect takes money from church donation boxes again On Saturday at about 7:52 a.m., police arrived at 321 Market St. for a report of larceny. A witness said he heard a loud noise from the back of the church during the service. He saw an unknown male walk away from a donation box and leave the church through the side door. Later, officers discovered the suspect took money from the donation container. Witnesses said the suspect was the same person described from a previous donation box theft at the church.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

3

BUMC hosts concert for Marathon anniversary Female leaders to collaborate More than 100 people attended a musical performance at the at EFLI forum Boston University Medical CenBy Jaime Bennis Daily Free Press Staff

ter Tuesday in memoriam of the anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

The performance, titled “BU Medical Campus Flash Mob: Healing Boston with Music,” featured a 50-member orchestra including members of the Boston Accompanietta as well as the BU Symphonic Chorus and other BUMC musicians.

“After the events of last year’s marathon, which so deeply impacted our BU community, the Medical Campus put an extraordinary effort to restore health, and therefore, dignity in our city,” said Moisès Fernández Via, project curator and researcher for the BU Arts Outreach Initiative. “We aim to bring music and a moment of shared beauty to honor the spirit of determination that united our community out of that struggle.”

Via said the performance and flash mob aimed to use music to help heal the BU community.

By Adrian Baker Daily Free Press Staff

LAURA VERKYK/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston University Arts Outreach Program, College of Fine Arts’ Boston Accompanietta, BU Symphonic Chorus and Boston Medical Center musicians performed on Talbot Green Tuesday at the BU Medical Campus for a flash mob in memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

“The whole institution was completely transformed by the bombings,” he said. “We wanted to offer them a gift and a way to send our gratitude. There were a large number of musical performances following the 10 days after the Marathon. The fact that the music was part of the recov-

ery and the restoring of health and dignity gave us the idea that we had to complete the cycle.”

The flash mob was organized by the AOI, the BU Arts Outreach Program and Taichi Fukumura, a College of Fine Arts senior who conducts the Boston Accompani-

BUMC, see page 4

Councilors propose change to health insurance

By Stephanie Pagones Daily Free Press Staff

Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu and Ayanna Pressley released a proposal Monday, backed by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, to include gender reassignment surgery in the health insurance coverage plans provided to city workers.

The proposal is an effort to help people the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies as having Gender Dysphoria. Wu and Pressley have proposed that health insurance should cover gender affirmation surgery to allow city workers to change to the gender with which they identify. Experts at the American Medical Association have deemed this treatment medically imperative, the ordinance stated.

“The City of Boston should set the standard as being an inclusive workplace to attract the most talented and committed employees,” Wu said in a Monday release. “The goal of this ordinance is to ensure comprehensive healthcare coverage for all municipal employees, regardless of gender identity or expression. It’s the

best economic policy and the right thing to do.”

The proposed insurance-backed treatment would cover health services, gender-affirmation services and hormone therapy, the release stated.

If approved, the program would mandate that any city-hired insurance companies pay for these medical services and operations.

While the cost of the ordinance has not been disclosed at this time, James Chisholm, Pressley’s former chief of staff and current public affairs consultant, said the cost is minimal compared to the resulting impact of not creating the program.

“The cost is negligible, and by not doing this, the human cost is going to be far greater,” he said. “It shouldn’t be about cost. It’s about human dignity and being able to live life with respect.”

Chisholm said this was an issue Pressley fought to solve throughout her campaign for city councilor.

“It is something the city should do and it’s a matter of doing what’s right. I had worked with Councilor Pressley during her campaign and it was something that was a major part

of her platform,” he said. “Those who are opposed like to make it a controversial bill, but it’s really quite simple.”

Brian Camenker, founder of MassResistance, said their group is a conservative organization that protects people from “destructive programs,” and this proposal is an example of political officials choosing ratings over scientific validity.

“It’s a sad example of science fiction over science, based on political nonsense and political quackery,” he said. “It is clear that they’re doing this to please a national homo-activist group, the Human Rights Campaign. They’re doing this to get a 100 percent rating, for political reasons instead of medical reasons.”

Camenker rejected the idea that city workers could acquire depression or suicidal thoughts if gender reassignment surgeries are not covered by their health insurance. Instead, he said, being transgender is an issue of mental health within itself.

“The medical community has also considered gender identity con-

Gender, see page 4

The Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute is holding the Women and Leadership Festival at Boston University on April 22 and 23, a series of interactive workshops and discussions promoting women’s leadership through self-empowerment, collaboration and activism.

“We would love to engage with the community and then learn a lot from what’s going on at BU’s campus in terms of leadership and communities for women,” said EFLI Campus Coordinator Katie Rapp.

EFLI only used to host summer leadership programs for students in New York, but as its participants began to graduate and attend different universities, Rapp said EFLI saw a need to expand its services to campuses across the country.

She said EFLI had a conversation with BU students and organizations to determine women’s issues that were particularly relevant to the BU community.

“A couple of themes came up.

They [students] were wondering about safety on campus and talking about putting these ideas into action,” Rapp said. “One of the biggest themes that came about was a sense of community and, on such a big campus, how to create or find communities and create that deeper connection with people.”

She said yoga, meditation and journaling were some of the practices that would be offered in workshops and could benefit women in their daily lives.

BU alumnae will also be present at the workshops to speak about their experiences after graduating, she said.

School of Hospitality Administration senior Melina Indrasena, who serves as the liaison between BU and EFLI, said she and representatives from the Center for Gender, Sexuality & Activism talked about safety issues with the EFLI that they should address during the festival.

