The Daily Free Press
Year xli. Volume lxxxii. Issue xciii.
TRUCK STOP Your guide to the tastiest meals on wheels, page 3
[
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University
THE SCIENCE OF STRESS
Researchers examine causes, solutions to anxiety, page 5
]
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THROUGH THICK AND THIN
B.ball seniors stick out coaching carousel, page 8
WEATHER
Today: Rain, High 50 Tonight: Showers, Low 47 Tomorrow: 56/45 Data Courtesy of weather.com
MBTA underserves low-income areas, filmmaker says BU to create center for assault response, crisis prevention By Jasper Craven Daily Free Press Staff
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority may still be keeping low-income neighborhoods from having easy access to transportation even after building lines in the 1980s and 2000s, said filmmaker Kris Carter, who created a documentary on the history of the T. A self-described “geeky urban planner,” recent Tufts University graduate Carter recorded the story of the MBTA, writing a paper and directing a 45-minute long documentary about the topic entitled “Equal or Better: The Story of the Silver Line.” The documentary, created in 2011, focuses on socioeconomic inequality with respect to public transportation accessibility throughout Greater Boston. Carter’s piece, which screened at the Boston International Film Festival on April 21, is in the running for awards at the Roxbury International Film Festival, which will take place from June 14 to 17. The problem the film highlights originated when the city tore down the Orange Line’s predecessor, the Washington Street elevated train, in 1987 after it felt into disrepair, he wrote in his thesis. The loss of the line meant the loss of access to downtown Boston for Roxbury residents. When the Orange Line relocated from Dudley Square in Roxbury to Forest Hills, further southwest in Jamaica Plain, low-income residents from Roxbury suffered.
By Chris Lisinski Daily Free Press Staff
RACHEL PEARSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Silver Line brings Roxbury residents from Dudley Square to metropolitan Boston. A Tufts University graduate’s film weighs in on financial inequality and its ties to public transportation.
Stops on the Orange Line, such as Ruggles, Massachusetts Avenue and Back Bay, did not exist two decades ago, Carter said in an email interview. “Look at the economic development power the train has had in that corridor,” Carter said. “Jackson Square and Forest Hills are undergoing a transformation now, a few decades after the line started, so [the new Orange Line] con-
tinues to be an economic engine for Boston and a greatly improved service for residents in those communities.” In 2002, the MBTA created the Silver Line to reach Roxbury residents. Two Silver Line bus routes begin in Dudley Square and bring riders to metropolitan Boston, but the Silver Line bus route is technically only two-thirds completed.
MBTA, see page 4
Medical marijuana bill not likely to get approval from legislators By Eddie Donga Daily Free Press Staff
The Legislature is unlikely to take action to approve a pair of bills that would legalize medical marijuana in Massachusetts, lawmakers said Monday. Members of the State Senate and House of Representatives have until Wednesday to act on the proposed laws, which are currently awaiting approval in the Joint Committee on Public Health and would protect the prescription and use of marijuana by state residents whose doctors recommend it. Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, sponsored the original proposal along with Rep. Frank Smizik, D-Brookline. “At this point I am not optimistic that our bill will come out of committee favorably, either in the form Rep. Smizik and I submitted it or in the form proposed by citizens advancing the ballot question,” Rosenberg said in an email Monday.
The prospect of federal pressure, he said, is a main concern in the Statehouse as it examines the bills. “I think the Legislature is reluctant to advance big changes like this involving a substance that is illegal under federal law that can override state law,” he said. Medical marijuana legalization is becoming increasingly common on the state level, despite the federal government’s crackdown on dispensaries, which often make it easier for cannabis seekers to obtain marijuana regardless of medical status. Rosenberg said he would like to see Massachusetts adopt the reform as well. “I sponsored the bill because I think it is time for us to join the 16 other states and Washington D.C. in making it legal for people to access medical marijuana if prescribed by their doctors,” Rosenberg said. “I see no reason why people who can get relief from pain, nausea and other symptoms shouldn’t be able to have legal access to the substance.”
TURN UP THE HEAT
AUDREY FAIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Residents of Warren Towers evacuated the dorm Monday afternoon when the fire alarm sounded. Residence Life later posted a notification that said the alarm was activated on the 13th floor of Shields “C” Tower.
Rosenberg said his legislation was based off recent laws in Rhode Island and Maine that had a reliable regulatory approach and did not compromise public safety. However, he was not alone in his assessment of the bills as a prohibitively delicate issue. “The Legislature is afraid to touch the issue,” Boston University political science professor Christine Rossell said in an email. Although polls have indicated widespread support for the change, Rossell said those polls most likely were not broken down by legislative constituencies, leaving individual senators and representatives in a state of uncertainty about their constituencies’ preferences. “I think most legislators would rather have the public decide in a referendum if a referendum is an option,” Rossell said, referring to the second piece of legislation Rosenberg mentioned. Advocacy organizations such as the Massa-
Marijuana, see page4
Boston University President Robert Brown announced the creation of a sexual assault response center Monday in an email sent to the BU community. “I am writing to announce that we are establishing a center that will be specifically dedicated to preventing sexual assault through training and outreach, and to providing support to victims of sexual assault as well as other forms of abuse, such as hazing,” the letter said. The center is expected to open on campus by the start of the 2012-13 school year, according to the email. Student Health Services will direct the center, though the facility will be housed in a separate location. “We are already working on initial plans for staffing the center and determining an appropriate campus location,“ Brown said in the letter. Brown cited the incidents of alleged sexual assault and alleged hazing that have occurred at BU over the past four months. These include the arrests of two hockey players, Corey Trivino and Max Nicastro, and separate alleged hazing incidents involving the sorority Sigma Delta Tau and the unaffiliated and now-closed fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi. “[We are committed to ensuring] that we have the appropriate means in place both to reduce the likelihood of such events and to provide strong support to those affected when, despite our best efforts, such events occur,” Brown said in the email. There have been a number of demands from the BU community that such a center be created on campus. The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism circulated an online petition in March to establish a crisis center to prevent sexual assault, provide support for victims and raise awareness about sex-related issues. “A rape crisis center would help Boston University to better serve its students by providing them with tools to prevent and cope with sexual assault crises and to lead the way in providing a safe and healthy environment for all members of the Boston University community,” the petition stated. More than 1,000 people signed the petition, which was sent to BU administration. Student Union unanimously voted to support a proposal from the CGSA for a crisis cen-
Center, see page 4
Tax records ineffective in long run, prof says By Samantha Tatro Daily Free Press Staff
Tax returns released last week for Sen. Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren showed that the Massachusetts Senate candidates rank in the highest percentiles of the nation’s earners. But Boston University students and professors said they did not expect the new information would alter the public’s perceptions about the candidates. Warren, the presumptive Democratic challenger for Republican Brown’s seat, released four years’ worth of tax returns while Brown released six years’ worth on Friday after a request from The Boston Globe. Their incomes in the most recent tax year placed Brown in the top two percent and Warren in the top one percent of earners. “The main effect of these releases is that it may make it harder for Sen. Brown to paint himself as a pickup truck-driving common man in contrast to the Harvard elite challenger,” said Boston University Political Science professor Douglas Kriner in an email interview. The returns show Warren earning about $1 million combined over the past four years –
