The Daily Free Press
Year xliii. Volume lxxxiv. Issue XXIV
BEAMING AT BU Laser between StuVi II, LAW, marks art conference, page 3.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University
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CELL SY-STEM
www.dailyfreepress.com
BROOMBALL
Stem cells could help with inflammation, page 5.
WEATHER
Men’s hockey notches weekend sweep in first 2 games, page 8.
Today: Partly cloudy, high 67. Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 50. Tomorrow: 63/58. Data Courtesy of weather.com
Fire displaces residents from 575 Comm. Ave. BUPD arrests
1 of Boston’s Most Wanted
By Steven Dufour Daily Free Press Staff
Boston University residents at 575 Commonwealth Ave. were evacuated twice as a result of two separate fires on the dormitory’s fifth floor Sunday night and early Monday morning. “The [first] call came in at 10:19 p.m.,” said Steve MacDonald, spokesman for the Boston Fire Department. “The cause of the fire was an overheated laptop. It generated a small fire with a large amount of smoke … The [department] chief gave a total dollar loss of $10,000, and there were no injuries.” MacDonald said the second call came in at 3:07 a.m. due to a trashcan fire that caused no injuries. There was no official damage cost, but he estimated it to be much lower than the first fire. “What usually happens in these cases is the smoke is the biggest problem,” he said. “The entire floor could need to get professionally cleaned, but apart from that, the only damage is usually to the trash can, which is much easier to replace.” In both cases, residents at the former Howard Johnson Hotel were evacuated onto the street until firefighters determined entry was safe and a sufficient investigation had been completed. There have not yet been any official findings as to whether the second fire was deliberate, and BU spokesman Colin Riley said no assumptions should be made. “The only way to know if it was is to wait until they [firefighters] investigate, but it
By Trisha Thadani Daily Free Press Staff
MIKE DESOCIO/DAILY FREE PRESS CONTRIBUTOR
Two fires broke out in dormitory rooms at 575 Commonwealth Ave. Sunday night.
likely could just have been someone throwing a cigarette in there that smoldered and lit,” he said. Both fires were put out when firefighters arrived, and no other students were displaced except those in the affected room, which is a triple on the western side of the building. Residents of the dorm complex said they had differing reactions to the fires. Daniel Phillips, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore who lives on the fifth floor, said the night was chaotic, but was handled
well by residence authorities. “With how smoky it was, people figured out pretty quick that it was a real fire,” he said. “Our building manager did a good job of getting everyone out. He was at the building on our hallway making sure all the rooms got out … I don’t think anyone ever thought it was a drill.” Tessa Lynch-Colameta, a CAS sophomore living in HoJo, said residents were organized
Fire, see page 2
Mass. amendment proposes voting 10 days before election By Julia Metjian Daily Free Press Contributor
Massachusetts lawmakers proposed an amendment on Wednesday that would give residents 10 additional days to vote before a scheduled election. Currently, voters who are unable to participate in a scheduled election are able to request ballots, but must give a reason for why they are doing so. With the proposed amendment, residents would no longer need to provide a reason for why they may need to vote on a date earlier than Election Day. Michael Tolley, political science professor at Northeastern University, said the amendment is sensible reform because early voting leads to turnout increase and shorter lines. “Massachusetts joins the 30 or so states that have already given voters the opportunity to vote on the Saturday before if that is more convenient than voting on Election Day,” he said. “I predict that the [residents] of Massa-
chusetts would be more inclined to adopt measures that improve voter turnout than some other states that are moving toward voter IDs and other barriers to voting.” In order to pass, lawmakers must approve the amendment in the current session of the Legislature as well as the next session in 2015. Residents of Massachusetts will be able to vote early beginning in 2020, as long as the amendment continues to move forward and is ratified by the Commonwealth’s voters. Mass. Sen. Sal DiDomenico said he supports the amendment. “I think it’s a good amendment,” he said, “It encourages people to vote and get involved in the legislative process and I definitely support getting more people engaged in the process.” Northeastern University political science professor Michael Dukakis, who is also former governor of Massachusetts and ran for U.S. President in 1988, said the amendment
has been successful in other states. “It has worked well in the states that already have it and has made it possible for a lot of people to vote who had difficulty doing so because of their work schedules and other responsibilities,” he said. Dukakis said there are no disadvantages to the amendment and he believes it will encourage larger voter turnouts, especially among people who have not registered or have not voted often. “If 2012 is any indication of what is likely to happen, we will have larger turnouts,” he said. “Of course, that puts a premium on candidates and parties’ actively organizing at the precinct level, encouraging people to register and vote early and helping them get to the early polling locations.” Some residents said they were supportive of the proposed amendment.