“BU is a very Greek-dominated school,” she said. “A lot of women have difficulty finding themselves and their friends if they are not involved in such activities.”

Women, see page 4

Mayor Walsh encourages residents to participate in Boston Shines

By Mina Corpuz Daily Free Press Staff

In order to promote neighborhood solidarity and civic engagement, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh is seeking to expand volunteer opportunities this year during the city’s annual spring cleanup event.

Boston Shines, which for the first time will span three weekends beginning on April 25, would bring together volunteers, businesses and community groups for the purpose of bettering the city’s neighborhoods. The cleanups will take place in Allston-Brighton, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and West Roxbury.

“Boston belongs to all of us, and I’m encouraging residents in all our neighborhoods to come out and volunteer to ‘Scrub the Hub’ and help make Boston even more beautiful,” Walsh said in a Monday release.

“When we work together across the city, we improve the quality of life for all Boston residents. I’m looking forward to working with my

neighbors to make Boston shine.”

This year, the cleanup program will focus on four areas of service: physical service, university engagement, youth development and creating opportunities that will unite communities, the release stated.

Although Boston Shines is an annual event in its 12th year, Walsh is looking to increase volunteerism this year and improve the quality of life for Boston residents during his first year in office, according to the release.

Several volunteer groups in the city said they appreciate Walsh’s support for volunteerism and look forward to working with his administration to better the city.

Joan Pasquale, executive director of a community service organization called The Parents and Community Build Group, Inc., said Boston Shines allows people to have a greater impact in their neighborhoods.

“If folks see something that needs to be done, then [they can] take the initiative and do it,” she said. “Every-

MIKE DESOCIO/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh is looking to expand the annual Boston Shines spring cleanup event this year, encouraging thousands of Bostonians to “Scrub the Hub” over three weekends in April and May to beautify the city.

one can be the change via sweeping up dirt [or] litter in front of their business, picking up litter in front of their residence, helping to clean and care for a neighborhood green space.”

Pasquale said the four ser-

vice focuses would allow volunteers to cater to their specific volunteering preferences and direct all their effort in one area.

Boston Shines, see page 2

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Conductor: Memorial concert MassEquality appreciative of trans* healthcare honors first responders, victims Gender: From Page 3

BUMC: From Page 3

etta. Fukumura founded the Accompanietta in 2010.

“Boston was able to react so quickly and help everyone, and the way that they did is really something special,” Fukumura said. “I just wanted to do something … to contribute.”

Fukumura said the orchestra featured members of the community from all over the Boston area.

“I believe this was an all-time high number of participants because people wanted to support the cause,” he said. “It’s familiar people as well as some new people who I have never met. Even some members of the staff joined us, and they are from all around Boston.”

Boston residents joined with BU students to watch the flash mob and to honor the community coming together on the anniversary of the bombings.

“It’s a great way to give back and to play for the community while commemorating something that was very hard for the city and the people to experience,” said Carolyn Regula, a CFA junior and orchestra member.

Regula said the bombings had a devastating impact on the BU

community because it happened so close to campus.

“It really hit close to home for me, because even though I’m not from Boston, I consider it to be my second home,” she said. “It [the flash mob] is a way to show that we recognize that occurrence, but we are not going to let it destroy us or define us in a way.”

Ang Gao, a senior in CFA, said bringing the flash mob and performance to the BUMC was an appropriate way to honor the anniversary of the marathon.

“It was really touching for me because it just happened a year ago, so everything is pretty fresh,” she said. “Hearing the music kind of reminded me of that time.”

Graham Boswell, a CFA senior, said he played in Tuesday’s performance out of his love for Boston.

“CFA musicians are sort of in an ivory tower all the time, hidden away in the practice rooms in the basement for hours, so any opportunity to bring some joy to people and connect to people is really valuable to us,” he said.

“The character of our town really reflected well on us and on the way that people responded to the bombing.”

Elmore: Bombing anniversary lends BU opportunity to reflect Counseling: From Page 1

said. “That is my advice — know yourself.”

The anniversary of the bombings is an opportunity for people to reflect about what happened, Elmore said.

“Take a moment for yourself over the course of the next few weeks,” he said. “Figure out — what is it that is important for you to make you continue to have hope and to have a spirit of hope and an orientation of hope for yourself?”

Several students said counseling services are useful for those affected by tragedy.

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Sean Matuszak said

group discussions were an important service to offer.

“The memories might be fresh.

Some people are probably still worried,” Matuszak said. “Some people might still be a little uneasy and nervous so it might be good to get a whole bunch of people together and help out.”

Michelle Predi, a junior in CAS, said people were deeply affected by the bombings and should be able to express their feelings about the tragedy.

“Feelings are always brought up anew around the anniversary of an event like this,” she said. “It [counseling] is a good idea, especially because we … also have to try to keep the culture of Marathon Monday alive.”

fusion as a mental health problem,” he said. “Political pressure may cause them to change what they exactly call it, but it is a mental health problem.

What other mental illness is treated by amputated parts of the body?”

Kara Coredini, executive director of MassEquality, said their organization is appreciative of Wu, Pressley and Walsh for their efforts to improve gender equality in the city.

“This ordinance is about fairness,” she said in a Tuesday email.

“It’s in line with Boston’s existing nondiscrimination protections for transgender people in employment, housing and public accommodations,

and it’s just the Commonwealth’s latest step toward ensuring that discrimination is eliminated. Studies have shown that ensuring equity in health care coverage for transgender individuals improves and saves lives.”

Several residents said they support the efforts made toward gender equality, but not everyone feels the city should pay for city workers’ choices.

Cheyenne Clayton, 23, of Dorchester, said city taxpayers should not have to be responsible for the decisions of other people.