most recently, $616,181 in 2011. Brown earned less by comparison -- $510,856 for 2011, a dip after his income briefly skyrocketed after his election in 2010 due to an advance on his autobiography. “I doubt that [the tax releases] will have much of an effect,” Kriner said. “Brown has been quick to note that while his campaign may paint Warren as an elitist – it has not criticized her personal wealth.” Warren’s campaign hinges on the mantra that she’s a blue collar champion who came up the hard way, “out of a hard-working middle class family in an America that created opportunities for kids like me,” her campaign website states. Kriner said the unveiling of Brown’s own wealth could lead him to back off from his focus on Warren’s elite status. But Brown’s campaign has already said Warren’s tax returns contradict her claims about her closeness to the middle class. “Professor Warren is extremely hypocritical for saying she isn’t wealthy and calling on
SEE FULL STORY ONLINE
2
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
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40 Lover of Yum-Yum in “The Mikado”
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32 Current letters
6 “The Art of Loving” author
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27 ‘50s-’60s chief justice Warren
45 Second-century date
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37 Max
8 Coolers, briefly
28 Microwave
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44 Pace 45 Low-quality 49 Sumatran swingers 51 Maxi 55 Site of a 1981 sitcom honeymoon 56 Minute amount
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10 Stylish 11 They may be liquid or frozen 12 Original “Star Trek” studio
30 Boil over? 34 __ Jordan: Nike brand 35 Vane dir. 36 Part of TGIF
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38 AOL et al.
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Campus & City
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Campus Crime Food trucks on BU campus cater to all Logs
By Jen Janiak Daily Free Press Staff
Failed Dodge By Gina Curreri Daily Free Press Staff
The following reports were taken from the Boston University Police Department crime logs from April 23 to April 29. A male student was struck by a Dodge Grand Caravan while riding his bike at the intersection of Mountfort Street and St. Mary’s Street on April 24 at 9:30 a.m. Though the student was alert and conscious while he was transported to Boston Medical Center, he sustained serious injuries. Charges against the driver are pending and await the Boston Police Department’s investigation. There was no damage to the student’s bicycle, and police suspect he flew over the bicycle. LAW-breaker Police suspect someone broke into the School of Law overnight between April 23 and April 24. Four offices on various floors were visibly broken into, and police observed jimmied cabinets and desk drawers. Objects stolen remain unknown at this time, but police were able to uncover evidence. Investigation is ongoing. Shaw’s threat On Wednesday at 12 a.m., a female student reported being harassed at the corner of Alcorn Street and Gardner Street as she was exiting Shaw’s Supermarket. The student said an unknown male standing outside the store threatened to rape her. She notified police after walking back to her apartment on Ashford Street, but officers were unable to locate the suspect after conducting a search. Weeded out A male student was found with more than an ounce of marijuana in his possession at Myles Standish Hall on Thursday at 9:40 p.m. He has been summoned to Roxbury District Court for possession.
The proliferation of food trucks on the Boston University campus might be overwhelming to hungry students rushing from class to class, but most of the mobile food vendors do not steer patrons the wrong way. However difficult it is to pick from what The Dining Car owner David Harnik called a “wonderful . . . food truck community here in Boston,” here are some of the best fares on the BU campus on a typical weekday: Mei Mei Street Kitchen Any hungry BU student seeking a quick bite of Chinese-American cuisine should head to this blue, white and yellow truck. Run by a team of three siblings – “Mei mei” means “little sister” in Chinese, according to the Mei Mei website – the truck stops at the BU campus on Thursday afternoons in front of Morse Auditorium. The staff is friendly and welcoming, happy to explain anything from the menu. They explained the delicious foraged fiddlehead tempura, which involves a vegetable similar to broccoli coated in a light, beer-based batter. Also popular on the Mei Mei menu is the pulled pork pancake – “Chinese-spiced pulled pork with a farm-fresh, free-range egg and Vermont cheddar on a scallion pancake,” said Mei Li, one of the siblings in charge of the truck. Using fresh ingredients is crucial to the Mei Mei menu, she said.
3
Increase in BU’s diversity among accepted students By Maha Kamal Daily Free Press Staff
MEI MEI/COURTESY
Mei Mei is a Chinese-American fusion food truck. Students enjoy easy access to food trucks on campus.
“We’re trying to showcase [our food] in the best way possible, so . . . it’s about finding the ingredients that we have available that are really high quality and seasonable, and showcasing them in a way that makes them taste great,” Li said.
said Harnik, a co-owner of The Dining Car. Other choices include the crispy cauliflower, the kielbasa sub and the vegetarian sandwich containing herb-marinated goat cheese, toasted walnuts that have been tossed with honey and truffle oil and field greens with sherry vinaigrette, Harnik said. The kielbasa sub, made with kielbasa meat, sausage, green peppers and onions, is a scrumptious and unique spin on run-of-the-mill sausage and peppers rolls. Set on fresh French bread, the sandwich is just right for a chilly day on the go. The orange truck’s menu is diverse, and Harnick said The Dining Car should be welcoming to all. “Our theme is that we love to
The number of accepted students for the Boston University Class of 2016 follows a trend of increasingly diverse acceptance on campus, according to Admissions data. BU Admissions accepted a higher percentage of Asian, Hispanic and black students for the 2012-13 academic year than it has in previous years. Five percent of accepted students were black, 10 percent were Hispanic and 20 percent were Asian, said BU spokesman Colin Riley. International students comprised about 11 percent of the admitted students. Sociology professor John Stone said diversity is important on a college campus because it reflects an “increasingly global society.” “How can GM sell cars to China or Apple sell iPads to India if we do not know what the growing middle classes in those countries value?” he said in an email interview. “What better way to do this than to have students from other countries studying together with American students at BU?” Stone said domestic diversity was a separate issue, but one that is “equally important.” Riley said diversity is always
The Dining Car Lunch-goers looking for more traditional, but not necessarily typical, American fare do not have to look further than The Dining Car, which parks outside of Morse on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. The truck serves a variety of sandwiches as well as occasional soups. The most popular item on the menu is the grilled chicken sandwich, made with wasabi spread, sliced, seedless cucumbers and avocado, SEE FULL STORY ONLINE SEE FULL STORY ONLINE
RHA to create overarching executive board, ease leadership changes By Nicole Leonard Daily Free Press Staff
As Residence Hall Association president of Towers for two years, College of Engineering sophomore Zach Herbert said he saw members struggle to adjust to their responsibilities when dealing with a frequent turnover rate. “Every year there is almost 100 percent turnover,” he said. “All the people, all the presidents and the executive board members make their contacts and they fix the problems and learn how the system works, and then they leave and get replaced in
the beginning of the year and start all over again.” With this in mind, Herbert and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Jonathon Scarbeau recently took an idea that had been discussed among presidents and Residence Life members at Boston University to create the RHA Overarching Executive Council, which will be implemented in the fall, Herbert said. “I didn’t want to make any changes to the current structure, but I did want to model it off of how other schools do it where we [would] have a centralized leadership in RHA with
TAKING A JOY RIDE
RACHEL PEARSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Boston locals enter a car as part of a promotional campaign by LoJack, a car security company. The campaign offers free car rides Monday evening in Kenmore Square.
