4-18-2017

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TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY YEAR XLVI. VOLUME XCII. ISSUE XIII.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Kevin Krueger (left), of Florida, wears a blanket as he rests after the race.

PHOTO BY KELSEY CRONIN/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A fan holds up a sign at Kenmore Square to runners who are passing by.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A runner makes his way down to the finish line at the 2017 Boston Marathon.

Citizens from around the globe come together for marathon

BY ALYSSA MEYERS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston locals joined with residents from other Massachusetts cities and communities across the world to support the runners of the 2017 Boston Marathon.

Several marathon goers have personal connections to runners, while others go to honor family traditions. Some who attended the Boston Marathon this year said it was their first time watching the race in person.

Shawn Frenchwood, 39, of Brookline, for instance, said he just moved to the area and has been looking forward to participating in the festivities surrounding the Boston Marathon ever since.

“I’ve never been to the Boston Marathon and wanted to come,” Frenchwood said. “That’s one of the big things I wanted to see since I moved here.”

Fiona Lucas, 56, of Melbourne,

Australia, is also new to the Boston area. She said although she’s only living here for a couple of years, the Boston Marathon is one event she knew she had to attend.

“How could you be in this gorgeous city and not come and watch such an iconic race?” Lucas asked.

Others, such as Tony Putz, 46, of Allston, have been coming to the Boston Marathon for years.

Putz said he’s watched the marathon so many times he’s lost count, but estimated he’s been 12 or 13 times.

“I’m out here because I have a day off work, and I’m with some friends here just enjoying the day, cheering everybody on,” Putz said.

Christopher Thomas, 36, of Haverhill, said he’s been volunteering with the American Red Cross for 10 years and working at the Red Cross medical tents at the Boston Marathon for five.

“We have the same group of people that come together every year in the medical tent and it’s

great camaraderie,” Thomas said.

“It’s a lot of fun to work together and see the same faces year after year and volunteer for the cause.”

Thomas said the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 encouraged him to become even more involved with his volunteer work for the Red Cross.

“I had a couple of friends who were running, my boss was running, his wife and one kid was walking toward the finish line when everything hit the fan,” Thomas said.

“I knew there were so many more things I could do.”

Four years after the bombing took place, several people said they still remember exactly what they were doing when the bombs went off.

Melissa Shumway, 38, of Chandler, Arizona, a police dispatcher for the Chandler Police Department, said she was at work when the attack took place and watched it on television with her coworkers.

This year, she attended the marathon to cheer on a friend, and said

she feels lucky to be in attendance.

“I keep telling my friend that it’s surreal to be here, to be standing right next to this [memorial] wreath, I just keep looking around like it’s crazy,” Shumway said. “The spirit of Boston is amazing.”

Kenia Villa, 24, of Lawrence, said watching the marathon was a tradition in her family until the bombing.

“When I was little we used to watch it every year growing up, and after the Boston bombing, we just didn’t come for the past few years,” Villa said.

Villa said she took up the tradition again this year, bringing her daughter for the first time.

“It’s exciting f or my daughter to get to see this because I got the experience, and now she does, too,” Villa said. “We watch it from beginning to end.”

Villa was not the only member of the crowd who sees the Boston Marathon as a family affair.

Kathleen Ray, 57, of Cincinnati, Ohio, said she’s attending the mar-

athon to show support for her husband Steve, who suffered a heart attack only a few years ago.

“He’s just such an amazing man,” Ray said. “He had a heart attack in 2013, at the age of 50. Since, he’s been so on course to train and says he keeps running from the Grim Reaper. It’s such an honor, and we’re just thrilled to be here.”

Nancy Gapp, 52, of Highland, Michigan, said her son is running the Boston Marathon for the first time, so her family made the trip to Boston not only to see him cross the finish line, but also to experience the marathon with a community of people united in support of the event.

“Boston is awesome,” Gapp said. “It seems ... real close-knit.

We’re all in here together and we’re here to support one another. It’s like a family.”

Shannon Larson, Till Kaeslin, Haley Fritz, Sabrina Schnur and Laney Ruckstuhl contributed to the reporting of this article.

BU students appreciate history of 121st Boston Marathon

BY SOPHIA EPPOLITO DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

On Marathon Monday, Boston University students, along with other Boston residents, lined the streets of Boston to support the thousands of runners competing in this year’s marathon. Although several students said they appreciated the marathon’s long history, many said they were there to have a good time.

Many BU students came out to show their support for the approximately 30,000 runners who ran near BU’s South Campus

and along Commonwealth Avenue in Kenmore for the 121st Boston Marathon. Students gathered in groups and cheered along the track.

Several students explained the importance of them watching the marathon. Matthew Gorab, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he wanted to watch the marathon because of its interconnectedness with the city of Boston.

“It’s such an iconic part of Boston for me and personally, I think it’s a good testimony ... of Boston’s identity,” Gorab said.

“It’s an essential and must if you are in Boston.”

Camille McDaniel, a sophomore in the College of Communication, said she was also looking forward to witnessing this iconic moment because she didn’t live in Boston until coming to BU. “I love the idea of taking part in a Boston tradition, especially since I’m not from here,” McDaniel said. “It’s also so inspiring to see the runners. Twenty-six miles is insane. The atmosphere is amazing, too. Everyone is so supportive and full of energy.”

Kelly Chiang, a sophomore in CAS, said she thinks BU is especially lucky to be so close to the marathon.

“I think it’s a wonderful event,

and it has such a long history,” Chiang said. “It’s just amazing that it goes through campus. It’s a joy every year.”

Kylie Shen, a first-year graduate student in CAS, said she was especially excited to watch the marathon because her uncle is running this year.

“It’s great to get the day off school, but it’s also just so impressive to see people run that distance,” Shen said. “I think it’s pretty incredible.”

Other students who are Boston natives said they appreciated continuing their traditions.

Nadezhda Oleinik, a freshman

in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said she has grown up watching the Boston Marathon, and looks forward to it every year.

“As someone from Boston, I think it’s a great way to unite the city,” Oleinik said. “It’s such a beautiful day to unite together and fight through everything because we’re Bostonians.”

Krushali Shah, a longtime Boston resident, watched the marathon for the first time this year.

“I’ve lived in Boston for years, but this is my first time going CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS

BU remembers Lingzi Lu four years after marathon bombing

BY ALANA LEVENE DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Maxwell Tucker, a sophomore at Boston University, watched the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings from a hospital bed.

All of his friends were moving around the city, but Tucker was confined due to illness.

Phone networks were down, and he could not reach anyone. For the next few hours, as the jumbled details were sorted, Tucker could only wait while the injury and death counts accrued.

Four years later, Tucker, now a Somerville resident, is running his second marathon on behalf of the Lingzi Foundation. After BU first-year Graduate School of Arts and Sciences student Lingzi Lu was killed in the bombings, her family organized the foundation on her behalf to memorialize her positive spirit, her aunt Helen Zhao said. Since the 2014 Boston Marathon, the Boston Athletic Association has granted the foundation about 10 bibs each year to sponsor runners in the race.

“Once everything settled, her parents and I thought it would be a good thing to set up a foundation to keep her spirit alive by doing something good to ref lect her spirit,” Zhao said.

BU Department of Mathematics and Statistics Chair Tasso Kaper said in the wake of the tragedy, Lu’s spirit has not been forgotten.

“I’d say that everybody remembers her for her spirit,” he said. “She was tremendously giving and caring, and she was really smart.”

Kaper, who was also the department chair in 2013, said Lu’s stable, generous personality made her a cherished classmate to her peers.

“She was somebody whom a number of her classmates relied on quite a bit,” Kaper said. “She was a very stable person emotionally, so I know a bunch of her friends came to her for advice and things like that, on personal matters, and on course and program-related issues and topics. She was a very, very stable and level-headed person, very caring of her friends and also giving of her time to help them.”

Not only was Lu a compassionate colleague, she was also an “outstanding student” who went above and beyond standard master’s student expectations, said Kaper.

Typically, master’s students come for two to three semesters and only take on coursework, perhaps adding on a few in-class projects as well, Kaper said. Lu, however, was already conducting research with a group of Ph.D students. “[Lu] was an outstanding student in all of her classes,” he said. “She was extremely thorough in terms of preparing all of her homework and being ready for exams. She did extremely well in her courses. She was a really great all-around student.”