“That’s a personal choice,” he said. “You’re born one way, and however you choose to turn out, that’s personal, and it’s a personal ex-

pense, not a necessity.”

Dakota Matthess, 19, of Allston, said he is in favor of the ordinance, and he is curious to see if the city government expands their insurance to cover other programs in the future.

“That’s how it should be,” he said.

“People should be equal and have a chance to be however they want to be.”

Ava Kirsch, 25, of Fenway, said the inclusion of gender reassignment programs in the health insurance plans of city works is the first step toward demolishing gender inequality.

“I’m all for it,” she said. “I am quite sick of the gender binary. People should be able to do whatever they want.”

Student: Women’s voices should not be ignored Women: From Page 3

Indrasena said female BU students were also concerned about robberies as well as a “party culture,” where women are at risk of being taken advantage.

“Many times it is hard for women, especially college women, to make the changes they want to make due to the outside pressures we have to endure,” she said.

Naomi Spungen, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said she hopes the workshops would address issues women face in the workplace.

“There should be discussion about how women can identify when they’re being slighted and when they’re not receiving equal treatment as their male cowork-

ers,” she said, “or how women can go about negotiating to get raises if they think that they’re not receiving fair compensation for their work because of their gender.”

Spungen said she was proud of the Women and Leadership Festival’s mission for aiming to empower women.

“People should be reminded that they have a voice and that whatever position they’re qualified for they should be able to assume regardless of what their gender is,” she said.

CAS junior Helen Petty said including males in the event could be productive.

“It’s also a male-dominated leadership society,” she said. “It would be beneficial to incorporate dialogue amongst all college stu-

dents, not necessarily just women, because everyone’s in the same boat for leadership positions when we get out in the world.”

Tori Hanley, a sophomore in CAS, said she expects the festival would be a success.

“We have a lot of strong feminists and a ‘go girls’ vibe on campus, and it [female empowerment] is definitely something that should be addressed,” she said. “Self-motivation, finding yourself, being able to know that you can be a leader and finding that confidence is important for anyone.”

The festival will be held at 1 Silber Way, and is open to all women, regardless of their affiliation with BU. Attendees can register at www. efli-life.org/bostonu.

I honestly believe that a certificate from Boston University holds great weight, because the standards are much higher. The attorneys who taught our classes were extremely knowledgeable about their specific areas of law. I made some connections among the faculty, broadened my understanding of law, and gained a better footing in my field.”

— SHANNON HOGAN, BU certificate awarded 2011

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Belly laughs for empty stomachs: Liquid Fun raises money for Greater Boston Food Bank Stacy Schoonover

T

his past weekend, Boston University comedy improvisation group Liquid Fun hosted its 9th annual 24-Hour Comedy Marathon, called Running on Empty, at BU Central. The Comedy Marathon featured a lineup of 10 college groups, two high school troupes and a whole lot of laughter from 7 p.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday.

“We try to stay up all night and participate in hosting groups from all over New England, including performers from Improv Boston and Improv Asylum,” said Ross Huston, member of Liquid Fun and College of Communication junior. “It’s wild, wonderful and a ton of fun.”

Groups with names such as Stroopwafel, Dead Serious and Cheap Sox each had 30 minutes to perform. One after the other, different troupes graced the stage and brought something new to the audience.

“Improvisation has developed its own unique and enthusiastic culture which I think deserves ample recognition, enjoyment and celebration,” said Pablo Milla, a member of Emerson College’s Stroopwafel. “I love doing comedy amongst its specific culture of improvisers and comedians who appreciate the craft.”

Liquid Fun loves interacting with the other comedy groups in Boston, too.

“Tons of great groups from around Boston come to take part,” said Elizabeth Cross, member of Liquid Fun and Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences junior.

“It’s an awesome opportunity to meet and share different forms of comedy with each other, laugh ourselves silly, stay up too late and do it all for the sake of a great cause.”

Not only did the Comedy Marathon provide an entire day of entertainment and laughter, it also benefited the Greater Boston Food Bank.

“It’s become a Liquid Fun staple,” Cross said. “The community looks forward to this event every year and I’m glad we can continue to carry it on.”

Courtney Johanson, director of marketing communications at the Greater Bos-

Spotlight Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF COREY BITHER

Members of Boston University’s Liquid Fun comedy troupe play improvisation games in BU Central for the 9th annual 24-Hour Comedy Marathon.

ton Food Bank, said fundraisers like these help achieve their objective of distributing enough food to provide at least one meal a day to those in need.

“These donations are important because with every $1 donated, we can provide enough food to provide three nutritious meals to families in need across eastern Massachusetts,” she said. “GBFB works very efficiently, so that 92 cents of every dollar donated is put directly toward hunger relief efforts.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF COREY BITHER

BU’s Liquid Fun group improvs onstage, raising money for the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Johanson said donations allow the Greater Boston Food Bank to purchase high quality, nutrient-rich food items that support healthy lives and healthy communities. She also said volunteers are very important to support the Greater Boston Food Bank mission.

“There are three ways to get involved: donating money, time or food,” she said. “Financial contributions can go a long way and every little bit helps and makes a difference.

Volunteers are very important because they save us nearly $1 million. We could not do what we do without our volunteers.”

While Liquid Fun shows during the year are usually free, the Comedy Marathon is an exception where the group encourages audience members to donate.

“We have a suggested donation of $5, but we also include opportunities during the show for people to give,” Huston said. “One of our favorites is Ammunition Hour, during which performers tell really lame endgame jokes and encourage audience members to buy $1 plastic balls to toss at them. It’s bad jokes for a good cause.”