some sort of overarching council,” he of improvement,” he said in an email said. interview. “I’m glad that the OEC However, Herbert said the OEC members have promised to involve needs to work on a more permanent next year’s executive board in the constitution over the summer so they discussions about the goals and struccan present it to Student Union in the ture of this organization so it best fall and get a vote on it. unifies the student voice to improve Union President Howard Male, undergraduate student life.” a senior in the School of Hospitality Herbert, the newly elected OEC and the School of Management, said vice president, said the OEC plans to Union has not yet approved the OEC work with incoming Union members but “looks forward to working with to solidify out aspects of the constituOEC members over the course of the tion and help improve the quality of next year.” residence and student life. “I believe their tentative SEE FULL STORY ONLINE document has significant areas
Helmets rare among Hubway riders By Emily Overholt Daily Free Press Staff
about my bike riding safety precautions because bad things have happened to me.” While she doesn’t use Hubway because she is afraid of riding in traffic, Allen said she sees the appeal. “Take that extra step to make yourself safe, and you can still have a good time riding your bike through Boston, which is obviously a fun time,” she said. College of Arts and Sciences freshman Pat Wilson said people might not wear helmets because they think they’re “uncool,” but he still thinks head protection is important. “You may trust yourself on a bike, but it’s not really you that you have to worry about, it’s other people hitting you,” Wilson said. “They’re really important to keep you safe.” However, Socrates Boutsikaris, a College of Engineering junior, said he does not wear a helmet when he rides Hubway because he doesn’t carry a helmet around with him. “Whenever I ride Hubway it’s
Few cyclists using public bike sharing programs such as Hubway wear helmets, according to a recent study, putting them at risk for head injury. The study, conducted by researchers at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and published Monday in the online edition of the Annals of Emergency Medicine, concluded that only one in five bike share cyclists wears a helmet, according to a press release. “Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about three-quarters of bicycle related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking numbers,” said lead author and emergency medicine physician Christopher Fischer, in the press release. A number of Boston University students said they always wear a helmet when riding bicycles. “In first grade I fell off my bike and broke my elbow and I had to have pin put in it,” said Rachael Allen, a College of Communication freshman. “So I’m very conscious SEE FULL STORY ONLINE
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Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Prof: legislator afraid to face issue chusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance and the American Civil Liberties Union have urged lawmakers this year to move forward on legalization. “Since the hearings, we’ve been
following up with each committee member to urge them to support medical marijuana reform,” the MPAA’s website states. “We hope the committee will soon take favorable action on our bills.”
‘Bystander education’ mandatory for student leaders at Boston University Center: From Page 1
ter on March 6, as reported by The Daily Free Press. “Hearing that [the crisis center is] definitely going to happen is great and I feel like the Student Union had at least a little bit of an influence on that happening,” said Alex Staikos, Union vice president. The CGSA was unavailable for comment at press time. Beyond sexual assault, Brown’s letter also said new measures will be taken next year to increase awareness about alcohol abuse and sexual assault based on the “bystander education” used during orientation last summer. “The aim of this bystander education is to increase awareness of excessive alcohol use and sexual assault and to encourage individuals to intervene in thoughtful, effective ways to prevent and discourage inappropriate behavior,” the letter stated. All officers of student organizations will be required to undergo bystander education in order to receive Student Allocation Board funding, according to the letter. “I believe that the vitality of our community depends on individual actions and the responsibility we take for ourselves and for others,” Brown said in the email. “Boston University can learn from what we have experienced this spring and become a better
community for living and learning.” Taylor Boss, a College of Fine Arts sophomore, said the administration should have implemented a crisis center a long time ago, though she is unsure as to how many people will actually use it. “I doubt people who are going through hazing are going to come in because when you go to join a fraternity or sorority you kind of know that’s going to happen,” Boss said. College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Liza Townsend said people might feel embarrassed about heading to a crisis center because people may pass judgment. “It would have been nice to have something to have been there the whole time, to support students, but maybe it didn’t seem so pertinent,” Townsend said. “I feel like they’re making steps toward doing something here, and now because they feel like they have to make up for this happening in the first place.” CAS sophomore Mike McCormick said what has happened on campus this semester has damaged the level of morality at BU. “I think this might be a step in the right direction, getting back to where people should be at in their minds and in their actions,” McCormick said. “I hope that people will come forward. I hope that it’s an active center on campus [for people] who are going through problems with sexual abuse.”
Subway key, affordable for workers MBTA: From Page 1
The last proposed phase of the Silver Line project has not been completed, and in its current state, Carter said, the line is not sufficient to serve the more than 14,000 riders who take the Silver Line each day, according to MBTA estimates. Building the third phase of Silver Line infrastructure, which would connect Washington Street to the Boston waterfront, costs about $1.8 billion, according to a report by the Metropolitan Planning Organization. But the longer the T waits, the more expensive it will become to finish the Silver Line, Carter said. In the meantime, he said, low-income neighborhoods in Boston continue to be “underserved by public modes of transportation.” Providing rapid access to downtown and a fast connection to the rest of the subway system from Dud-
ley Station is critical to commuting workers in low-income areas, he said in his thesis, adding that these neighborhoods, which are predominantly black, need affordable and accessible public transportation the most. “Advocates in Roxbury did attempt to file a Title IV grievance with the [Federal Transit Authority] that the planning process was intentionally racist,” Carter said. “That grievance was denied. Look at a map of our rapid transit system. Where are the train lines? Where are the poor communities? Who needs the transit most? They don›t align.” In proposals to shrink the $185 million budget gap, the MBTA suggested cutting weekend trolley service to Mattapan, eliminating all ferry service and cutting back or eliminating more than 20 bus routes, but refrained from doing so after a swell of dissent came from bus riders across Boston.