BU statistics professor Luis Carvalho

PHOTO COURTESY WEILONG YOU

Weilong You, 28, of Cary, North Carolina, runs in the Boston Marathon on Monday on behalf of the Lingzi Foundation.

taught Lu in his MA 576 Generalized Linear Models class during the Spring 2013 semester. Carvalho echoed Kaper’s description of Lu as a model classmate.

“She was an excellent student,” he said, citing her color-coded, organized notes.

“As a person, she was quiet but very sweet, very kind. She was very smart, very bright.

A really good student.”

Kaper said Lu’s passing came as a complete shock to the BU community. “[Her passing] was a complete shock.

The probabilities of something like that happening are so small,” he said. “It’s horrible and it’s completely random. I think it took a couple of days for the shock to hit everybody before anybody could even get over it because you also had people trying to figure out what hospitals people were at.”

Kaper said that each year since 2013, he has made an explicit point to hold a moment of silence for Lu during graduation ceremonies.

Kaper and a group of students and faculty visit her grave in Boston each year to commemorate her death. “[Her death] was really tragic for all of us,” he said. “Obviously not nearly as tragic as for her family, but for a number of her fellow students.”

Carvalho said in his classroom, Lu’s absence left a grieving gap.

“People were very, very upset,” he said.

“They missed her very much.”

Carvalho said Lu’s ambition left a legacy that can motivate aspiring students to follow their dreams of coming to the United States to pursue an education.

“I think that [Lu was] a good student who realized what for so many was a dream of coming here to the West,” he said. “She was Chinese and coming here, studying and working hard … She was a very good student, she made good friends and she enjoyed being here.”

Immediately after Lu’s death, BU’s

trustees set up a graduate scholarship in her name, Kaper said. This annual scholarship covers tuition for an international student pursuing a master’s degree.

Outside of the classroom, the Lingzi Foundation and its sponsored runners continue to raise both money and awareness for Lu. Since its establishment, the Lingzi Foundation has strived to “support programs that reflect Lingzi’s passions,” Zhao said.

This includes “her love for food, her love for animals and her academic achievements,” the Rhode Island resident added.

The foundation provides funding for the Boston Police Athletic League, a nonprofit agency that provides programs for Boston’s inner-city youth, Zhao said. The foundation was inspired by one of their sponsored runners from last year who was a Boston Police Department officer.

Last year, Lu’s parents came from China to donate $10,000 to PAL. Zhao said the foundation will continue to fund PAL this year and hopefully set up some scholarships for the kids.

Sponsored runners fundraise on behalf of the foundation on their own, Zhao said.

“Most runners [in years past] have been very touched and honored by the opportunities and were very excited,” Zhao said.

“I’m very honored, and [her family] is very honored that there are many people who want to run on behalf of the foundation.”

Tucker first ran for the Lingzi Foundation in 2015, shortly before his graduation from the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. However, it was not until his Marathon 101 PDP instructor Jennifer Battaglino withdrew from the 2015 race when he saw his opportunity. “[Battaglino] was connected with the foundation and actually had a bib number and was going to run for them, but then got injured and asked me if I wanted her

spot instead,” Tucker said. “I think it was January or February of that year. I agreed, and she gave me her bib number, which was very generous and awesome.”

He credits the foundation with allowing him to run in the race.

Running as a 24-year-old male, Tucker would have to qualify with a time of three hours and five minutes from another race to enter a lottery to enter the Boston Marathon. Having an official Boston Athletic Association charity’s sponsorship waives this requirement for him.

“I would not be able to do it without them, which is why I’m grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “It’s really competitive and difficult. Without the foundation, I definitely would not have been able to do this.”

Tucker said as a member of the BU community in the year that the bombing happened, a current resident and an avid runner, running the Boston Marathon sponsored by the Lingzi Foundation means everything to him.

“I think, sadly, it’s horrible what happened, and it just is really awful, but I’m grateful to be able to contribute to carrying on what she believed in and what she stood for through the foundation,” he said.

“It’s kind of the ultimate, quintessential experience I could ask for, running a marathon because it just has so much … meaning behind it. I’m more happy to do it this way [through the foundation’s sponsorship] than qualifying on my own, because it gives a deeper meaning.

Weilong You, 28, of Cary, North Carolina, also ran in the 2017 Boston Marathon on behalf of the Lingzi Foundation.

He found out about the foundation’s search for runners through a friend’s email and thought it was the perfect opportunity.

“I like to run marathons — Boston is great, and I want to do something to help Lingzi’s family,” he said. “I just feel very lucky and honored to do this. I want people to know about this foundation, what happened to her.”

In contrast to Tucker, he is a seasoned marathon runner and said he has run six marathons before. By running for the foundation, You said he hopes to spread peace and carry on Lu’s positivity and ambition.

“I want to memorialize what a good person she was and let people remember this tragedy that happened,” You said. “I hope more people will know about her and how great of a person she was. I want more people to care about the foundation and what it’s doing to help.”

You said the foundation’s memorialization of Lu’s positive spirit is vital on a large scale.

“One more thing about the meaning for running: what happened to Lingzi, that was a terrorist activity,” he said. “They want to bring us overwhelming fear. They want to divide us. I want solidarity and [to] encourage that as a response to terror. We shouldn’t fear it.”

Students watch marathon, participate in city-wide tradition MARATHON, FROM PAGE 1 to watch, I’m going with my friends,” the CAS freshman said. “The spirit is different today. Everyone has more spirit today, I guess because of their [Boston] pride.”

Several students spoke about their connection to the phrase “Boston Strong,” which became popular after the 2013 marathon bombings.

Sukhwinder Dhillon, a junior in Sargent, said he appreciated the “Boston Strong” message after watching the marathon for the third time. “[Marathon Monday] is one day that Boston as a whole comes together very

united,” Dhillon said. “I guess it also has to do with the bombing that happened with the whole ‘Boston Strong’ message.

It’s a day people get together and love being in Boston.”

Sarah Spiker, a freshman in the College of General Studies, wore a Boston Strong shirt to the marathon to voice her support.

“My brother is a runner, and he’s planning to run the Boston Marathon in the next few years,” Spiker said. “So for me, just being around the race and being here is an energizing feeling. Everyone is really excited regardless of what they’re doing. The city is really energized, and it’s a really good time to be here.”

Other students said they enjoyed being

able to spend the day at the marathon instead of their classes.

Constanza Pena Vitienes, a freshman in COM, said she was excited to witness her first Boston Marathon.

“I love cheering everyone on with friends,” Pena Vitienes said. “I like the beautiful weather today especially.”

Brittany Kinch, a senior in CAS, said she came out to the marathon to take photos for her photojournalism class.

“There’s a breeze, like it’s awesome,” Kinch said. “I’ve never seen the wheelchair race before, so that’s really cool. Like you need a lot of strength, a lot of willpower to do this, so I’m amazed. I’m just really excited to see the

first runners cross because I’ve never seen the first ones, so that’ll be really exciting to see.”

Alexandra Lam, a junior in CAS, volunteered at the marathon on behalf of her sorority.

“We’ve been doing this for a really long time. I know alumnas from 10 years ago who were doing it,” Lam said. “When I heard how big the marathon was, I was really excited to come out and I thought I should be a part of it. The bombing makes me want to volunteer more knowing we still do the Boston marathon after the bombing happened and it’s important to support the runners.”

Alana Levene, Ellie French, Laney Ruckstuhl and Noor Adatia contributed to the reporting of this article.

NEWS 3

Nonprofits work to commemorate Boston Marathon bombing

BY BREANNE KOVATCH DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Nonprofits such as the American Red Cross and Muslims for Life held blood drives in Boston and across the state in honor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing victims and survivors, according to press releases issued by the organizations.

Aly Barraza, the communications manager for the Massachusetts chapter of the Red Cross, said that the Red Cross held blood drives in Boston and Watertown on One Boston Day to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Barraza said the blood drive was a way to recognize and honor those affected by the attack while giving back to the community.

“This is a perfect way on One Boston Day where the community might be looking to give back and find a way to … honor the survivors of the marathon bombing,” Barraza said. “This is just one way where you can give back ... and help save the lives of hospital patients in the future.”

