4-28-2014

Page 1

The Daily Free Press [

Year xliv. Volume lxxxvi. Issue LI

BULLY-FREE

Massachusetts Gov. signs bill to combat bullying, page 3.

Monday, April 28, 2014 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

METHA-DO

Companies to increase coverage plans for methadone patients, page 5.

]

www.dailyfreepress.com

SWEPT AWAY

Softball racks up wins against Harvard, Lafayette, page 8.

WEATHER

Today: AM cloudy/High 57 Tonight: Cloudy/Low 43 Tomorrow: 47/42 Data Courtesy of weather.com

Body of missing BU grad recovered from Boston Harbor University-wide By Drew Schwartz Daily Free Press Staff

The body of Eric Munsell, a Boston University graduate who was first reported missing in February, was found Wednesday in Boston Harbor adjacent to 66 Long Wharf. At about 12:27 p.m. Wednesday, Boston Police Department officers and members of BPD’s Harbor Patrol Unit responded to a radio call for a body found in the water on the north side of 66 Long Wharf, BPD confirmed. Officers and officials from the Boston Fire Department then removed the body, which medical examiners identified Thursday as 24-year-old Munsell, a 2012 College of Engineering graduate. BPD officials said they are actively investigating the facts and circumstances of the incident. Munsell was last seen on Feb. 8 at about 11:30 p.m. celebrating his birthday with coworkers and fellow BU alumni at Market Lounge, a bar in the Financial District located at 21 Broad St. A bouncer at the bar removed Munsell after he tripped and fell on his way to the bathroom. Munsell, who was known by friends and family to walk when within close proximity of his home, lived in the North End about 10 minutes away from where he was last seen. “It is just terribly sad,” said BU spokesman Colin Riley. “It just breaks your heart. I’m sure it brings some closure, but it’s not what anyone wanted to hear.” “I’m sure police will look into it, but it just

mass remembers deceased freshman By Stephanie Pagones Daily Free Press Staff

and technological innovation. The United States and other developed nations should strengthen their relationships with less developed countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Zaman said. “The provocative lesson I want to leave with is not what BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India and China] has to learn from the developed world, but what the developed world has to learn from BRICS,” he said. It is often difficult for countries at all stages of development to offer high-quality health care at an affordable price, Zaman said. “When you think about ... the issue of maintaining a certain level of quality in the healthcare system without breaking the bank, there is a lot for the United States and for Europe to learn,” he said. Imran Gungordu, a College of Engineering

At a memorial mass held at Marsh Chapel Saturday afternoon to honor the life of Diego Fernandez Montes, a Boston University freshman killed during a robbery in Mexico City, members of the BU community reflected on Fernandez’s exceptional character and involvement at the university. The life of the first-year economics major was commemorated through a small reception, followed by a university-wide mass led by Father David Barnes. About 75 people, including students, the Fernandez family, Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore and Dean of Marsh Chapel Rev. Robert Hill attended the ceremony. “Even though time has passed, I know we all feel Diego’s death as still very near to us,” Barnes said in his homily. “In the Christian life, the candle represents Christ’s light of the world, but it doesn’t immediate expel all darkness. Today, we all feel the darkness, the weight of sorrow, the weight of pain, as we remember Diego’s life.” Barnes spent most of his homily discussing the significance of the light that emanates from the ceremonial candle in the front of the Church. The candle, a symbol of the omnipresence of the light of the Lord, begins to expel the darkness and the sadness surrounding the loss of life, Barnes said. “Death seems so final. It seems impossible to believe there is anything beyond that, but that light will shine through,” he said. “As Christians, we believe death is not the last word in Diego’s life. In his soul, that little light will begin to flicker, and there is great power in that light.” Barnes chose not to speak about the sadness of Fernandez’s tragic death and instead said while Fernandez may not be with us now, his loved ones will be with him again in due time. “Today I would not attempt to say anything to try to expel the darkness, the sadness and the pain. That’s not the way God works,” he said. “In our mourning, in these days, weeks, months and years, little-by-little the light of the Lord will console us and help us know that we will see Diego again. Not only was Fernandez active in the BU community, but also in the lives of his friends and family, several students said.