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Stress No More New knowledge prompts researchers to investigate better methods of decreasing stress levels
P
By Christina Janansky Features Staff
eople encounter stress on a regular basis in some way, shape or form. Furthermore, everyone has likely experienced the effects of stress at some point. The feelings of the jitters before a date, of freezing up during a presentation and of blanking out during an exam are all too familiar. “When I get stressed, I get headaches, have trouble sleeping, and crave sugary food, which makes my headaches worse and causes even more stress. It becomes a vicious cycle,” Laura Grant, a College of Communication sophomore at Boston University, said. Until recently, researchers believed people’s response to stress was a primal reaction, similar to those found in other animals. In a new study published in Scientific American, Yale researchers Amy Arnsten, Carolyn M. Mazure and Rajita Sinha have discovered humans’ response to stress is more than just a primal reaction. Stress can “cripple our most advanced mental faculties” in the most developed parts of the human brain, according to the study. For years, scientists believed the hypothalamus, which is located toward the base of the brain and is one of the oldest brain developments in primates, played the primary role in stress reaction. When engaging in stressful situations, the hypothalamus triggers the release of hormones from the pituitary and adrenal glands, causing elevated heart rate and blood pressure and decreased appetite. This new study now demonstrates the prefrontal cortex, the most highly evolved part of the brain, plays a bigger role in stress reaction than once thought. This new revelation has prompted researchers to investigate behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments to control the negative cognitive effects of stress.
the brain to the brain stem through neurons. When levels of these chemicals are high, the prefrontal cortex shuts off neuron firings by temporarily weakening the connection between them. As a result of decreased network activity, the ability to regulate behavior decreases. This lack of control worsens as the hypothalamus commands adrenal glands near the kidneys to disperse the stress hormone cortisol into the bloodstream and to the brain. While the prefrontal cortex is responsible for a great deal of human functions, other parts of the brain control human behavior. For instance, when dopamine hormones reach the deep-brain area structures called the basal ganglia, they regulate appetite and control habitual emotional, as well as
tations with wild predators. These mechanisms, according to the study, may serve an important function in the modern world, where your brain may signal you to slam on the brakes upon being cut off by a reckless driver. “In modern life, especially in cities like Boston, you forget that nature, and even people, can be those dangers,” Arnstern said. “You wouldn’t want your brain to have forgotten how to survive.” Arnstern said genetics may play a role in stress. Some people are more vulnerable to stress due to their genetic makeup, in which a particular form of a gene can weaken the enzymes that “chew up” neurotransmitters in the brain. Gender seems to play a role in stress vulnerability. In women, for instance, estrogen may make them more sensitive to stress, rendering them more susceptible to depression than men. Genetics aren’t the only thing that makes people more sensitive to stress than others. Environmental factors may play a key role in stress vulnerability. Jake Cox, a School of Management sophomore, said BU students get stressed due to school work. “I get stressed when things pile up. I finds it difficult to manage a bunch of projects at once,” Cox said. SOLUTIONS TO STRESS
Researchers are devising ways to assist the prefrontal cortex’s regulation of stress reactions. These consist of both pharmaceutical and behavioral therapy methods. The drug prazosin, for instance, is a generic therapy for blood pressure that blocks some the negative impacts norepinephrine’s has on the brain. It is currently being tested on patients with post-traumatic THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX stress disorder, such as veterans. Another photo illustration by/Audrey Fain study recently conducted by Yale associExam time causes stress for a lot of students. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for ate professor Sherry McKee of Yale and her some of the highest cognitive abilities humans have, includ- motor responses. colleagues found that guanfacine, another generic medicine ing concentration, decision-making and judgment. It inhibStudies in 2001 by Benno Roozendaal, James McGaugh for blood pressure, can decrease certain stress reactions and its inappropriate thoughts and actions and contains the neu- and their colleagues showed how this reaction was found in help the prefrontal cortex’s regulation of stress. ral circuitry necessary for abstract thought, attentiveness the amygdala, which prepared itself for danger in the presAside from medicine, behavioral strategies to manand temporary memory storage. Under non-stressful condi- ence of cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones sig- age stress are being researched. These include relaxation, tions, the prefrontal cortex serves as a “control center” that naled the nervous system to prepare itself by recollecting cognitive behavior therapy, meditation and deep-breathing regulates these mental processes, emotions and impulses. memories of fear. strategies. However, Arnstern said, methods of treatment While the prefrontal cortex serves many important funcThis research, originally analyzed in animals, translates depend on the individual’s needs. tions, it is extremely sensitive to everyday anxieties, both to human reactions to stress in the prefrontal cortex. In hu“Some people they’re able to do cognitive behavior mild and severe. In the study, acute stress signaled a series mans, dopamine and norepinephrine are released and switch therapy, and it helps them to stop bad habits and become of chemical reactions that weakened the prefrontal cortex’s off prefrontal cortex circuits necessary for higher cognition. healthier,” she said. “For other people, they don’t have the control, which is based on an internal network of connec- There are enzymes in the brain that generally “chew up” prefrontal cortex to even begin, and they’re needing a phartions among neurons called pyramidal cells. neurotransmitters so that this shutdown does not continue macological intervention to give them enough prefrontal These triangular shaped neurons connect to other parts so we can return to normal when stress subsides. However, cortex back on line to begin help themselves in other ways.” of the brain that control emotions, desires, and habits. sometimes these enzymes do not work properly, and the efA number of BU students made suggestions on how to Stress, however, can weaken these neuron connections, fects of stress, as a result, persist. manage their stress. consequently empowering other control centers, including The effects of stress, and particularly chronic stress, “I go to the gym to alleviate stress during a busy week,” the hypothalamus. When this happens, we feel inclined to make us more vulnerable to additional stress, depression, Cox, a SMG sophomore, said. indulge in habits the prefrontal cortex generally controls, addiction and anxiety disorders throughout life. However, it Others suggest taking a breather from time to time may Amy Arnstern, the lead researcher of the Yale study, said in is difficult to conduct further studies testing researchers’ hy- help. a phone interview. potheses about stress. It is generally considered unethical to “I try to make time for myself, even when I have a lot of “You can end up with real structural changes in your expose subjects to periods of extreme psychological stress. work to do,” Grant, a COM sophomore, said. brain where you are less regulated by these higher order However, Arnstern said she believes the best for students prefrontal systems and more controlled by primitive unWHY WE STRESS to manage daily stress is by helping themselves. conscious systems, like the amygdala,” Arnstern said. “You “The most important thing is to help yourself feel in concan get into very bad habits in terms of drug abuse, alcohol Scientists are now wondering what the biological pur- trol,” she said. She suggested exercise, relaxing walks and abuse, mindless overeating.” pose of stressing is. Why have humans evolved with this formulating schedules for yourself. Furthermore, she sugadaptation if it has such negative effects on humans? While gested ways to calm yourself in times of stress. WHAT HAPPENS DURING STRESS scientists have no concrete answers to these questions, they “If you’re taking a test or you’re trying to study and have theorized that stress is a survival mechanism. your mind’s going blank,” she said, “just think ‘this is just Stress signals the release of arousal chemicals, such as The triggering of primal reactions may have saved an- my stress physiology, I just need to relax a little bit. It’s gonorepinephrine and dopamine, which are transported from cient human lives in times of danger, such as in confron- ing to be okay.’”