Barraza said the Red Cross plans to continue to demonstrate its involvement in the community after its emergency response to the Boston Marathon bombings four years ago.

“We were very much involved … during the initial aftermath of the attacks and making sure that all hos-

pital patients in need had access to the blood they needed at the right time following the unfortunate events at the finish line,” Barraza said.

There is a great need for blood and blood products across the United States for current hospital patients alone, Barraza said.

“Every two seconds someone needs blood in the U.S.,” Barraza said.

“Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect about 14,000 pints of blood across the U.S. just to meet hospital patient need.”

Muslims for Life, a nonprofit founded by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, also held a blood drive in the city to commemorate the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, said Kashif Chaudhry, the faith outreach director of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Chaudhry said the blood drive had a positive response and welcomed a variety of people from different backgrounds and faiths.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community started Muslims for Life on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center as a way to send a message to the public and to the perpetrators of the attacks, Chaudhry said.

“We want to make it clear that we don’t endorse … [and] we don’t support [acts of terrorism],” Chaudhry said. “Actually, we condemn all kinds of violence in the name of faith and what we do instead is give blood back to people.”

Chaudhry said Muslims for Life

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The American Red Cross and Muslims For Life host blood drives in honor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

was formed to demonstrate that the majority of Muslims are unlike the terrorists who attacked on 9/11 in the name of their faith.

“That is the message that Muslims for Life came up with and that is the message that we wanted to give America,” Chaudhry said. “We are Muslim-Americans and we are not here to hurt anyone, we are not here because we hate anyone.”

Islam stands for the sanctity of life, Chaudhry said, and not for acts of violence and terrorism.

“We love everyone,” Chaudhry said. “We’re here to contribute to society.”

Chaudhry said the Muslims for Life blood drives express the peaceful message of Islam in a powerful way that overshadows the hatred expressed by terrorists.

“[The Marathon bombers] have failed because they tried to take American … blood in the name of [the Islamic] faith,” Chaudhry said.

“But what we’re doing in the name of our faith [instead] is giving back blood in a far greater amount to our fellow Americans.”

Several Boston residents said blood drives are vital for hospital patients, and are a valuable way to honor those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.

Rachel Bingham, 25, of Jamaica Plain, said the Boston Marathon bombings were “a really tragic accident,” and blood donations are necessary to save the lives of hospital patients.

“I actually have had three friends whose lives were saved by blood donations,” Bingham said.

“One was a victim of a firework accident and had to [receive] more than 60 units [of blood] over four to five surgeries.”

Joseph McGlauflin, 65, of Back Bay, said the blood drives are a positive way to inspire people to honor the memory of the bombings four years ago. “[Giving blood is] a way of remembering the tragedy that happened, and you could call that an honor,” McGlauflin said.

James Downing, 31, of South Boston, said giving blood is a crucial way to benefit patients in the community.

“I give blood in platelets over at [Boston Children’s Hospital] where I work, so it’s definitely important [to participate in blood drives],” Downing said.

AML survivor runs Boston Marathon

BY ALYSSA MEYERS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Exactly one year after Timmy Harner was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, he received what many runners would consider the call of a lifetime: he was going to run the 2017 Boston Marathon.

Harner, a 31-year-old from Tower City, Pennsylvania, said when he went for a run on Nov. 2, 2015, he immediately knew he was not keeping up with his usual pace.

“I went out for a run and I made it a block and I felt like I ran a marathon,” Harner said. “Right away, I knew there was something wrong.”

Two days later, Harner went to the doctor for blood work. On Nov. 6, Harner’s doctor told him he was fairly certain Harner had leukemia.

Harner was admitted to the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, had his first bone marrow biopsy and was diagnosed with AML, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, on Nov. 10.

He started chemotherapythe next day, but after several rounds, his doctors said his leukemia was so aggressive the only thing that would save his life was a bone marrow transplant.

While Harner was hospitalized, one of his biggest fears was not being able to run again.

“It was my escape,” Harner said. “When I run, the whole world stops. Everything goes away.

[During] the entire time I’m running, nothing bothers me. Nothing affects me.”

Harner said he now considers himself blessed. He was matched with an acceptable donor and received a bone marrow transplant on March 2, 2016. Harner has been cancer-free ever since and ran the Boston Marathon on Monday, finishing with a time of 04:06:38 as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training.

Looking back, Harner said the disease actually saved his life.

“Cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me,” Harner said. “I tell people that and they look at me like I have 25 heads. It woke me up to the world. It made me realize you really only get one chance at this life.”

Harner said he applied to Team in Training after hearing about it from one of his doctors. When he saw that the team would be running the Boston Marathon in 2017, he submitted an application, hoping to check an item off his bucket list.

“The Boston Marathon has always been literally the number one thing on my bucket list,” Harner said.

“There’s just something about the Boston Marathon. It’s literally the mecca of running.”

On Nov. 10, 2016, one year to the day after Harner was diagnosed with AML, he was playing golf with his friends when he got the call from Team in Training telling him that his application to run the Boston Marathon was accepted.

When Harner learned of his acceptance, he said he dropped to his knees and cried tears of joy.

After going the entire summer without running, Harner finally laced up his running shoes once

again on Nov. 11, the day after he was accepted to run the Boston Marathon with Team in Training.

In addition to earning the chance to compete in the Boston Marathon, Harner said Team in Training also brought new friends into his life.

Harner said his teammates keep him motivated on days when he wants to give up.

“There are days I wake up and I kind of just don’t want to run, but … it’s because of people like them that people like me have the ability to call themselves survivors,” Harner said.

“Without people like that going out and fundraising and trying to find a cure and money for research, someone like me might not be alive.”

Elise McConeghy, the New England area director for Team in Training, said Harner has been an inspirational presence for many of his teammates.

“The survival rate for people that have acute myeloid leukemia is fairly low, and so it’s just incredible that he has gone from being diagnosed to being able to run the Boston Marathon in such a short time period,” McConeghy said. “I think his outlook on life has changed, and he shares that with our teammates and really inspires the team.”

Harner agreed that he looks at the world differently now, dedicating himself to laughing more and worrying less.

“There’s one beautiful thing about hitting rock bottom,” Harner said. “If you hit rock bottom in your life and you don’t give up and you continue to keep fighting, there’s only one direction you can go and that’s up.”

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CATALYST TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

Coach Rick Muhr inspires 2017 Museum of Science team

BY LAUREN FRIAS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

When Marathon Coalition coach Rick Muhr first qualified for the Boston Marathon in 1979, his time was two hours, 59 minutes and 55 seconds — exactly five seconds under the three hour qualifying time. Upon hearing that his time made him eligible for the Boston Marathon, his immediate reaction was questioning just what the Boston Marathon was.

Now 38 years later, Muhr has trained and motivated over 21,000 runners to achieve the same level of success that he accidentally accomplished.

Muhr is the head coach of the Museum of Science team for the Boston Marathon, among 22 other local Boston charities. The Museum of Science, through the marathon, is raising money for their Traveling Programs, in which museum scientists visit schools and educate the children and spark an early interest in scientific discovery. Muhr’s son had participated in the program, which led him to work with the museum.

He said that he didn’t originally intend on coaching but did so to fulfill a promise to his late mother, who passed away in 1996 from leukemia.

“Before she passed, I had an opportunity to speak with her,” Muhr said. “In that conversation,

I promised I would do something significant with my life. I gave the eulogy at her funeral inIllinois and flew back to New England and began the grieving process, and for me, that involved running. Before she passed, I had an opportunity to speak with her. In that conversation, I promised I would do something significant with my life.”

While running the Ocean State Marathon in Rhode Island in memory of his mother, Muhr said that he kept seeing signs for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society throughout the race. “Long story short, I became the head coach for the Massachusetts chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” he said.

In his time at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, he, along with other individuals, raised $65 million for leukemia research.

After 15 years, in 2008, he left the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to start his own coaching company, Marathon Coalition.

Several runners who trained under Muhr’s program reaffirmed his ability to encourage and motivate others to fight through the physical and mental burdens that come with running any marathon.

Runner Laura Coleman wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that he has a personal connection with each and every one of the 200-plus runners he trains.