Cross said they try to make donating fun by having opportunities for the audience to participate in the show and win prizes throughout the night.

“The longer you stay, the more you pay, the better your prizes! It’s all in good fun,” she said.

This is the fourth year Liquid Fun has worked with the Greater Boston Food Bank, and members said the charitable aspect makes the Marathon more meaningful.

“It is a wonderful organization that has been nothing but cooperative and kind to us in making the event a reality,” Huston said.

“It was a wonderful idea of the folks a few years ago to make the Comedy Marathon a charitable event. Before, it was still a cool 24-hour comedy event, but now it means a lot more.”

Milla agreed and said, “In this Improv Marathon, artists are given a window of opportunity to do what they love doing most in

yet another venue, but for the sole purpose of doing something right,” she said.

While the Comedy Marathon is all fun and games, Huston said participants still understand how their jokes and laugher are all for a larger cause.

“Hunger is an issue that is important to tackle because it is an easy one to overlook and take for granted at BU,” he said. “Raising awareness is something that makes this event so cool. For people like me who don’t go out and give back that often, it provides an opportunity to work with your best friends and other people with similar interests, all while making a difference in the city.”

Cross said she believes that hunger is a local issue that BU students and Americans sometimes overlook.

“Hunger is an issue that isn’t always at the forefront of our minds and we can sometimes take it for granted as less urgent in a country like America,” she said. “Even in the Boston area, food insecurity is deeply felt. No one should have to make the decision between heating and food, or paying for healthcare and dinner.”

But even though the members of Liquid Fun understand the seriousness of the issues, they keep things at the Comedy Marathon light-hearted and focus on attendees having a great time.

“My favorite part of the Marathon is just how loopy everyone gets from the [sleep] deprivation,” Huston said. “There are some truly incredible moments where, because they’re all going through the same sleepy struggle, the groups just bond and share oneof-a-kind experiences.”

Cross said the comedy crowd in Boston is great and that all the groups are really supportive of each other.

“I like reuniting with guest performance groups we’ve had join us in the past, as well as the chance to work with other BU comedy groups,” she said. “It’s always such a great feeling to be part of such a fun-loving community.”

6

Opinion

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The Daily Free Press

My visit to Tiananmen Square

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University 44th year F Volume 86 F Issue 46

Kyle Plamtz, Editor-in-Chief Brian Latimer, Managing Editor

Drew Schwartz, Campus Editor

Felicia Gans, City Editor

Andrew Battifarano, Sports Editor

Taryn Ottaunick, Opinion Editor

Clinton Nguyen, Multimedia Editor

Emily Zaboski, Photo Editor

Hannah Landers, Features Editor

Kimberly Rendon, Layout Editor

Shakti Rovner, 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 © 2014 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Self-rehabilitation

In 1999, Cornealious ‘Mike’ Anderson robbed a St. Louis Burger King. He was convicted and condemned to 13 years in a Missouri state prison. He posted bail, filed an appeal and after the appeal failed, then waited in his home for law enforcement to arrest him to enforce his sentence. However, the arrest came a tad bit later than expected — 14 years, to be exact.

After discovering in July 2013 that Anderson never served his sentence, a SWAT team broke into his home to inform him it was time to go to prison. According to the Census Bureau, 130 per 100,000 Missouri residents are convicted of robbery each year. Now, is it fair to those felons that Anderson be pardoned simply because the court ‘forgot’ him?

A clerical error resulted in the State of Missouri neglecting to enforce Anderson’s punishment. Thinking the court changed its mind, Anderson moved on. He got married, had four kids, started a contractor service, built a home and coached his son’s football team. Now Tuesday, Anderson is forced to wait just a little bit longer while the court determines whether he should serve his sentence or continue living the upright life he established in the meantime.

There are two perspectives to consider when looking at Anderson’s situation. Yes, he committed a crime and yes, it is fair and just for those convicted to accept the punishment

issued to them. However, if the court never enforced the punishment he willingly accepted, is it fair and just to hold him accountable for their oversight?

The goal of the U.S. prison system is to rehabilitate each criminal so that he or she exits prison as contributing members of society.

Anderson never tried to leave St. Louis, alter his identity or avoid law enforcement in any serious way. Although the legal system’s snafu never gave him the opportunity to be rehabilitated by a prison, Anderson fulfilled their mission by making those changes on his own.

It may seem unreasonable for Anderson to be relieved of his sentence while other convicted felons sit in prison, but at the same time, who will benefit from him being forced to serve his sentence? Well, his children, wife and employees surely won’t.

As of Tuesday, nearly 20,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org in favor of releasing Anderson from prison. The Burger King manager he robbed so many years ago publicly stated that imprisoning Anderson now would be pointless. To send this man to jail just because it’s ‘fair’ is unfair to the community Anderson has enriched.

After waiting a year in custody, Missouri officials need to make a decision on whether or not to incarcerate him because there is a whole community waiting for him.

The opinions and ideas expressed by columnists and cartoonists are their own and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of The Daily Free Press.

LETTERS@DAILYFREEPRESS.COM

A Semester in shanghai

Tate Gieselmann Beijing is an old city. Compared with the omnipresent bright, neon lights that adorn the mass of skyscrapers in Shanghai, Beijing did not immediately strike me as a thriving metropolis, home to 21 million citizens. Instead of highways elevated above the rest of the city, allowing cars to hurtle around the city four stories up, roads we traveled on in Beijing were close to the ground and lined by trees and bushes. Instead of a trademark skyline, none of Beijing’s notable buildings are skyscrapers.