Pardee, see page 2

Fernandez, see page 2

MAYA DEVEREAUX/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The body found Wednesday near Boston Harbor’s Long Wharf has been identified by Boston Police as Eric Munsell, the Boston University graduate student who was reported missing since Feb. 8.

was very sad news to hear today,” Riley said. “Here he is, he’s a recent grad, 2012, and just had his life in front of him. It’s so sad.” More than 100 people attended a vigil for Munsell about a month after he was reported missing. The vigil was held March 1 at Long Wharf, where Munsell’s body was recently found.

Those who attended wore ribbons and lit candles in Munsell’s memory. Munsell’s family, friends and fellow alumni spoke at the vigil of his positive attitude, selflessness and sense of responsibility. Attendees then walked with Munsell’s father Keith to the New England

Munsell, see page 2

Task force presents findings on higher ed. in developing nations By Jaime Bennis Daily Free Press Staff

Members of Boston University’s new Pardee Center Task Force on Higher Education and Innovation in Emerging Economies held a series of panels Thursday in the Metcalf Trustee Center that allowed students and other attendees to explore innovation capacity as it relates to the emerging economies of Turkey, India, Russia, China and Brazil. “Boston University perhaps has done less than many other institutions in terms of engagement with higher education partners in these countries,” said Muhammad Zaman, the conference’s organizer and associate chair of the biomedical engineering department’s undergraduate program. “The are institutions that are expanding all over the world, and Boston University hasn’t done that. But that doesn’t mean that there is no global agenda.” The conference was co-hosted by the Freder-

ick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the LongerRange Future and the Peace Islands Institute, an organization that promotes unity, education and progress in society. “We believe that education and innovation in emerging countries is very important,” said Murat Kaval, chief executive officer of the Peace Islands Institute. “There have been a lot of good methods, innovations and practices that can be an inspiration for developing counties all over the world. For that reason, we brought in expertise from different countries and within Boston University.” Zaman moderated a panel featuring Faith University Professor Ali Coskun, fellow at Harvard University’s Program on the Legal Profession Mihaela Papa and Principal Scientist of Innovation and Knowledge Economy at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Hannes Toivanen, which addressed economies in developing countries as well as education, healthcare

Walsh hosts Reddit Ask Me Anything, gets young residents involved in government By Felicia Gans and Alicia Winton Daily Free Press Staff

In an effort to continue using social media to communicate with residents from all neighborhoods, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh held a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, his first questionand-answer session of that kind. The Reddit session, which took place Thursday, covered a variety of topics, including the legalization of medical cannabis facilities, the prospect of a city-controlled liquor license process, the introduction of Google Fiber to the city, the formation of a transportation committee and an appreciation and support for the arts. “I have and will continue to participate in different types of open forums, be it in person or in the world of technology,” he said in a statement Friday. “The exchange of ideas, expression of concerns and posing of important questions are critical to the ongoing development of this City.” The mayor, who responded to the questions on the Reddit forum for 30 minutes, answered a variety of policy-based and personal questions, revealing his love for Legal Sea Foods and his

ability to understand Gaelic when spoken to. Throughout the AMA session, he also outlined his goals for the city over the coming months. “My priorities include strengthening the economy and job creation; improving public safety and combating gun violence; making sure that Boston’s public schools help all our children to succeed; increasing access and transparency in city government; and making sure that when Boston does well, ALL of Boston does well,” he said in his introduction prior to beginning the Reddit forum. One of the topics brought up by Reddit users on the forum was the proposed change to the process of liquor licensure in the city. City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley proposed legislation in March that would eliminate the city’s liquor license quota and give the city the power to appoint members to the Licensing Board. “The Boston Licensing Board could decide whether or not, at any moment, if any particular neighborhood needs licenses,” said

Walsh, see page 2

EMILY ZABOSKI/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh took part in his first-ever Ask Me Anything session for 30 minutes on Reddit Thursday where he answered questions concerning everything from ongoing projects to food preferences.


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