“When you’re with him, he is

fully there with you, fully in the moment, cheering you on, encouraging you, giving you what you need to keep pushing,” Coleman wrote. “He is authentic and cares deeply; this comes through in everything that he does. With every high five that he gives to runners along the course, he passes along some of his magic.”

Jen DaPonte, a Boston Marathon runner also trained by Muhr, described her experience with his coaching style.

“I love how he can really work with people of all different levels,” DaPonte said. “You can be a qualified runner, you could finish a marathon in five or six hours, but he’s going to feel just as proud of you. You want to do well for him because he believes in you.”

DaPonte also recalled her own experience of Muhr’s encouragement.

“When I called him at the end of the Chicago Marathon, told him I beat the qualifying time for Boston by five minutes, he later told me that that conversation would forever be echoed in his heart, and getting that phone call was better than when he actually ran Chicago and qualified,” DaPonte said.

Runner Laura Gassner Otting echoed a similar sentiment, noting in an email that Muhr “comes back with fresh empathy, love and energy to [shepherd] his runner through whatever — real or perceived — roadblocks are in their way.”

PHOTO BY MARIA CASTILLO/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Rick Muhr, coach of the Museum of Science Boston Marathon team, speaks about his experiences as a coach of more than 21,000 runners in his career, including some who ran in the 2017 Boston Marathon.`

In a physical sense, Gassner Otting wrote that he took apart her “running form and put it back together stronger; he took apart my doubts and concerns, and built my confidence; he energizes, fuels, and moves — really deeply moves — every runner to dig deeper within themselves.”

Otting, Coleman and DaPonte all said that they would still be willing to run the marathon if they weren’t trained by Muhr, but their experience would be drastically different. From emotional encouragement to physical form, the simple thought of the pride that Muhr puts in each runner motivates them enough to make it across the finish line, they said.

“Every mile of that mara-

thon, I am thinking of him; I am thinking of the form, where to place my hands, trying to place my hands, keeping a positive attitude throughout,” DaPonte said. “If I didn’t have that constant belief that he had in me that I could do it, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get through the run as comfortably.

I don’t think I would be a qualified runner without him.”

Coleman emphasized how Muhr made her realize the true essence of the Boston Marathon without him.

“If Coach Rick hadn’t been part of my experience,” Coleman wrote, “I would have put in the miles and I would have run the marathon, but I wouldn’t have felt as deeply as I do the honor that is running the Boston Marathon.”

INBUSINESS TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

Questrom students, faculty display resiliency in marathon

BY ANTONIA DEBIANCHI DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston Marathon has proven to be more than a run. It’s an event where Boston’s patriotism, pride and strength arrive in the town of Hopkinton and soldier toward the glorious finish line on Boylston Street.

For Boston University’s Questrom School of Business students and faculty — Hilary Hall, Melissa Rogers and Ameera Hammouda — the marathon is mostly symbolic.

Hall, an MBA student who will graduate from Questrom’s Health Sector Management program this May, said that “running is [just] an added bonus.”

For the two-time cancer survivor, the marathon hinges upon her fundraising for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“The first year I started running, I was actually working at DanaFarber in bone marrow transplant, and I heard about the marathon,” she said. “That year was going to be the

15th anniversary of my bone marrow transplant, which I had because I had [acute myeloid leukemia] — a type of leukemia — when I was a kid ... so I figured as the 15-year celebration this would be perfect.”

While the 2011 Boston Marathon was Hall’s first time running the marathon, it most definitely was not her last. She said she decided to come back this year, her fifth time running, because it is hard for her to stop running when she knows that people are still being diagnosed with cancer.

“I thought it was going to be a one-time deal, but in that first year I think I raised like $20,000 — more than $20,000 — and ended up getting hooked because the Boston Marathon is just an incredible event whether you’re a spectator or running,” Hall said.

As a charity runner, Hall set her fundraising goal this year to $23,000, the sum of how many years both leukemia-free and breast cancer-free she is.

Each marathon brings a different emotional response, she said.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Hilary Hall, a MBA student in Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, runs as a cancer survivor for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Monday at the 2017 Boston Marathon.

“[Last year] was my first year back after the breast cancer, and my son actually is old enough to run ... so, he got pulled over the barri-

cades on Boylston, and he finished with me,” Hall said. “It was pretty awesome because, you know, the year prior I didn’t know if I was

going to be able to ever run again.”

This time around, with the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

FEATURES 5

IMPACT TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

Canadian brothers inspire each other, finish race together

BY JENNI TODD DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Paul Chan had been running for eight months when his brother Eric proposed they tackle the Marathon des Sables, a 250-kilometer self-supported ultramarathon, then set in the Sahara Desert. Eight desert ultramarathons later, the Chan brothers now hold the Guinness World Record for running the most desert ultramarathons in one year.

After watching the documentary “Desert Runners,” in which a group of runners complete four desert ultramarathons in a year, Eric wondered how many desert races it was humanly possible to run in this amount of time.

“What is the limit?” Eric asked. “Yes, the record is six, but how many can you actually do, physically ... and we found out that, without overlapping races, you can do eight.”

On a mission to test the limits of human endurance, the Chan brothers, from April 2016 to February 2017, took on eight of the world’s toughest deserts, from the scorching rays of the Sahara to the bitingly cold winds of Arctic Sweden.

Until recently, though, the Chan brothers were testing their endurance in Toronto’s startup industry.

“I was just sick and tired of working 16-hour days,” Paul said.

“We wanted to take a break ... and we’ve always wanted to visit Central and South America ... so we took six months off to go on the trip.”

During their vacation, the brothers reconnected with nature on hikes through the Amazon rainforest, simultaneously marveling at its beauty while being concerned about its preservation.

“It also opened my eyes to see what the rainforest is like and the destruction that’s been going on in the area as well,” Paul said.

Inspired by his experiences abroad, Paul decided to take up running upon the brothers’ return home. After running his first half-marathon, Paul asked Eric, a seasoned marathoner, to help him train for his first marathon.

PHOTO BY HALEY ABRAM/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Chan brothers run in the Boston Marathon after competing in eight desert ultramarathons.

With only six months of training, Paul finished the Mississauga Marathon in three hours and five minutes, officially qualifying him for the Boston Marathon.

Shortly after wa rd, Eric approached him about running the Marathon des Sables together.

“I thought he [had] gone insane,” Paul said. “Because at that point I’d only been running for eight months ... I didn’t think I [could] run an ultramarathon, never mind breaking any world records.”

But after watching “Desert Runners,” the film that inspired Eric, Paul said he was convinced.

Together, they designed the 8 Deserts Challenge, a carefully planned year-long itinerary of eight self-supported desert ultramarathons, totaling 2,000 kilometers of running.

“But there’s a challenge on top of the challenge ... a lot of these running races happen seasonally,” Eric said. “Between the period from September to November, we had to run four [ultramarathons] in six weeks.”

Already fighting mounting fatigue and jetlag with little time for recovery, the Chan brothers faced an even greater challenge: the conditions of the deserts in which they ran. During the TransPecos Ultra in Texas, Eric suffered a fall that nearly took him out of the race.

“I was looking, as I fall, I saw a cactus,” Eric said. “Now, obviously, your instinct was to stop yourself from landing on the cactus, it’s either your face or your hands. A two-inch cactus spine went straight through my hand ...

Finally I reach a checkpoint ... and the doctor was trying to pull it out and it was so painful that they had to use Novocaine.”

Every obstacle they faced, they faced together. “I really wanted to quit,” Eric said, on getting injured during the Trans-Pecos Ultra. “I was in a dire situation. I did not want to go on anymore, but what got me through it was my brother.”

Trasie Phan, the brothers’ manager, said she believes their bond is important to their success.

“I think that sense of how much they care for each other because they’re family was one of the forces that helped them finish the challenge,” Phan said.

Now, the Chan brothers are taking on the Boston Marathon and fulfilling a longtime dream.

“When I first started run-

ning, I never heard of any desert race … the most prestigious race I heard about was Boston,” Paul said. “And that was my first goal in my running career. I wanted to qualify for Boston.”

Paul, who recently sustained an injury to his iliotibial band, said he has no expectations for his performance in the marathon. Eric said he will run alongside his brother.