Amendment, see page 2
The Boston University Police Department arrested Josephine Simard, a woman on Boston’s Most Wanted list, who officials believe is connected to a series of thefts around campus, said BUPD Captain Robert Molloy. Molloy said the suspect was found inside an office suite at 595 Commonwealth Ave., where several thefts have occurred in the last two weeks. He said an office secretary called BUPD immediately after she spotted Simard in the suite. “She was seen at the building in the afternoon, around 12:30 p.m., which is consistent with the time that a lot of these thefts have occurred,” Molloy said. “Then she was observed exiting the building ... officers were called up because someone saw her based upon the flyer we developed.” An officer who was patrolling the area arrested Simard in Kenmore Square after she exited the School of Management building. Molly said in the past few weeks, several wallets and a variety of electronic devices have been stolen from SMG and various other BU buildings. Through public investigation and surveillance videos, BUPD labeled Simard a suspect, and distributed her picture to the various offices that had been affected by these thefts. “We’re still working on some of those cases [thefts from the past few weeks], trying to connect the dots,” Molloy said. Molloy said Simard was arraigned in Roxbury District Court on Wednesday on 19 counts related to activity at 595 Commonwealth Ave. Her charges include credit card fraud and multiple counts of receiving stolen property. “We are pleased that she was taken under arrest … and we just appreciate that the people who work in that building are really good at being our eyes and ears,” Molloy said. “If it weren’t for their contact from who observed her … she would not have been arrested and we would not have been able to take her into custody. So, we are very happy about the fact that
Arrest, see page 2
After large donation, First Night to return for New Year’s celebrations By Kelsey Newell Daily Free Press Staff
Four months after organizers canceled Boston’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration, First Night 2014 is set to happen due to an increase in funds from outside donors. First Night, Inc. had been organizing the event for 37 years, but due to a lack of donations and sponsors, organizers announced in June they would shut it down. In response, several organizations donated enough to save the celebration, officials announced Wednesday. The Highland Street Foundation is lead sponsor and is donating $100,000. “Thanks to the Mayor’s [Boston Mayor Thomas Menino] leadership, we are one of many organizations who have come together to ensure First Night Boston is back again this year,” said Blake Jordan, executive director of Highland Street Foundation. “The trustees felt that it was important for Boston to have a First Night. First Night was started here.”
The celebration, which was the first of its kind in the country, traditionally has held attractions and performances all around Boston on New Year’s Eve, continuing into the next day. Laura Roberts, board chair of First Night, said she is glad officials were able to gather funds after initially being unable to do so. “We are thrilled that the city and Mayor Menino have embraced the festival and that Highland Street Foundation is supporting it,” she said. “With the change in leadership at City Hall [once another mayor is elected], it is hard to predict what will happen after Dec. 31, 2013, but the board will do whatever it can to ensure a long-term solution.” Roberts said First Night will have some staff at the event this year, but does not have an “active role” in the event’s organization.
First Night, see page 2
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL MAROTTA
Crowds cheer during the 2013 First Night Celebration in Copley. The First Night organization will continue after receiving support from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and the Highland Street Foundation.