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Opinion
May 1, 2012
The Daily Free Press
The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University 42nd year F Volume 82 F Issue 106
Steph Solis, Editor-in-Chief Tim Healey, Managing Editor Emily Overholt, Campus Editor
Sydney L. Shea, City Editor
Meredith Perri, Sports Editor
Sofiya Mahdi, Opinion Page Editor
Kira Cole, Features editor
Audrey Fain, Ricky Wilson, Photo Editors
Praise Hong, Advertising Manager Kaylee Hill, Layout Editor Valerie Morgan, Office Manager The Daily Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is published Monday through Thursday during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co.,Inc., a nonprofit corporation operated by Boston University students. No content can be reproduced without the permission of Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright © 2010 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Crisis control? Boston University was consistently in news headlines for alleged instances of sexual assault and hazing this year. As the negative publicity spread, students, faculty and those in the surrounding community were eager to see how BU would respond to rectify these issues. There was the introduction of a task force, which was designed to observe the BU men’s hockey team and develop constructive solutions for how the community should combat a potential rape culture from consuming our campus. As the semester comes to a close, a message from BU President Robert Brown announced the creation of a center designed to prevent and raise awareness about sexual assault, as well as to serve as a support system for victims of assault and hazing incidents. Furthermore, President Brown advocates “bystander education” for officers of student organizations to increase general awareness. This is definitely a positive step toward change, and the recipients of this email will find the outlining of these plans encouraging. However, as with many fledgling ventures, how the center and the education programs are organized
will be incredibly important. In order for the center to work, there will have to be a defined balance between treating victims with the utmost sensitivity and ensuring that training is well planned and executed. Furthermore, the “bystander education” venture would need to be educationally aggressive. According to Brown’s statement, this endeavor was instituted during the summer of 2011. The administration is right to bring awareness on how to intervene in difficult situations as a responsible member of the BU community. If students were better versed on how to prevent potential cases of assault when faced with them, this education could start a positive trend of the BU community actively condemning sexual assault or inappropriate conduct. As summer approaches, there is ample opportunity for the administration and the community as a whole to take a step back and assess where BU can progress in a meaningful manner. While these recent developments are gratifying, how they manifest themselves in reality will ultimately determine their validity as solutions.
Collaborating with China The relationship between China and the United States has been tenuous to say the least. As China has risen as an economic powerhouse, the nature of globalization has meant that maintaining relations with the country is of utmost importance. However, in the political sphere, the United States has previously condemned China’s neglect of human rights and heightened censorship, especially concerning dissidents. Recent events could potentially further strain the delicate relationship. An article published by TIME on Monday reported that Chen Guangcheng, a blind dissident who recently fled house arrest, is allegedly hiding from Chinese official in either the U.S. embassy or diplomatic residence. The situation’s outcome is uncertain; if the United States allows Guangcheng to remain on its property, it has to eventually grant him asylum and permit him to flee the country. If not, Guangcheng has to return to Chinese ground and face whatever the consequences may be. However, there are also reputations at stake. If the United States allows the Chi-
nese authorities to seize Guangcheng, this could set a precedent or passivity when faced with potential violations of human rights. Conversely, if the United States grants asylum, another precedent is set, one in which other dissidents could believe that by running to an American embassy, they will automatically be granted complete freedom and refuge. The layers of complexity that enshroud the situation encompass much more than one dissident seeking political freedom. There is no doubt that China’s rise to supremacy would continue when the nation decides to solidify an understanding with its people. Understandably, China will be eager to stand its ground on this issue to appear powerful in the global community. Nevertheless, remaining stubborn to save face would not be viewed favourably by other nations. In addition, the United States must be careful not to intrude on the internal affairs of another country to the extent where actions may be seen as oppressive. As the situation unfolds, an unfortunate reality is that both countries may not be able to emerge satisfied.
Have any parting words of wisdom or final thoughts on your year? Send us a letter to the editor at:
letters@dailyfreepress.com
Don’t forget to include your name, school and class year.