Monumental works of architecture, such as the Forbidden City, Great Hall of the People and “Bird’s Nest” Olympic stadium, project authority from low to the ground.

Stepping onto Tiananmen Square encapsulated many of my feelings about Beijing. The square itself is absolutely massive, a marble behemoth, which is hard to appreciate by merely standing on it. I walked its length, marveling at the Forbidden City at the square’s end, flanked by the Great Hall of the People and National Museum on either side. The square was particularly busy today, I remarked to my professor.

She responded that it was always this busy.

Despite the feeling of awe I felt stepping onto the square, I couldn’t help being reminded of the history associated with the very plaza I was walking across. Just as Tiananmen Square is located in the direct center of the city, so it has been in the middle of China’s troubled past.

Protests in the square in both 1976 and 1989 were the extent of my education when studying China in high school. The tragedy of the 1989 protest defines the suppressive culture of the Chinese government to the outside world.

No matter what games or international expos occur in China, the world’s focus remains on the Square.

The positive experiences during my trip to Beijing were mostly focused around China’s dynastic past. The Forbidden City and Summer Palace, leftovers from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, played host to our group’s tourism.

In a sign of architectural dominance, the buildings within these landmark sites are painted in lavish royal hues of gold, green and red. Huge carvings of dragons sweep across awnings and magnificent arches hang over every pathway.

In typical Chinese fashion, I was never alone in

my visits: every single inch of space was filled with fellow tourists, most of whom were Chinese visiting from distant provinces to appreciate the culture and history.

In the Qing dynasty’s Summer Palace, the emperors of old oversaw the creation of a manmade lake nearly three times the size of the Forbidden City. As my friend and I sat on the beach enjoying the late afternoon on this lake, a group of Chinese kids around our age approached us. The young men, smiling at us with a combination of humor and genuine interest, asked me to snap a picture of them with my friend.

I practiced my Chinese for a while with our new friends as they posed for a ridiculous photo. I learned that they were from Hebei, a province close to Beijing, and that they had never been far from their home. What’s more, they told me they’d never seen a laowai (foreigner) with red hair, hence their interest in taking a photo with my friend. I learned that they were indeed around our age and that they were currently in the midst of China’s rigorous college entrance examination process. When I told them I hoped they did well, they told me they hoped so as well — they went on to describe to me the weight placed on the testing system in China. If they do not get an exemplary score on their exam, the rest of their life could hang in the balance. To me, they said their score on the entrance exam was the difference between getting into a college and working in a field for the rest of their life.

As I left Beijing, I felt an appreciation for the cultural history of the city as well as the opportunities afforded me as an American. I could run through a number of clichés at this point, but I’m content with saying that while my experiences growing up and going to school in the United States seemed to me inane and sometimes boring, there is always someone who you can talk to that will absolutely flip your perspective on the truths that define your existence.

Tate Gieselmann is a College of Arts and Sciences junior studying abroad in China. He can be reached at tateag@bu.edu.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Response to Teach for America editorial

As an alum of both Boston University College of Communication 2013 and Teach For America D.C. 2014, Thursday’s editorial “To Teach For America or Not to Teach For America” caught my eye. The piece critiques the program that led me to a career in education — one that started at COM, carried me to sixty 1st graders in D.C., then to my work on TFA’s public affairs team. In my current role, I get to take the best of what BU provided me as a communicator and combine it with the best from TFA: a deep understanding of the challenges and possibility in high-needs classrooms.

Last week’s piece offers puzzling logic.

In it, the editors start with a valid assessment of the severe teacher shortage in Hawaii, then close with a call to start hiring veteran teachers.

The implication seems to be that if principals in

Hawaii lose their ability to consider corps members for open positions, a population of veteran teachers would emerge to fill them. This is not the case.

Corps members are just one source of talent for the Hawaii Department of Education — but they’re critical for the hardest-to-fill positions.

Across the country, 83 percent of first-year teachers in low-income schools teach a second year. Ninety percent of our first-year corps members do. Nationally, approximately twothirds of our teachers stay beyond their initial two-year commitment.

TFA corps members and alumni have been partnering with families and advocates in Hawaii since 2006. According to the DOE, Hawaii’s public schools have narrowed the gap in academic outcomes between high-need stu-

dents and non-high needs by 12 percent over the past two years. Rates for on-time graduation, college enrollment and proficiency are all on the rise.

Beyond the illogical argument, most disconcerting is the editors’ reference to the “white savior” complex. This is a sweeping mischaracterization and particularly offensive to the onethird of first-year Hawaii corps members who are Native Hawaiian or Kama’aina.

Fifteen years ago, my career path changed forever when I attended an info session on TFA at the George Sherman Union. A native of the Mississippi Delta, a region of the country with a stark opportunity gap, I remember being struck by how the presenter spoke to my personal conviction that all kids deserve access to an excellent education, no matter their zip code. I’d

always appreciated educators, but that day, I felt a renewed respect for what they do to shape our collective future.

When I arrived in D.C. 10 years ago to teach, I felt the enormity of my responsibility.

My students would be held to the same benchmarks as kids from very different economic backgrounds, but I had to help them get there.

Happily, I had incredible support – both from TFA and from colleagues like Ms. Mann, the teacher next door who coached and inspired me.

There is so much work to be done in our public schools. As a BU alum and one of 20,000 TFA alums still working in education (10,000 still in the classroom), it’s frustrating to see such a casual swipe at this critical work.

Natalie Haskins Laukitis can be reached at nvhaskins8@gmail.com.

Terrier Talk Reflections

As the 2014 Boston Marathon fast approaches, Bostonians have different feelings about what behavior is most appropriate after last year’s tragedy. The FreeP wanted to hear what BU students are planning to do during this year’s marathon.

