The Daily Free Press [
Year xli. Volume lxxxii. Issue lxxxxvii.
BAT LAB RISES Without professor in lab, team continues work, page 3
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University
GONE, GONE GLUTEN Dining Services becoming more allergy friendly, page 5
College grads to see rise in job openings soon, study suggests By Samantha Tatro Daily Free Press Staff
College students looking for jobs after graduation may be in luck despite the economy, according to new studies. Employers are expected to hire up to 10.2 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2012, according to a press release on a study by The National Association of Colleges and Employers. That is a 9.5 percent increase from the projected value conducted in September, according to the press release. NACE’s Job Outlook 2012 Spring Update Survey suggests this is the second consecutive year that employers have raised their hiring expectations, according to the press release. The average number of jobs posted by respondents is up 10.5 percent from 105 in 2011 to 116 currently. “The evidence strongly points to a better labor market than we have had in the last few years,” said Boston University economics Professor Kevin Lang in an email. But the market is still “not good,” he said.
“Since for the last few years many graduates have been going on to continued studies in order to avoid entering the job market at a bad time, there is likely to be increased competition for the growing number of jobs,” Lang said. Andrea Koncz, an employment information manager at NACE, said the market “looks positive” this year. “We’re hoping that [the market] will continue to improve,” Koncz said. “When we ask these same employers for the fall of next year, they plan to hire more graduates in the fall, which is another good sign.” Another survey from Michigan State University’s Collegiate Employment Research Institute found “total hiring across all degrees will expand by 4 percent this year.” “The college labor market continues to expand opportunities but at a more moderate rate than last year,” according to the Recruiting Trends 2011-12 study. Dr. Phil Gardner, director of the Collegiate
College Grads, see page 2
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DOWN DOGS
M. hockey’s season of ups, downs in review, page 8
WEATHER
Today: Sunny, High 61 Tonight: Clear, Low 43 Tomorrow: 70/48 Data Courtesy of weather.com
WATER BREAK
A runner pours a cup of water on himself to cool down during the 2012 Boston Marathon on Monday. This photo, taken by Matt Pollack, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, is the winner of The Daily Free Press’ 2012 Marathon Monday Photo Contest.
Negative press not affecting job prospects for BU students City rarely explored By Jen Janiak Daily Free Press Staff
Despite the recent negative press surrounding Boston University, officials said students in search of jobs and internships may not be affected. “I think we’ve seen increased activity from employers this year,” said Eleanor Cartelli, associate director for marketing and communication at the Center for Career Development. Despite charges against two hockey players for sexual assault among other incidents, employers remain interested in recruiting BU students. “I think [this is] because more employers are in a position to have more positions as the economy is recovering,” Cartelli said. Employers need only look at their employees who are BU alumni to see the skills graduates bring to the work force, said BU spokesman Colin Riley. “Employers are looking at their current
employees that are BU alums, they know that these are outstanding, well-educated, creative, talented, hard-working individuals,” Riley said. “They see the courses and the achievement level in their work.” Riley said it is important to remember the media serge represented a select number of individuals, not all of BU. “At the end of the day, everyone realizes they’re looking at a very small number of individuals who have been in the headlines,” Riley said. “The school is handling it consistently as we do any violation of the code of student responsibilities.” Patrick Monaghan, vice president of operations at InkHouse, said a school’s reputation would not affect a student’s performance in the marketplace. “We are a public relations agency and [BU has] a great school of communication and public relations program,” Monaghan said. InkHouse is based in Waltham. The com-
pany will be one of 90 employers present at the Just-in-Time Career Fair April 23. “All universities have their challenges, and I don’t necessarily believe that it affects the ability of the students to potentially perform in the job market,” Monaghan said. College of Arts and Sciences junior Catherine Conlin said she does not think BU’s negative portrayal in the media will hinder her chances of getting accepted to a medical school across the country. “Maybe if I [applied] in Boston, if I had a job in Boston, but I’m from North Dakota, so I don’t know if word would get back up there,” Conlin said. The negative press had more personal repercussions for Vickie Ha, a Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences freshman, she said. “I have a lot of younger cousins who are in high school, and they’re applying to col-
Press, see page 4
Red Sox games hold record for costliest baseball tickets in country By Mary Yatrousis Daily Free Press Staff
RACHEL PEARSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Two fans buy tickets for Tuesday night’s Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
In the Hub, attending the Boston Ballet or the Boston Symphony Orchestra is cheaper than going to a Red Sox game. Red Sox tickets are the most expensive tickets in baseball, said Chris Matcovich, director of Data and Communications at TipIQ.com, a ticket aggregating company that analyzes ticket prices and trends, according to TIME Moneyland. An average home game in Fenway Park costs about $151.10, he said, noting the data comes from analyses of ticket listings from secondary markets. Red Sox tickets’ prices are so high, he said, because of the 100-year-old stadium in which the team plays. “A lot of that [price] has to do with stadium size. . . . The seating is much [greater] in Yankees stadium and many other stadiums – that’s part of the reason,” he said. In addition to playing in a comparatively small stadium, he said, the Red Sox do not have competition within New England. “Some cities or areas can have baseball teams that are closer in proximity,” Matcovich said. “For instance . . . in New York . . . we have the Mets and the Yankees, and that kind
of drove down prices a bit in terms of fans or people having to choose their fandom one way or the other.” Red Sox season ticket holder Michael Kinney, 41, said ticket prices might drop in the future. “Unfortunately [ticket prices are high] because of the size of the ballpark,” he said. “Within the next five years they are going to have to build a new one. It will be tough to see Fenway go away, but we need a new ballpark. A bigger stadium means cheaper tickets.” Despite that speculation, there are no known plans for the Red Sox to build a new home. Prices for secondary-market tickets change based on demand for tickets, with prices climbing to about $305.58 for Opening Day tickets last Friday, according to TiqIQ.com. But “Opening Day is definitely worth it,” said Dana Reite, 41, as he was leaving the game. Kinney said the ticket price is worth it “depending on what team is on the field.” In 2004 and 2007, fans were more willing to pay higher prices – but the Red Sox’ performance in the 2011 season did not justify that same cost. Even though he is a season ticket holder,
Fenway, see page 4
beyond campus life, college students say By Nicole Leonard Daily Free Press Staff
Although Boston offers a plethora of activities for its student population, some college students in the Boston area said they do not explore the city beyond easily accessible areas. When Tufts University sophomore Teighlor Bonner looked at her school during the application process, visiting Boston was not advertised as something students did frequently, she said in an email. “It was actually framed as an ‘option’ rather than something that everyone did on the weekends,” she said. “I remember being told that being close to the city was nice and provided a lot of opportunities for adventures and traveling.” Bonner said although she tries to travel into the city often, it is not something her friends do regularly. “I try to go into the city every weekend, or at least twice a month, but it’s certainly not the norm for my friends,” she said. “I always take the subway into the city and I’ve never taken a bus into Boston.” Bonner said when she goes into the city, she typically visits Boston Common, Newbury Street and the North End. Boston University College of Communication freshman Emilia Johnson said she goes to places such as the North End, Boston Common, Quincy Market, Copley Square or Newbury Street by taking the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line. “I travel around the city every chance I get,” she said. “One of my best friends goes to Suffolk [University], so I meet up with her downtown and we explore the city.” But Johnson said some areas of the city are still confusing, and she has yet to learn how to travel on the other lines of the T system. “The Financial District gets me quite confused and I pretty much only know how to use the Green Line,” Johnson said. Emerson College sophomore Nicky Maggio said he traveled around the city a lot as a freshman, especially when classes were canceled.
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