Paul wrote in a message after the marathon that “things went smoothly along until the 17 mile mark,” but then he started to have serious cramps. His brother, wanting to cross the finish line together, waited and walked with him several times during the race.

“It was the most painful marathon thus far,” Paul wrote. “Nevertheless … [I] wouldn’t exchange this experience for anything else!”

Hammouda, Rogers, Hall find deeper meaning in marathon QUESTROM, FROM PAGE 4 support of her family, friends and fellow Questrom students and colleagues, Hall will run her fifth Boston Marathon with resilience — a bedrock of the Boston Marathon.

Rogers, director of development at Questrom, possesses a similar strength.

Recently diagnosed with a stress fracture in her femur, Rogers is currently navigating around on crutches.

After X-rays and MRIs, she said she had to make the painful decision not

to run the marathon, terminating the training she has been doing since the end of November.

The decision, which Rogers described as “ an emotional letdown,” still allowed her to focus on fundraising for a charity that is very dear her heart: the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“In September of 2007, I lost my brother to suicide, and he was only 30,” Rogers said. “[This year] is the 10-year anniversary of that event, and I thought, ‘What could I do that would really honor him?’ So, that was

how I came up with the whole idea.”

The AFSP has a very small team “of survivors of someone who has taken their life from suicide,” Rogers said.

While she mentioned it will be “bittersweet,” Rogers said she plans on cheering on her fellow teammates.

While she may not be able to run the Boston Marathon, Rogers said she has found meaning in using the event to fundraise and honor her brother.

Questrom junior Ameera Hammouda is also grasping the opportunity as a way of fundraising

for an important cause — Goodwill’s “Running for Great Kids” program. “[I’m fundraising for] a youth initiative program, which helps kids in underprivileged areas in Boston cities like Dorchester and Roxbury,” Hammouda said. “All the money will go toward getting them food, educational resources and things they need for school.”

After suffering from a bone dislocation that lead to tendonitis, Hammouda said she almost had to withdraw from the marathon.

Fortunately, her injury will not cause

permanent damage, allowing her to still participate.

In true Boston Strong spirit, Hammouda said she is eager to cross the finish line, fulfill her college goal and take a sigh of relief after the tumult of her injury scare.

“I’m running because I like a good challenge,” Hammouda said.

“Especially with my new injury this will be really hard to get through. I think having all the people cheering me on will make it so fun [along with] the adrenaline. I’m very excited that I’m able to run.”

6 NEWS

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Adrian Amaral, 27, of California, drinks a cup of water.

Spectators cheer for runners at Kenmore Square.

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Spectators watch eagerly as the runners speed by the Prudential Center.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA FALCIGNO/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHORTA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A runner is supported by her team as they help her finish the race.

PHOTO BY VIGUNTHAAN THARMARAJAH/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Kelley Morrison, 34, of Arizona, takes a look at the crowd as she continues on her race.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA FALCIGNO/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A runner holds an American flag as he jogs his last mile of the race.

PHOTO BY HALEY ABRAM/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A blind runner runs with his guide as they enter Kenmore Square on their last mile of the race.

NEWS 7

PHOTO BY KELSEY CRONIN/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Jose Luis Sanchez holds an American flag.

PHOTO BY ABIGAIL FREEMAN/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A group of runners carry a hurt runner to the finish line.

PHOTO BY ABIGAIL FREEMAN/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The crowd cheers as a runner pushes a participant in a wheelchair down Boylston Street toward the finish line.

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Runners pass the Prudential Center as they make their way to the finish line.

8 OPINION

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

t h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r a t b o s t o n u n i v e r s i t y

46th year | Volume 92 | Issue XIII The Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is published Thursdays 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 © 2017 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Weihua Li, Editor-in-Chief Candice Lim, Managing Editor Sophia Eppolito, Campus Editor

Anna Whitelaw, Editorial Page Editor

Gabrielle DiPietro, Layout Editor

Alyssa Meyers, City Editor

Elise Takahama, Features Editor

Kalina Newman, Blog Editor

Jordan Green, Sports Editor

Olivia Falcigno, Photo Editor

Shakti Rovner, Office Manager

Boston Marathon is for everyone, handcyclists included Yesterday, almost one million spectators stood on the sidelines of the 121st Boston Marathon from Hopkinton to Copley Square, pressing against the fences, holding signs or cheering for their loved ones as well as strangers. More than 25,000 participants rushed through the streets to reach that 26.2 mile marker and receive their celebratory wreaths and announcements as they passed the finish line. One group of participants received this honor for the first time in Boston Marathon history.

As runners started their journeys, handcyclists also made their way through the route.

These handcycles are powered mostly by civilians with disabilities, wounded veterans and survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Yet, before this year, they are denied the same celebration upon their end of the race. Handcyclists had not been receiving the same acknowledgement as runners or even participants in wheelchairs. This group of 30, the highest number of participants yet, have come out before the race to advocate for their equality, according to an article from The Boston Globe.

Though the Boston Athletic Association has promised that the Boston Marathon will be a “world leader in accepting people with disabilities” in the coming years, the neglect of these war heroes and survivors of this city’s worst tragedy has already become a problem.

They deserve the same recognition as any other runner, walker or jogger. Though they use machinery due to their own physical limitations, they still traverse the 26.2 miles. It’s the same distance and the same route no matter what form you use to travel.

A group of 30 handcyclists seems quite small in comparison to more than 25,000 runners. Some may argue that they could fall through the cracks when there is so much else going on. Though the amount of handcyclists is growing, their recognition when weighed to runners is weak at best. The BAA has said that the amount of handcyclists must be limited because they take up so much room on

PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

the road, and though that may be true, it does not affect how they should be treated at the finish line. Many spectators might not be viewing the Boston Marathon to watch the handcyclists race by, but their participation should be noted by spectators and celebrated

by BAA officials.

This outrage coming from handcyclists is finally bringing attention to how they’ve been treated. As athletes, this is terribly insulting.

They’re legitimate participants and 26.2 miles is no easy feat no matter who you are and what your capabilities are. A marathon is a marathon, no matter how you do it. All participants deserve the same celebration for accomplishing a task that most people couldn’t qualify for. It’s always a bad idea to single out a certain group, which is essentially what the BAA has done. Now that they’ve realized their mistake, it’s admirable that they’re taking strides to rec-

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tify years of neglect. Anyone can be an athlete, even those who need additional machinery.

Handcyclists should be honored, not because they are disabled, but because they have conquered the same task. Some may think they’re at a disadvantage, but these cyclists have learned how to use their weaknesses to excel. We’d normally think of a marathon participant as a runner on their own two feet, but that’s not the reality. With 30 people in handcycles and 55 using wheelchairs, marathons have become much more than just a foot race. We should be recognizing the adversity and challenges that these handcyclists overcome rather than ignoring their accomplishments. They should be honored for completing the marathon regardless of the way they do it.

The BAA should be welcoming handcyclists with open arms, not because they’re disabled or wounded, but because they honorably and

diligently raced the Boston Marathon, just like any other runner.

Every group and every story is part of what makes the Boston Marathon so unique to this city and its residents. Every participant has a specific reason for why they’re participating, whether it’s to honor a loved one, sponsor an organization or mark a new personal record.

Boston’s marathon focuses on inclusion and commending everyone. Spectators cheer for people they don’t even know, follow the paths of bib numbers and encourage those who struggle through the last few miles.

This is what a marathon is about: it’s more than running, more than fitness and more than just reaching a finish line. The Boston Marathon, especially, is much more significant.

All participants, whether they be using their feet, a wheelchair or a handcycle should be given the same celebration upon conquering this feat.

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OPINION 9

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

Trump’s biggest problem

BY PATRICK BURKE COLUMNIST

With the rising tension in the Korean Peninsula in recent months, many have wondered if North Korea could actually hit the United States with a nuclear warhead.

This question remains unanswered, but recent tests have proved that they would be able to hit our allies in Japan and South Korea. What is encouraging about this scenario is that China has seemingly taken the side of the United States in solving the North Korea problem.

For years, the North Koreans have been testing missiles and expanding their nuclear arsenal. Recently, their tests have been failing. This is encouraging to hear.