Here’s what some of them said.

INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS

BY MAYA DEVEREAUX

LAUREN PETRIN

“One of my sorority sisters is running in the race ... but we won’t be heading to the actual finish line to see her.”

-COM sophomore

ALEX JOYNER

TONY CHU

“I am actually not doing anything relating to the marathon.”

-SAR senior

“I am volunteering at the marathon. I applied in February to be a volunteer and heard back about a month later.”

-SMG sophomore

OLIVIA SULIN

“I am going home to celebrate Easter with my family, so I won’t be here for any of the marathon events.”

-CAS junior

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

7

McKay: College basketball now ‘spawning ground’ for pro leagues McKay: From Page 8

players and coaches alike as much as Big East Conference schools like Creighton. Granted, until this year, Creighton was a mid-major.

But they decided to make the jump to the Big East, and had one of the most successful seasons in program history.

I think Watson’s good enough to succeed at Creighton. He might not be All-First Team Big East — he’s generously listed at 5-foot10, he’s not a great 3-point shooter and he turns the ball over at a high rate. But, he’ll get more exposure on a national stage, and perhaps draw more attention from the NBA, NBA Developmental League and international scouts.

In today’s game, that’s really all that major

college basketball is about. The players aren’t student athletes at all. The NCAA is merely a spawning ground for NBA talent, and those not good enough for the NBA are desperate to find somewhere else to play after their college years come to an end.

BU has to examine its standing as a midmajor when it comes to basketball. The size of the school dictates a move to a major conference. Duke University, which plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference, has about 6,000 undergraduates. BU has nearly 16,000. I’m not saying that size of the student body is the only determinant of standing in a conference.

The main problem is that BU, and its students, just don’t really care about basketball compared to how much they care about

hockey. That’s distressing; especially in a city with an NBA team that has the tradition and history of the Boston Celtics.

The hockey team gets far more press than the basketball team, which is strange considering that the hockey team went 10-21-4 and wasn’t close to making the NCAA tournament, while the basketball team went 24-11 and came within one game of making March Madness. Is it just me, or does this not make any sense at all?

So I can’t really blame Watson for leaving, not at all. He was, by any statistical measure, one of the top-10 point guards in the country this year. And no one at BU really cares, outside of the basketball team and a handful of fans. At Creighton, he’ll find a population of

basketball-crazy fans, who will revere him for his exploits and sympathize with his failures.

Basketball players, perhaps more than any other athletes, have a unique, symbiotic relationship with the crowd at a game. Basketball is a free-flowing, fast-paced sport that is at times ruled by momentum.

When a player gets hot, he can turn the tide of a game in a matter of minutes. And the crowd, which is practically right next to the court, creates an atmosphere that rises and falls with each play.

When a great player like Maurice Watson is on a hot streak, the crowd should shower him with appreciation. He couldn’t get that feeling here at BU, and I hope he gets it at Creighton. He deserves it.

Zickel performs well against Loyola Men’s Lacrosse: From Page 8

very efficient on our man-up unit. He’s done a great job, he’s got a real knack for scoring.”

Zickel transitioning to starter role In the absence of the injured freshman goalkeeper Christian Carson-Banister, Polley and the Terriers have gone to freshman backup Tyler Zickel as a temporary replacement.

Zickel has struggled to keep BU in games, as he has allowed 29 goals in the two games he has started. His average of 13.51 goals allowed per game has put increased pressure on the Terriers’ defense. Carson-Banister’s mark was just 10.21 goals allowed per game.

Zickel’s save percentage, .448, is also a step down from Carson-Banister’s coverage of .531 percent.

Yet while his statistics do not match the performances that Carson-Banister delivered, Zickel has stepped in at the roughest stretch of BU’s schedule. The Hudson, Ohio native has had to defend the net in front of the country’s most potent offenses, including that of Loyola and Harvard.

Despite the contrast in statistics between his two goalkeepers, Polley said he is optimistic about Zickel’s play.

“He was terrific against Loyola,” Polley said. “At Harvard he was in a tough spot, he only had one real day of practice. He’s been the backup, so after Christian got hurt he only one day with the starters. “[Harvard] shot the ball really well.

[Zickel] battled and had a nice game. Against Loyola, I thought he played terrific. He kept us in the game in the first half, and I was really proud of the way he played.”

Meegan anchors net for Terriers Women’s Lacrosse: From Page 8

With her unassisted goal in the second half, she extended her point streak to 11 games.

Her classmate and fellow midfielder Ally Adams was also a force on the field. She turned in a career-best day, collecting four points during her hat-trick performance.

She now has 11 points on nine goals and two assists.

To have success for the remainder of the season, BU will need to gain some balance in its attack. Heading into its final two games of the regular season, the Terriers are in the middle of the pack in most offensive categories, sitting in the fifth spot in both goals per game (9.14) and points per game (12.14).

“We’ve identified it [the problem] and we’ve talked a lot about the way to get looks for different people,” Robertshaw said. “We just want our players to want the ball on their sticks and take some chances.

We had a good day in practice today and I’m looking forward to seeing it transition to the game tomorrow.”

On the defensive side of the field, BU has been helped out in net by the duo of freshman Caroline Meegan and senior Christina Sheridan. Last time out it was Sheridan who got the start, playing the first 15:43 before Meegan replaced her.

The freshman came in and did a strong job, stopping 11 Greyhound chances.

In her first year, Meegan has been a force in goal. Her .426 save percentage is good for fourth in in the Patriot League, and her 6.85 saves per game are third-best in the conference.