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Make your lives extraordinary
Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” These words have been resounding in my head lately. No matter how I look at it, I find myself steadily approaching the point of no return. The halfway point. And when John Keating tries to inspire his class of boys with these words in my favorite movie, “Dead Poets Society,” I hear him speaking to me directly, whispering about time lost and unexplored, encouraging me, reminding me that I must fully live each day. Right now it feels as if I am standing on the precipice of the rest of my life. Two years have never gone by so quickly. In another two years’ time, I will be taking the final step out of the comfort zone of education and into the hands of the real world. I will be entering the whirlwind of first jobs and salaries, balancing the adjustment of no longer being a student, and learning to use this foundation I have been building my entire life to stand on my own two feet. I am two decades into my life. I always imagined things differently at this point. Not better, not worse, but different. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. This is only halftime. It’s not over yet. I can change things around if I want. I can improve and strengthen. There is still a long journey of growing and learning ahead of me. It is time to learn from my mistakes and make new ones. It is time to stop wasting time. I want to go back out there and keep giving it my best. It has been a year of change. It has been a year of growth. It has been a year of falling behind and getting ahead. I have learned to sacrifice consistency, to keep my mind open like a parachute, to take a punch and keep fighting. It has been a year of personal transitions and global reshaping. We have raised our voices and fought to be heard. We have made changes within ourselves to make changes within society. Through my words, I have experienced it all. For the first time, I have kept my New Year’s resolution to write more. Whether on this column, online, or in person, I have not stayed silent. And I refuse to do so from now on. I have seen the power I can have. I have seen the potential of everyone around me. If there is one thing I have learned, it is
DANY VASQUEZ that every single person has one power that cannot be taken away: words. We all use them in different ways and through different mediums. But whether it is in writing, through music, in speech, we have the ability to make our lives extraordinary. It is time to stop standing casually by. We are no longer the observers. We are action. We must be the leaders. Because before we know it, there will be no one above us telling us what to do and how to do it. The ropes will lie in front of our hands, and we must take them with all the strength we can muster. Every single day is one step closer to the top. If we make the most of the rest of our days, then we have nothing to be scared of when we reach this halfway point, or when we arrive at that final precipice on the graduation stage. As the days slip us by and we get closer to the end of another year, we can look back and reflect on everything that has happened. All the people we have met, the connections around the world, the memories both remembered and forgotten, the songs we jammed to, the lazy days and the long nights. We have an entire summer to look back and prepare ourselves for what comes next. But once September rolls around and the summer haze clears away, there is no more looking back, only ahead. Whatever you have done up to this point, take and it and learn from it. Whether this is graduation, only the beginning, or halftime for you, it is time to take my favorite character’s words to heart and make each day extraordinary. This is the first last of many for me. My final column of the semester. Here in this spot, once a week on Tuesday mornings, my rants and musings are printed for all to see. I have taken my words and made sure they are heard. I have played hard this first half. And now it is time to sit for a moment, recuperate, and gear up for round two. The feeling of reaching a halfway point is bittersweet, but I know there are so many good things to come. It’s been beautiful, Boston. See you in the fall. Dany Vasquez is a sophomore in the College of Communication and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at vasquezd@bu.edu.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Softball America East Power Rankings By Sam Simmons
1
Photo: Audrey Fain
Stony Brook University (33-13-1, 12-2-1)
After going 5-13 in the America East Conference last year, the Seawolves have pulled themselves to the top of the conference with only two losses in conference play so far this season. Two Stony Brook players are in the top four in America East for hits, and the team’s collective .311 batting average leads the conference. Despite securing an America East playoff berth, the Seawolves’ season is not yet over as they face second-place University at Albany this weekend in a series that could decide the regular season conference champion.
2
Boston University (33-13, 11-3)
Despite their third-place position in America East, the Terriers season-high nine-game winning streak is indicative of the team’s strength at this point in the season. The Terriers must overcome two challenges in order to find success in America East: they must resist playing down to their opponent, and, more importantly, overcome the injuries that have hampered the team throughout the season. The Terriers remain at the top of the rankings as they stand as the only team in the America East to have defeated both Albany and Stony Brook.
3
University of Albany (31-10, 12-3)
After a three-game sweep in which it dominated conference rival Binghamton University, Albany swept the weekly America East honors, winning all three after a week in which it went 5-0. Despite ranking above BU in the America East standings, Albany has had more difficulties against non-conference opponents than either the Terriers or the Seawolves. Their upcoming weekend series against conference leaders Stony Brook will play a significant role in their final place in the America East standings.
4
University of Maine (15-26-1, 6-7-1)
Since tying first-place Stony Brook after a rainout in the eighth inning, the Black Bears have won their last four games. Despite relative success against America East teams ranked lower than them, the Black Bears have struggled against the America East leaders all season, being swept by both BU and Albany while dropping two to Stony Brook before tying them. They also rank below last-place UMBC in both team hitting and pitching and need to improve those numbers before they can hope to become real competition in the America East.
5
Binghamton University (16-27, 7-11)
Though they defeated first place Stony Brook in the first game of a doubleheader this past weekend, the Bearcats have struggled in America East play all season long. The Bearcats have struggled to stop their opponents from scoring all season long, and their offense has had difficulty producing, as only Hartford has a lower team batting average than Binghamton’s .225 this season.
6
UMBC (19-28, 1-14)
UMBC’s conference record is not necessarily a good representation of the team’s skills. Though the Retrievers’ only conference win came against Albany, they have a winning record in non-conference play. The Retrievers’ biggest weakness this season has been their defense. With a .943 team fielding percentage, they rank in last place in America East. Until they can overcome their America East hang-ups and play as successfully as they do in non-conference games, the Retrievers will remain at the bottom of the conference.
7
University of Hartford (9-39, 3-12)
After a 13-7 upset over the University of Connecticut, the Hawks returned to America East play by dropping three games in a row to BU. Other than that hard-fought win against UConn, Hartford has looked like a struggling team all season, unable to defeat any team in America East except for last-place UMBC. The Hawks’ opponents have scored more than twice as many runs as they have this season, and their team ERA is the worst in America East by over a full point. Though they swept UMBC this season, they rank below them in almost every statistical category.
7
Pelage, O’Brien consider experience positive despite challenges faced coaches:
From page 8
transition were felt both on the court and off. Chambers was a fast and clean break from Wolff in almost every way imaginable. After playing a season in Wolff’s deliberate, halfcourt offense, they had to adjust to Chambers’ up-tempo system. With a new coach came a new personality as well. Pelage and O’Brien had built good relationships with Wolff, but their former coach often came off as more buttoned-down and sometimes standoffish. Chambers, on the other hand, was an animated and indefatigable personality who never seemed to tire. “From the two years that I had with Coach Chambers, you had to bring it every day,” Pelage said. “Leadership starts from the top and he brought it every day. He stood for everything that he stood for as far as being positive and having a great attitude. “You could tell he was about that when he woke up.” With Chambers’ energy came something much more important – wins. The Terriers went 21-14 in each of his first two seasons and in 2011, BU went on a late-season run that brought them all the way to the NCAA Tournament. That success, however, did not come without consequences, as Chambers left the program last June to become the new head coach at Penn State University. “Regardless of what is printed and what is said, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Chambers told The Daily Free Press in June of his decision. “I really do care about those kids. They sacrificed and they gave it up, and I think about them all the time.” O’Brien and Pelage had been through a coaching change before, but the news of Chambers’ departure was particularly hard for them both. Though they both understood the move, it didn’t make it any less hard to cope with. “When I found out he was leaving, everything just flashed before me and in front of me,” Pelage said. Going from the America East Conference to the Big Ten Conference is a logical move upward for almost any coach, but Chambers’ decision left behind a slew of players who have become all too familiar with coaching turnover in college. But even among their BU teammates, O’Brien and Pelage stand out. Seniors Matt Griffin and Darryl Partin, too, played for three coaches in four years, but partly by choice as they transferred to BU. Senior center Patrick Hazel is another matter entirely, as he has the unenviable honor of having played for four different coaches in his four years of college eligibility. But Pelage and O’Brien have been at the same school the entire time. They committed to BU expecting to play for Wolff, decided to stick around for Chambers and this season, they had to work with their third coaching staff.