An especially encouraging piece of news came out when former British politician Malcolm Rif kind spoke about the possibility of the United States hacking North Korea’s most recent missile test to make it fail. He went on to say that we shouldn’t get our hopes up for this result every time, but it may have worked here.

I hope that we will be able to do this for future tests, too.

Whether the most recent missile launch failure was because of the United States or not, North Korea is not going away. I don’t think that they are going to go quietly into their good night. The North Korean people have been brainwashed by their leaders into thinking that the outside world despises their entire existence. I would like to think that the average North Korean person is no different than you or me, but the conditions of their upbringing have brought a deep disdain for our country. This is troublesome and I think it is important that we deal with this problem as soon as possible.

The current leader of the country is Kim Jong-un. He took over as supreme leader of the country when his father died in 2011.

Since that time, I have not seen a leader who has been, for lack of a better word, as ridiculous as he has been. Kim Jong-un has continued to trick his people into believing that he and his family are gods.

While some of the things he said may be comical, the threat is real. What

President Donald Trump has done so far seems to work and I am very happy to see it.

Rerouting the USS Carl Vinson to be near the Korean Peninsula shows them that this time, we are not going to sit around and impose sanction after sanction. Trump is showing the world that the United States is not here to play any more games with this crazy dictator.

Arguably the most important thing that Trump has done so far is getting China on our side. This new trust and friendship comes after Trump met with President Xi Jinping earlier this month. Trump was actually having dinner with the Chinese leader when the United States bombed Syria, possibly showing that the new administration is adamant on sticking to its word.

The Chinese have long been known as allies, of sorts, to the North Korean people.

They are the leading trade partner to the North Koreans, even after sanctions were imposed. If the Chinese people agreed to trade less with the North Koreans, we may find a solution. I say this because of the new and improved relations between the Chinese and American leaders. I hope that President Xi works with the United States to help because we all know that President Trump would love to open more trade deals.

It is a rough fact, but Kim Jong-un will be responsible for the deaths of millions of his own people if China stops trade, surely starting a new famine in the country. North Korea has already gone through periods of famine where their people were not being fed. I hope it does not come to that again.

I hope that Kim is smart enough to realize that giving up the nuclear arsenal is more important than killing his own people.

I do not think we should enter direct, large scale military conflict in North Korea.

For now, the best route is the one that Trump is currently taking. If we keep up the shows of strength and work with China, we may find a solution. We will not find a solution by imposing outside sanctions that are not taken seriously by anyone involved.

However, if the North Koreans do end up launching a nuclear warhead, there is one path we can take: going back to war in Korea. I believe that our top leaders will be able to get this figured out before it gets to this point, but we need to be ready for anything. An attack on the United States or its allies will most certainly lead to the end of the North Korean regime forever.

These next few weeks will be telling for the Trump administration. If he handles the North Korean problem like he did after the chemical attack in Syria, we may win back the respect of countries around the world that have seen weak foreign policies since the Bush administration

Shame on you, Pepsi

BY MADISON FRILOT COLUMNIST

What do Sean Spicer, United Airlines and Pepsi all have in common? Unless you have completely isolated yourself from the internet this week, every social media platform has been spinning off of these breaking news stories, each displaying the monumental absurdities that have resulted in massive backlash. First, in the world of entertainment and media, Pepsi’s latest commercial has taken center stage. The internet has been running rampant chastising Pepsi for their absurdly insensitive and simply out of whack advertisement. The lengthy commercial features the infamous Kendall Jenner distracted by a nonspecific, extremely idealized demonstration marching by as she is in the middle of a photo shoot. Her eyes follow the meek parade flaunting signs displaying the inordinately ambiguous slogan “Join the Conversation,” whatever that means. Jenner, swayed by the charisma of the political-esque movement, shocks viewers as she whips off her wig and jogs to join the crusade. It doesn’t end there though, as the commercial continues to make a mockery of our current political climate when the police come into the shot, seemingly there to break up the peaceful demonstration.

Jenner proceeds to approach a Caucasian officer and offer him a can of Pepsi. He accepts and shows his appreciation for the gesture by flashing a kind smile. The crowd goes wild and progresses to all live happily ever after, I presume.

First off, it is important to recognize how the commercial really is trying to stay relevant.

Not only does it mimic an edgy, controversial topic that is certainly very prevalent currently, it also manages to successfully and cleverly give into both sides of our polarized political climate. Involving the march, however vague, grabs the attention of the liberals of the country and including law enforcement appeases more conservative viewers. Not favoring one side over the other is an extremely successful advertising technique, although it may come across as taking the easy way out or cheating viewers into thinking they are the favored ones.

Another clear effort Pepsi employs in an attempt to achieve relevance is the use of one of the most recognized celebrities of this time: a Jenner. This is an obvious publicity feat on

Pepsi’s part, but it may be unclear why Jenner would take such a wishy-washy gig. However, looking at the breakdown of this Pepsi ad’s audience, Jenner’s reasons become clear. This ad has gotten a lot more views than most other Pepsi ads due to its controversy. On Kylie and Kendall Jenner’s YouTube channel, the ad has been played almost nine million times, compared to past Pepsi commercials that generally see a few hundred thousand views. Could it be possible that this whole thing was actually just a cleverly planned marketing stunt and just so happened to also be wildly insensitive? Many viewers would agree with this sentiment.

But how fair is that? Can we really accept that Pepsi was so content with taking advantage of the daily struggles of the many protesters demonstrating for actual causes and real injustices? Was it just another inappropriate commercial or are we permitted to be enraged?

After all, protests are rarely peace-grabs or wishful thinking. While protests can be peaceful, as the best and most effective ones are, in my opinion), they stem from real anger from real people fighting for real causes. Pepsi undermines that.

One of the most prominent, worldwide demonstrations currently is the Black Lives Matter movement. Unlike the frivolous and utterly fake “Join the Conversation” movement depicted in the Pepsi ad, this movement comes from a place of fiery outrage because people’s lives are being built and destructed without their say, advocating for freedom and justice for all black lives — a fundamental human right.

Stemming from racially fueled police brutality, daily discrimination and straight up ugliness, this is real material. This is honesty and shamelessness and rage where people are fighting to have their voices heard because “joining the conversation” is easier when you are a white, rich, celebrated model.

Not to mention, some viewers are steaming due to how Jenner uncannily resembles the anti-Vietnam War campaign where a little girl offers a riot officer a flower, paralleling Jenner’s offering of a soda to the officer in the commercial. On top of that, Jenner has not explicitly taken a political stance of any kind. She clearly avoids politics in every way she can, so it is interesting how she makes this her controversial, vague political debut. That being said, I don’t think it is appropriate to blame Jenner for getting involved. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that Jenner doesn’t make these decisions for herself. A celebrity of her immense influence and popularity has to be represented by a large team of public relations professionals. This commercial was not a mistake or a fluke. Every bit of it was maliciously planned and as a result, a severe disappointment.

Pepsi should be ashamed of capitalizing off of minority movements and ultimately making money off of injustice as if it is a joke.

Interrobang Participants of the 121st Boston Marathon spent months training for the 26.2-mile event before finally showcasing their abilities Monday morning.

We here at the ol’ Free Press want to know — what would BU people do as a pre-marathon ritual?

President Brown: Shave mustache to be more aerodynamic

Greek life: Make matching T-shirts

COM: Put it on their Snapchat story

BUPD: Send an alert

Questrom: Get their shoes shined

BU Dining: Carbo-load

CGS: Quit

FreeP: Edit, stretch, cry, repeat

10 SPORTS

Men’s lacrosse is going to postseason for first time ever

BY RISHABH KRISHAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston University men’s lacrosse team defeated No. 19 Loyola University Maryland in an overtime thriller Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field.

In desperate need of a win after two consecutive league losses, the Terriers (10-3, 4-3 Patriot League) clinched their first Patriot League Tournament berth in program history.

The Terriers opened the game strong, forcing two Loyola (7-5, 5-2 Patriot League) turnovers and creating scoring opportunities to give them a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

However, the Greyhounds quickly retorted with three goals of their own to close out the quarter even at three goals apiece.

The Greyhounds tallied three more goals in the second period, cushioning their lead by two goals heading into the half.