“It’s been huge for Caroline to go in there and lead our defense,” Robertshaw said. “She’s really steadied our defense and they feel confident with her in cage. It’s not often where a freshman can step up and

lead us in big games, which is a credit to her.”

The trip across the river may provide a challenge for whichever goalkeeper makes the start. The Crimson (7-5) have won three out of their last four games, tallying at least 10 goals in those three victories. This season, Harvard has scored near the 10-goal mark in just about every game, averaging 10.42 per game.

This high-powered offense has been led by attack Marisa Romeo. In just her first year at the collegiate level, the Syracuse, N.Y. native has taken the Ivy League by storm. After being named All-Central New York Player of the year in 2013, she has continued her success with the Crimson, scoring 39 goals through 12 games, which leads both Harvard and the entire Ivy League. In Harvard’s last outing versus Princeton University on April 12, she added two goals in the 15-6 loss.

“There’s not going to be one person that’s going to stop her [Romeo], it’s going to have to be a team effort,” Robertshaw said. “We’re definitely aware of her. We’ve watched video of her a few times. It’s going to be a team job to slow her down and limit her chances on net.”

Another underclassman, sophomore Alexis Nicolia, has also been a large contributor to the offense this season. A year after scoring 23 goals for the Crimson, Nicolia has put up similar numbers in 2014, and has 17 goals and seven assists thus far.

Despite struggling lately against highscoring offenses, the Terriers feel confident going into their matchup versus another potent attack.

“Today we had a good breakthrough on how we want to play,” Robertshaw said.

“The team definitely feels good going into tomorrow.”

Follow us on Twitter: @DFPsports

MICHELLE JAY/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Sophomore midfielder Ally Adams now has recorded nine goals this season.

PL-leading 57 errors hurt BU Softball: From Page 8

The Terriers’ defensive troubles Saturday epitomize their play in the field so far this season.

BU is tied with Colgate University for the Patriot League lead in errors with 57.

The team also has the third-worst fielding percentage in the league (.950).

“I think we had a good stretch of defense during that 13-game streak when [sophomore pitcher] Lauren [Hynes] was in the circle,” Gleason said. “We had a little lapse on Saturday, but I think it comes

down to focus.”

The team defense has certainly improved as the season has gone on, though.

They only committed one error in their latest game against Holy Cross and only had one during a game against Dartmouth College on April 9.

“I think we weren’t focusing on communicating,” she said. “We didn’t attack the ball and that led to a couple errors on Saturday. But again, it’s all about the focus from the players, and we did a good job on Sunday and hopefully we’ll do it again.”

“

“

Quotable

It’s not often where a freshman can step up and lead us in big games, which is a credit to her.

-BU coach Liz robertshaw on the play of goalie Caroline Meegan

page 8

Foul Shots

Sports

APRIL SHOWERS

The Daily Free Press

The BU softball team had its game against UMass canceled due to inclement weather, P.8.

[ www.dailyfreepress.com ]

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Rain cancels softball for 8th time in 2014 subject to weather delays, Gleason said she believes that this team has the mental toughness to endure these changes and handle them well.

“They [the team] wanted to play today,” Gleason said. “You get prepared to play and just wait for the call, so I think they’re very flexible to anything that occurs.”

No more Mo

Close losses

Patrick McKay

The fact that guard Maurice Watson Jr. even came to Boston University is a bit of a surprise to begin with. Coming out of high school, Watson was one of the top-100 players in the country, according to ESPN. He had offers from Texas Tech University and Princeton University, among other schools.

But he came to Commonwealth Avenue and immediately became the Terriers’ primary point guard and best ballhandler, supplanting team leader D.J. Irving in both roles. In his freshman year in 201213, Watson averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. This season, he improved every facet of his game, averaging 13.3 points, 7.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He also shot an strong 49.5 percent from the field.

After the regular season, he was named a member to the First Team All-Patriot League.

Watson recently announced that he will transfer from Boston University to Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He’ll have to sit out the 2014-15 season, as per NCAA rules.

What does the loss of Watson mean to Boston University? Well, the Terriers are losing the best point guard they’ve had in quite a long time. And it’s not like Irving will be able to reprise his point guard role; he’s graduating. BU fans, the miniscule number that actually go to basketball games, won’t get to see the sheer chaos and energy that Watson injects into a fast break ever again. I’ve never seen someone that fast in person. He runs like he has a jetpack strapped to his ass. That’s the biggest thing I’ll miss about Watson; on every miss by the opponent (and some made baskets too) he runs as if he is being chased by wolves, weaving in-and-out between defenders and consistently making the right play while the opponent is caught off-guard.

More importantly, Watson’s decision to transfer is representative of the plight of the mid-major school nowadays. BU, as a midmajor, just isn’t as attractive for

McKay, see page 7

SARAH FISHER/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Senior shortstop Brittany Clendenny has a team-leading 35 RBI in 2014.

By Michael Joscelyn Daily Free Press Staff

Ailing the Boston University softball team this season is a propensity for games to get canceled or postponed due to weather.

The Terriers (20-18, 5-4 Patriot League) were set to take on the University of Massachusetts-Amherst on Tuesday afternoon before high winds and strong rain in the Boston area prevented the game from taking place.

“It’s just things we can’t control, we can’t control the weather,”

said BU coach Kathryn Gleason.

“We’re just picking out the positives, like we have another day to rest. We gave them a day of rest because we’re at the point of the season where those are so few and far between.”

Since the start of the season, the weather has prevented the Terriers from playing on eight occasions, last year there were 11 of these instances. However, this year’s team still has a significant portion of the season to go.