“It was a terrific group of guys that really care about Boston University, really care about the program, really care about each other, really care about getting better, just a terrific group,” said current BU coach Joe Jones. “It was one of those groups that you just wish you had more time with them, you just felt like you didn’t have enough time.” O’Brien said that it was a smooth transition under Jones, especially given all that’s happened to him in his career. “Having played for two coaches and now having a third, I’ve kind of seen it all,” O’Brien said. “Coach Jones is a really good person, a really good guy, and I think all of us were just happy to play for a guy like him. I think we bought in right away.” Jones, who oversaw coaching changes in the past at Columbia University, noted that the changes players face go well beyond what most people think. “Your relationship, the trust factor, your belief – all those things take time,” Jones said. “I think the continuity of a team and a staff is very, very important and, without that, it’s hard. It’s very, very hard.” Pelage concurred with Jones on the impact that turnover has on the fundamental relationships that are established between coach and player on the college level. “Working with people for so long, you have all the good times, you have the hard times and you just look at all those times, and those people are moving on and you’re still here,” Pelage said. “It’s just like, where do you go from here without those people?” Four years later, with the BU program standing in sharp contrast to the one that O’Brien and Pelage committed to coming out of high school, both players will move on to a new phase of their lives. Pelage will graduate in May from the School of Hospitality Administration and O’Brien will play his senior season after sitting out all of last season recovering from surgery on an ailing foot. For all the adversity they faced in their college careers, they move forward with a positive attitude about what awaits them. After all, they’ve been through so much change and turbulence, they’re ready for anything that may come their way. And they know that in real life, just like college basketball, change is just a part of the way the world works. “I think the biggest characteristic I can get out of all this is that I’ve learned to be adaptable, and if you compare this to the real world, there’s going to be changes like this happening all the time,” Pelage said. “As you develop as a person, as I grow into becoming a better person and man, you learn that people are going to have to make decisions. “I may one day make this decision to someone else and they’re going to have to go through what I went through in college. I guess the thing is being adaptable and just understanding that you just can’t be bitter about any of these things.”
MARASCO: Look past the wins, losses, remember experience of being fan Marasco: From page 8
wanted dose of pasty, white guts hanging over the railings of the Northeastern student sections on each end of the ice. To each his own, but I just don’t think the “No Tee OT” thing is ever going to grow on me, and no child of mine will ever be subjugated to such a gruesome display. Luckily, Northeastern offers psychological consulting, free of charge, after all home overtime games for those who have a difficult time getting over the emotional distress caused by No Tee OT. Let’s stay at Matthews Arena for the next award. Despite the obvious emotional scarring that results from No Tee OT, it was only the second most obscene part of the March 5 tilt with the Huskies. The award for ‘Greatest Display of Choreographed Hatred’ goes to the entire Northeastern hockey team, whose middle fingers are still burned into the deepest bowels of my memory.
That’s right - after former Terrier Vinny Saponari’s game-winning overtime goal against the Terriers, the entire Northeastern squad skated over to the BU student section and proceeded to give us all the finger for what probably was only about 45 seconds, but felt as long as that series of endings in the last Lord of the Rings movie. That experience leads me perfectly to my next award, the ‘Most Difficult Game to Watch’ award. You ever see a couple fighting in public, or someone on the street having a nervous breakdown because of the stresses of the daily grind? You get that feeling like you just shouldn’t be watching – you shouldn’t be there to see it. Well, that’s how I felt when BU played the University of Maryland-Baltimore County men’s basketball team at the Roof on Jan. 24. The final score was 83-48 in favor of the Terriers, which is painful in its own right, but watching the UMBC bench come apart at the
seams – seeing Randy Monroe’s pit stains reach uncomfortable levels – made me feel like I shouldn’t have been there. With his team falling behind by 37 points three different times, Monroe was screaming and jumping up and down on the sidelines as if his Happy Meal didn’t have the plastic toy he had hoped for inside it. The faces of his players seemed to say “C’mon, Coach – people are watching. Can’t we talk about this when we get home?” In stark contrast to Monroe’s unbridled passion, the ‘Most Apathetic’ award goes to the Harvard student section – or lack there of – at this year’s Beanpot semifinal. I’m not sure what to say other then where were they? I mean, I’m sure they’re busy and all with being Harvard students, but not even four or five of them could put their homework off for a couple hours? But, I guess that’s why they go to Harvard and I don’t.
Finally, I’d like to give the award for ‘Most Redundant’ to the Agganis Arena staff for repeatedly awarding the “Flip Cam Dance-off” victory to any child who entered the contest. Some of those older gentlemen had some top-quality moves that were overlooked because of their age - it’s a real shame. And what are those 4-year-olds going to do with all those flip cams? Seriously. Honorable Mention goes to the entire Red Hot Hockey experience - “Whistlegate,” Ross Gaudet’s game-winning overtime tip, Cornell fans throwing beers at the band and taunting xylophone players and post-game drinks with Dean Elmore really made that night one to remember. Sometimes lost in all the drama of the rivalries, the wins and the losses, is the joy that comes solely from the experience of being a fan – of being there. I leave you with these moments for now, and look forward to many more next year. Thanks for reading and have a great summer.
“
Quotable
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Everything just flashed before me and in front of me. -Jeff Pelage on Patrick Chambers leaving BU
Page 8
The Empty Net Year in Review
Sports The Daily Free Press
Triple Terriers Three BU athletes, one from the lacrosse teams and two from softball teams, were named America East Players of the Week on Monday, p. 8.