While the Terriers performed evenly with the Greyhounds in the first half in most categories, turnovers were the difference. The Terriers’ inability to clear the ball successfully 4 out of 7 times in the first half cost them multiple goals.

However, BU turned the game around in the second half after

conceding one more goal during much back-and-forth play.

Senior midfielder Cal Dearth led the BU attack, which scored three goals in the final minutes of the third quarter, closing the gap to just one goal heading into the fourth.

“We just needed a shot,” said BU head coach Ryan Polley. “The third quarter wasn’t any different than any other quarter. We just needed that play. We scored, then they came right back, then we scored.”

The Terriers dominated both ends of the field in the third quarter, outshooting the Greyhounds 9-6 and scooping twice as many ground balls on the defensive end.

Both sides exchanged goals throughout the fourth. However, Dearth carried the Terrier offense, tying a career-high with five goals.

In addition to Dearth’s performance, junior faceoff specialist and midfielder Joe Stucky took on his role, winning 10 of the 14 second half faceoffs. “[On the faceoffs] it took me a couple of reps to get used to their speed and power,” Stucky said. “I think it was confidence that got me going. Then I just got into a rhythm.”

Senior goalie Christian CarsonBanister’s performance was important as well. Perhaps the most consistent player the whole game, Carson-Banister recorded two

saves in each quarter.

Sixty minutes of regulation was not enough to decide the game, so the teams went to overtime.

Stucky won the faceoff in overtime, giving BU crucial possession.

Unlike the tempo earlier in the game, the Terriers slowed down the pace, as they circled the ball around the net a couple times, enough to create a small aperture for sophomore attacker James Burr to shoot through and score.

“They dropped into zone, but we didn’t really change our scheme,” Burr said. “We play the same way on man defense and zone defense. Luckily we had an open look and so [we scored].”

Next Friday, the Terriers will end the regular season at home against the College of the Holy Cross. Should Loyola lose its game against the United States Military Academy, the Terriers can secure a first round bye and the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament with a win against the Crusaders (4-8, 4-3 Patriot League).

The Terriers have several star performers who consistently put their best foot forward, and a Patriot League Tournament win can add to their legacy.

“We want this to be a special legacy,” Polley said. “Today was a big chapter in that legacy.”

PHOTO BY ABIGAIL FREEMAN/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Senior Cal Dearth leads the men’s lacrosse team to a comeback victory, clinching the program’s first postseason berth.

Women’s lacrosse falls short to Navy at Nickerson Field

BY OWEN TRIPPE DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston University women’s lacrosse team fell just short Saturday afternoon against the United States Naval Academy, losing 15-14 at Nickerson Field.

The early stages of the first half were dictated by a series of runs. Navy (10-4, 5-1 Patriot League) netted three straight goals in a two-minute stretch just moments after the opening faceoff, but BU (5-7, 3-3 Patriot League) responded with a 3-0 run of its own, tying the game at 3-3 with close to 20 minutes remaining in the half.

The game remained close for the rest of the half, as the teams traded goals. Scorers for the Terriers included sophomore midfielder Kaitlin Belval and junior attacker Avery Donahoe.

“I liked the fact that we had a lot of scoring looks,” said BU head coach Liz Robertshaw. “I

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DFP FILE PHOTO

Elisabeth Jayne scored her 25th goal of the season and is now tied for the team lead with Mickenzie Larivee.

just think that in games like this, there are some players who could step up a little better.”

The Terriers certainly needed

players to step up, as Nav y’s relentless offense kept the score close, even as BU jumped ahead time and time again.

Navy tied the game at 8-8 in the final second of the first half, thanks to a free position goal by attacker Morgan Young.

It was a frustrating moment for BU, as they had just taken the lead less than 30 seconds earlier behind junior attacker Mickenzie Larivee’s third goal of the game.

While the score was even at the end of the half, BU lost the draw control battle 12-5 and was outshot 20-16.

Coming out with energy in the second half, the Terriers quickly took a 9-8 lead in the first minutes thanks to a goal by senior attacker Taylor Hardison and sophomore midfielder Kelly Mathews tacked on a 10th goal two minutes later.

The two teams began to trade goals once again, with Nav y scoring three straight to go up 12-11, and sophomore defender Tonianne Magnelli snapping

Navy’s streak to tie the game just after the 18-minute mark.

As the second half progressed, neither team established a firm lead, setting up for an exciting end.

Senior attacker Elisabeth Jayne netted her 25th goal of the season at the 14:22 mark to give BU the lead once again, but Navy battled back, as junior Jenna Collins scored her fifth goal of the game. It was a remarkable game for both Jenna and Julia Collins, as the sisters combined for seven goals.

Robertshaw felt that the Terriers could have presented a stronger defensive effort against the Collins sisters, as well as Navy’s other top players.

“We weren’t necessarily playing to the officials that well,” said Robertshaw. “We got hammered with a bunch of calls, and again, that’s something we’ve talked about.

Our defense needs to change their game based on the referees.”

BU broke the tie once again with a goal from Donahoe at the 3:09 mark, her second of the game, which brought the score

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to 14-13. However, Navy battled right back as they had the entire game, with sophomore Meg O’Donnell scoring two straight goals in a one-minute stretch to give her team a permanent lead.

Robertshaw was pleased with the team for staying with Navy throughout the entire game.

“I told the team I thought it was a really great battle back and forth,” Robertshaw said. “I thought they fought hard, but defensively, allowing some of their top players to do what they wanted to do really hurt us.”

Navy proceeded to win the next faceoff, and run out the remainder of the clock, sealing a 15-14 victory.

The loss drops the Terriers to 3-3 in league play, putting their playoff hopes in danger.

“We need a win to get in,” said Robertshaw. “I think right now we’re battling to get in, that’s our focus. I don’t think we need to win all three [remaining Patriot League games], but I don’t want to put it up to chance. I’d like to have our future in our own hands.”

SPORTS 11

Softball freshman Kali Magane molds into team’s ace

BY GREG LEVINSKY DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

For Boston University softball freshman pitcher Kali Magane and BU head coach Ashley Waters, Magane’s freshman status is virtually meaningless. After key losses in Melanie Russell and Lauren Hynes, Waters was looking for someone to step up in the circle as the ace of the pitching staff and Magane has handled that responsibility admirably, but to no surprise of her coach.

“The game doesn’t know what age your are,” Waters said. “There’s nothing on your back standing in centerfield or second base that says ‘freshman.’ I do expect my freshmen to walk in and be competitive and take spots and take positions. With Kali, we knew the position we were in, we lost two seniors, and anyone who’s coming in here putting on the Boston University jersey should be ready to go.”

Magane certainly was ready to go, as the Wrentham native has taken over as the Terriers’ clear-cut No. 1 starter. After leading King Philip Regional High School to the 2016 Massachusetts State Championship, Magane had to adjust quickly to the next level.

The five-foot-four freshman is not an imposing physical presence, but she makes up for it with her discipline, poise and tenacity. In fact, in her college debut, Magane hurled a complete game shutout for a 1-0 victory over North Florida at the FAU Kick-

Off Classic, allowing just four baserunners.

“Coming into college was definitely different than high school and summer ball,” Magane said. “Getting that first win for myself gave me some confidence that I could do this.”

Waters foresaw Magane’s potential during the recruiting process at local tournaments, watching her pitch often. She’s not surprised Magane has been successful.

“It was great to get to see her compete at all different levels facing many teams,” Waters said. “I knew with her coming in that she’d be able to hold her own and get us some W’s. With her on and [senior pitcher] Makinna [Akers] on, that would shut down the weekends and help us to take [several] conference series.”

Akers and fellow freshman Lizzie Annerino are two other pitchers with the most appearances on the field, but Magane leads the team in wins, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts and opponents’ batting average.

“I don’t think too much about who’s pitching first because in softball you can be on one day and off the next,” Magane said.

“It’s always good to have the three of us to be ready and obviously do well when I can, too.”

Magane tops out in the low 60’s and focuses on her screw and curveballs.

“I call her the mosquito, because she’s tiny,” Waters said. “For someone that little I think the entire world has told her she’s not going to play Division I, she can’t do this. Whoever she is, we embrace it, we love it and we let her do her thing and I feel like she’s thriving under that.”