Whether or not the games are

W Lacrosse @ Harvard, 7 p.m.

Defensive miscues

softBall, see page 7

By Andrew Battifarano and Justin Pallenik Daily Free Press Staff

Looking to get back into the win column for the first time in two weeks, the Boston University women’s lacrosse team will head to Cambridge Wednesday night where the Terriers will face off with Harvard University.

The Terriers (6-8, 4-3 Patriot League) started off their first year in the Patriot League with a good run, winning its first four games in their new conference. But after the strong beginning, BU has encountered a bumpy road of late, dropping its last three games, all Patriot League contests. Though the team has already clinched a spot in the conference tournament, the Terriers are seeking some momentum heading into the postseason.

“We need to focus on our game plan and how we should be playing as a team,” said BU coach Liz Robertshaw. “That’s been a focus for us the past couple days. We’re trying to work out the kinks in our system and feel good about the game that we’re playing both offensively and defensively.”

In the team’s last contest against No. 14 Loyola University-Maryland, the Greyhounds (11-4, 7-0 Patriot League) came out strong on the attack and took an early lead. On the strength of sophomore midfielder Jill Horka, the Terriers pulled within four goals with over 25 minutes left in the second half of the contest.

But Loyola proved to be too much in that contest, and eventually pulled away at the end of the second half with seven unanswered goals to close out the game for a 19-8 win.

The loss for the Terriers was not devoid of bright spots, as Horka continued her stellar play.

WoMen’s lacrosse, see page 7

Men’s lacrosse continues struggles against ranked teams

By Alex Rozier Daily Free Press Staff

While struggling to find its identity in its first year as a program, the Boston University men’s lacrosse team has had to endure battles with some of the nation’s premier teams.

In their last three games, the Terriers (1-11, 1-6 Patriot League) have played No. 16 the U.S. Military Academy, No. 20 Harvard University and No. 1 Loyola University-Maryland.

BU’s 8-7 loss to the Black Knights (8-3, 6-1 Patriot League) on April 5 was the only one of these matchups the Terriers got to play at Nickerson Field. Army has challenged for the top spot in the Patriot League all season, and it stands second only to the Greyhounds (11-1, 7-0 PL). The Black Knights have

achieved impressive results this season, including a 6-5 win against No. 17/20 Lehigh University and a close 7-6 loss on the road to the nation’s top-ranked Loyola.

The Crimson (7-5) posed no less a challenge, as they topped the Terriers 14-9 in Cambridge on April 8.

Harvard is tied for first place in the Ivy League, and strengthened its reputation with a 14-9 win at No. 12 Cornell University on April 5.

Finally, BU met its toughest opponent of the season on April 12 in Loyola, which dominated the Terriers at Nickerson Field, 15-6.

In addition to being the country’s top-ranked team, the Greyhounds still lead the Patriot League without having lost a game in conference play. Loyola has rolled over top teams such as Towson University,

No. 2 Duke University and Lehigh (10-4, 5-2 Patriot League) with an average winning margin of 10 goals per game.

“Army’s terrific, and they’re a very complete team, the same with Harvard,” said BU coach Ryan Polley. “But Loyola is just at another level as far as their skill level and their athleticism and their speed.

That was certainly a challenge, and our guys battled for a full game.

Their depth took over and they made some plays.”

Friday, April 18

Saturday, April 19

The Bottom Line

Wednesday, April 16

In its last game, BU overcame the College of the Holy Cross in an 11-1 victory to snap a four-game losing streak.

During that losing stretch though, the Terriers lost several close games, including two games by one run, one game by two runs and one game by three runs.

“Again, we just talked about controlling what we can control and focusing on what we can focus on,” Gleason said of the close games. “We’re not trying to do too much and we’re just saying what is your part, what is your role and going out and doing that.”

In their second game against the Crusaders (7-16, 5-4 Patriot League) Saturday, the Terriers committed four errors during the game. But after taking the lead in the top of the seventh after an RBI single by senior shortstop Brittany Clendenny, the Terriers allowed the home team to score twice in the bottom of the frame to walk off with the 6-5 victory over BU. The game before walk-off loss, the Terriers narrowly fell in a 4-2 contest, getting burned by a three-run third inning. Even with the close losses during the series, Gleason said she was pleased with the way the team came back and responded during the final game.

“I think we rebounded really well on Sunday against Holy Cross and we just have to keep picking ourselves up after games like that,” she said.

W. lacrosse set to make short road trip to Harvard

Thursday, April 17 Softball @ UMass-Lowell, 4 p.m.

No Events Scheduled Donald Trump promised to buy the Buffalo Bills. Bills fans already cleaned out their desks in preparation.

Tenney valuable in latest efforts In his last two games, redshirt freshman attack Sam Tenney has recorded four goals, eight shots and four ground balls to boost his

Softball @ Colgate, 12 p.m., 2 p.m.

W Lacrosse vs. Bucknell, 1 p.m.

M Lacrosse @ Holy Cross, 6 p.m.

already impressive first-year campaign.

“The most impressive thing to me is that he [Tenney] was ready to go,” Polley said. “He never complained about the situation early in the season when he wasn’t getting a ton of playing time, and when he got the opportunity he took full advantage of it.”

Tenney has grown into a focal point for the Terriers’ offense, as the Providence, R.I. native now leads the team in goals with 15, and shot percentage at .385. He is also tied for second in the conference in man-up goals with 0.42 per game.

“When [freshman attack] Pat Myers went down, Sam immediately stepped up,” Polley said. “He’s

Men’s lacrosse, see page 7

Sunday, April 20 Softball @ Colgate, 12 p.m.