[ www.dailyfreepress.com ]
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Pelage, O’Brien go through unique coaching experience
Frank Marasco Another passing year at school brings another slew of memories, and never fails to make the nostalgia start flowing. If you’re a sports enthusiast, there’s a lot to love about BU, and the past year in Terrier sports has, not surprisingly, provided its share of memorable events – some, I feel, deserve special recognition. So, here are my awards for this year in BU sports: The award for ‘Best Arena Experience’ goes hands down to the Tsongas Center in Lowell. Mythical creatures known as river hawks abound, but better yet is the inflatable blimp that cruises around the rafters, raining down coupons upon the UMass-Lowell faithful. You look around the arena and see advertisements for upcoming events: “The Blood, Sweat and Beers Tour” and “Rowdy Star Wars Night.” Combine all that with the Avion tequila on tap, and you’ve got yourself a glorious slice of the Lowell experience. At Agganis you have to provide a passport just to have a beer, but at the Tsongas Center they’ll give you a round of tequila shots if you’re tall enough to see over the bar. So, here’s to you, Lowell. Well done. However, not all opposing arenas provided such high times. The award for ‘Most Uncomfortable’ goes to the Northeastern student section. If you’re a family man and want to take the kids to enjoy a nice weekend game at historic Matthews Arena, you’d better hope the game doesn’t go into overtime. If it does, your fragile, impressionable children will get an un-
Marasco, see page 7
DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO
JUNHEE CHUNG/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO
Seniors Jake O’Brien (left) and Jeff Pelage (right) both spent their entire four years at Boston University and went through three coaches during that span of time. By Craig Meyer Daily Free Press Staff
When Jeff Pelage and Jake O’Brien arrived at Boston University almost four years ago, they were no different than any other players getting ready to start their college basketball careers. There were the same aspirations – improving their respective games, growing as players and, hopefully, experiencing a championship and the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament. Maybe more than anything, they were there to play for a coach who convinced them to come play for him rather than anyone else in the country. But now, three and a half years, 132 games and countless hours of practice later, the pair can no longer say their careers have been average. Indeed, among thousands of Division I college basketball players, they are unique, as BU’s twoman 2008 recruiting class has had the bizarre if not downright dubious distinction of having played for three different coaches in their four-year college careers. “It was just tough, it was just tough,” Pelage, a senior center, said. While O’Brien and Pelage’s experience with coaching turnover has been far from typical, coaching
changes aren’t all that strange. In fact, in the world of modern college basketball, they’re something of a necessary evil. In an ideal world, a player would commit to play for a coach throughout their college career. For some players, this ends up being the case. Others, however, are not so lucky. Sometimes a coach underperforms and the school lets him go in favor of someone who can right the proverbial ship. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a coach can find success at a school and abruptly leave for a more promising opportunity. This is the world in which BU lives. But behind all of this movement are young men who are left to deal with the wide-ranging effects of it, who have to adjust to new coaches and accept their new realities. O’Brien and Pelage are two of those faces, exceptional case studies in what is a common phenomenon. Though they have come to share a lot of similarities, Pelage and O’Brien took very different routes to BU. O’Brien is a local boy and former standout at Boston College High School, while Pelage came to Boston all the way from Pompano Beach, Fla., and the Pine Crest School, where he was teammates
with Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Knight. But they were both driven to the same program, guided here largely by the man who was in charge at the time – former BU coach Dennis Wolff. Known as a tough, hardnosed coach, Wolff was the man that the two trusted to introduce them to the ropes of college basketball. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Wolff,” O’Brien said. “He demanded a lot from me and expected a lot from me, but he was a really good, influential person. I was just a young kid, I was a freshman, and we built a strong relationship. I think he got the most out of me.” The situation seemed stable enough. Wolff was in his 15th season with the BU program and while the Terriers weren’t overwhelmingly successful that season, they still finished 17-13 despite season-ending injuries to a host of key players. Suddenly, that all changed. On March 11, 2009, Athletic Director Mike Lynch released a statement announcing the school had fired Wolff. Now, the man who visited O’Brien and Pelage in their living rooms and who they thought would be their mentor for a critical juncture in their lives was now gone, never to return.
“At first, I was kind of shocked, but based off the aura that was with the team, I guess they kind of knew it was already coming,” Pelage said. “I hadn’t been there that long and didn’t know how the whole thing worked, and I knew Coach Wolff was there for a long time, so I didn’t think anything of it. I guess it was one of those things that the school had to part ways with him and move forward into a new direction.” With BU’s decision came decisions of their own for Pelage and O’Brien as to whether to leave. Both players said they seriously considered transferring, with O’Brien taking some tangible action by being granted an official release from the program to explore other options. Their futures at BU would be largely dependent on who the school hired as the next head coach, a moment that came when Lynch turned to Villanova University associate head coach Pat Chambers to take over. Both O’Brien and Pelage met with the energetic up-andcomer and decided it was in their best interests to trust the new coach and stay with the program. As the work for the 2009-10 season began, the true effects of the
Coaches, see page 7
Three Terriers take home weekly America East honors after leading their teams By Meredith Perri Daily Free Press Staff
After having one of the best games of her career over the weekend, junior attack Danielle Etrasco of the Boston University lacrosse team was named the America East Player of the Week on Monday. Etrasco, who is second in America East in both goals and points with 55 and 21, respectively, matched a career high during BU’s game against
Binghamton University on Saturday. She racked up nine points as she tallied five goals and had a career-high four assists against the Bearcats. The Massapequa, N.Y. native finds herself tied for eighth in the nation with an average of 4.75 points per game and ninth in the nation with an average of 3.44 goals per game after scoring at least one goal in every game the Terriers have played this season. Etrasco will next play in the first round of the America East
The Bottom Line
Tuesday, May 1
Softball @ Maine, 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2 Softball @ UMass-Amherst, 5 p.m.
Tournament when top-seeded BU takes on the fourth-seeded University at Albany on Thursday. If the Terriers win, they will continue on to face either Stony Brook University or the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in the championship on Saturday.
Sophomore shortstop Brittany Clendenny and junior pitcher Whit-
ney Tuthill also took home America East Honors on Monday as Clendenny was named the Player of the Week and Tuthill was named the Pitcher of the Week. Both players held key roles in the Terriers’ six wins this past week. BU is in the midst of a nine-game winning streak. Over the past week, Clendenny has gone 9-for-17 with a .529 batting average. She led the team with nine hits – six doubles and three home
runs. Meanwhile, she scored nine runs, had seven RBIs and had a 1.412 slugging percentage. On the pitcher’s circle, Tuthill went 4-0, allowing just 19 hits in 23.1 innings of work. Tuthill gave up only four earned runs, giving her a 1.54 ERA during that span. She also struck out 20 batters in her 23.1 innings. Tuthill has an 11-4 record on the season and holds the second-best ERA on the team at 2.29.
Thursday, May 3
Friday, May 4
Saturday, May 5
Softball’s Clendenny and Tuthill
Lacrosse vs. Albany, 1 p.m.
No Games Scheduled So Rondo can chest-bump his teammates for a good play, but not the ref for a good call?
Softball @ UMBC, 1 p.m. Lacrosse @ America East Championship, 1 p.m.