It hasn’t been a smooth road to the top of the pitching staff, as Magane was lit up for nine earned runs twice in a row in games against Patriot League foe Lehigh University. However, the rookie said that those games have helped her and her team refocus and improve.

“The Lehigh games were pretty tough, I definitely struggled personally and as a team I don’t think we were exactly where we wanted to be,” Magane said. “After that, we kind of realized that we had to turn it around for the rest of the season and we all just dialed it in a bit more throughout the week and really came together as a team.”

Command has been a persistent issue for Magane, as she has surrendered 43 walks in 103.1 innings. Nevertheless, Waters expects certain hiccups from the freshman and says it is all a part of the development process.

Magane has looked dominant at times, while vulnerable during others. Waters hopes to see her young ace find consistency as the team prepares for the last stretch to conclude Patriot League play.

“That’s the case of learning — she’s figuring it out,” Waters said. “In years to come, her stats are going to get better and better, and right now she’s trying to figure it out. There’s good days and bad days, then there’s great days. We have to stand by her during all three of those.”

With Magane having three more years as the team’s ace, the Terriers pitching staff looks much more stable than it did just a few months ago.

While the freshman has brought a new energy

to the team, she has also learned from the upperclassmen. Thanks to the support of her teammates, Magane’s growth has accelerated.

“The one thing about Kali that helps is that she has Makinna Akers in her back pocket,” Waters said. “They try to help each other out of some jams and they’re not going to be great every single day, but they’re both going to work hard. With Kali, what she’s showing this year is, regardless of wins and losses, she has a bright future and a lot of potential. I’m excited that we have her and I’m thrilled she chose Boston University and I think it’s a really great fit for all of us.”

With six Patriot League games remaining, the Terriers reside in third place in the seven-team league, and are in position to jockey for a higher seed come conference tournament time.

The Terriers (14-21, 6-3 Patriot League) had suffered an eight-game losing streak earlier in the season but have responded with an improvement in all aspects, led by Magane’s recent dominance. The reigning Patriot League champs are looking to repeat, and Magane understands her success will be pivotal to a deep playoff run, not only in the Patriot League but in NCAA regionals as well.

Following a 11-1 victory over United States Military Academy on Sunday, Magane said, “we still have half the season left, so there’s quite a bit of work to do but it definitely helps to get wins as I start to gain confidence for myself and the team.”

Boston Marathon embodies unique tradition, history MOMENTS, FROM PAGE 12 Marathon is the best part of the day. Watching the families, friends and locals who come out to see the runners, cheering and dancing around the streets with policemen, concocts a feeling like no other: one of pure joy and enthusiasm.

The Tuesday after the marathon, my father and I would always go outside to get our local paper and read the profiles written about that year’s runners. It was always so inspiring to read the stories of war veterans, terminal cancer survivors and travelers from countries far away who all chose to come to my city of Boston to run. But after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings occurred, the Marathon came to take a whole new meaning, especially for those of us who couldn’t just leave this place when the race was over.

With such a deep history of runners and their stories, it seems trivial to talk about what the Marathon means to myself as a Massachusetts resident. Instead, I’d like to share the stories of people who are much braver and more inspirational than me, and who have impacted this city more than I ever could just by partaking in this wonderful race.

scandal in this column. This is another famous one, but for almost the complete opposite reasons of Switzer’s race. Amateur runner Rosie Ruiz was declared the female marathon winner in the 1980 Boston Marathon, much to the surprise of the running world (and the runners who had claimed they hadn’t seen Ruiz during the race alongside them at all). After some minor investigations, however, it was concluded that Rosie actually didn’t win the race, rather she had cheated the competition.

Bennett Beach Bennett Beach has ran in the Boston Marathon every year for the past 50 years, giving him the longest record for consecutive runs in the Boston Marathon by a single person. As a 68-year-old man, Bennett Beach also lives with a neurological movement disorder, making him

an icon for not only elderly runners, but disabled runners as well. He runs with a severe limp, but has still managed to complete the race for 50 years, a truly remarkable accomplishment.

Rebekah Gregory Rebekah Gregory was one of the unfortunate affected by the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. After 17 surgeries, Gregory opted to have her leg amputated, and since then has taken on prosthetic limbs and continued to run. In 2015, Gregory ran the final steps of the race with her trainer beside her, and was truly embraced by the city of Boston as she crossed the finish line with excruciating pain and a twisted knee above her prosthetic leg. Gregory’s choice to continue running in the race, even after the bombings, is why I included her. She truly represented the resil-

ience of the city of Boston when she crossed that line.

Dick and Rick Hoyt Although this famous father-son duo no longer participates in the marathon, the two ran the marathon over 30 times together.

Rick, who has cerebral palsy, and his father, Dick, could be found racing down the streets of Boston together with Dick pushing Rick in his chair. Both of the Hoyts have a special interest and love for sports, so they began competing in marathons and triathlons together as a way to experience the sort of athleticism that Rick always craved growing up. While we certainly miss seeing them in the marathon, the image of the duo will be a long lasting one and an eternal inspiration to other runners around the world.

Kathrine Switzer The story of Kathrine Switzer is perhaps one of the all-time classic Boston Marathon stories. The year was 1967, and Switzer was an avid runner. She became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, pretending to be a man in order to participate. In an effort to prove wrong everyone who told her she couldn’t do it, Switzer registered for the marathon, and even though several men tried to literally drag her out from the race, taunted her and tripped her, she made it all the way to the end and completely changed history. Kathrine created a legacy for herself and made a precedent for all other female runners — you can do it, too.

Rosie Rulz Even though I’d like to mention primarily positive Boston Marathon runners, it’d be unfair to not include the famous Rosie Rulz

PHOTO BY KELSEY CRONIN/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Amira Lerario runs in the Boston Marathon, a traditional event filled with joy for those who participate and for all others who cheer them on and celebrate the race.

Quotable “We want this to be a special legacy. Today was a big chapter in that legacy.”- BU men’s lacrosse coach Ryan Polley on the first time his team qualifies for the Patriot League Tournament. p.10

Instant Replay Most Memorable Marathon Moments

BY SOPHIA LIPP COLUMNIST

As a Massachusetts resident, I grew up loving Patriots Day because of one reason: it meant it was time for the Boston Marathon.

Sports came second to none in my household growing up, and as a three season athlete, the Marathon was always an exciting event to watch and celebrate. I never had any dreams to run it, but driving down at 5 a.m. on Monday morning to park outside Boston and take the commuter rail in with my parents was something I looked forward to every year.

The energy around the Boston CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Sports Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Magane Molding into Ace With two dominant pitching performances over the weekend, freshman pitcher Kali Magane has cemented her status as BU softball’s best starter. p.11

Kenyans beat out Americans in 2017 Marathon

BY NICOLE HAVENS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Among more than 30,000 other runners on Monday afternoon, Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat, both from Kenya, finished first in the men’s and women’s elite divisions, respectively, in the 121st Boston Marathon.

American runner Galen Rupp finished 21 seconds behind in second place, for his personal best.

Suguru Osako of Japan finished third with a time of 2:10:28 in his Boston debut.

This year, the United States had a large representation in the men’s race, as six of the top 10 winners were American, while two other top finishers were Ethiopian and Kenyan.

For the women, Kiplagat, a Kenyan policewoman, finished with a time of 2:21:52, which was almost eight minutes faster than last year’s winner, Atsede Baysa.

This was the first time she had run in Boston and added this marathon win to previous successes in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Rose Chelimo of Bahrain came in 59 seconds behind and placed

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Edna Kiplagat, a Kenyan policewoman, won the women’s division, adding to previous victories in London, New York and Los Angeles.

second after Kiplagat overtook Chelimo in Newton Hills.

Jordan Hasay and Desiree Linden of the United States secured third and fourth place, respectively. This marked the first time that two American

women have placed in the top four since 1991.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland beat his South African rival Ernst van Dyk by a slim margin of one second to win the men’s wheelchair elite on the warm, but windy spring day.

It was Hug’s third consecutive win in the Boston Marathon, and he set a new course record at 1:18:04.

Marc Fucarile, a 2013 Boston Marathon bombing survivor, also competed in the men’s handcycle for the second year in a row.

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