1-22-2015

NEWS Jury selection continues for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. pg. 4

SCIENCE TUESDAY As mainstream tech connects users to the rest of the world, a growing niche in the market offers to cut them off. pg. 6

29º / 35º MOSTLY CLOUDY

SPORTS Defenseman Doyle Somerby is making strides in his sophomore campaign. pg. 12

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY YEAR XLIV. VOLUME LXXXVIII. ISSUE I.

Olympic Bid Boston 2024 is a thing? sprooots?

GRAPHIC BY DANIEL GUAN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston 2024 makes bid documents public

BY GABI ARRIAGA DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston 2024 Executive Bid Committee has agreed to release bid documents to the public and hold Citizen’s Advisory Meetings to allow for transparency in the Olympic bid process, according to the Boston 2024 website.

On Jan. 8, the United States Olympic Committee selected Boston as the U.S. bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The following day, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said at a press conference that there would be “no referendum.”

On Tuesday, Laura Oggeri, chief communications officer for the City of Boston, clarified in a statement that Walsh does not support a referendum on

the Boston 2024 bid decision, but he does not look to discourage conversation.

“He looks forward to engaging in a robust community process and having a two-way conversation with all neighborhoods as we move forward,” she said in a Tuesday statement.

“Should the public decide to collect signatures for a referendum, that is a right of the people that the mayor fully supports.”

Even before the city was officially announced as the U.S. bid, there had been public unrest over the potential of having the 2024 Olympics in Boston. On Dec. 9, The Daily Free Press reported that a group of approximately 30 individuals gathered outside the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston to protest the potential Boston hosting.

Chris Dempsey, co-chair of the 2024 bid-opposing organization No Boston Olympics, said the improvements to the city that would need to be completed to host the Olympics could be done without the motivation of the Games.

“If you look at previous Olympics hosts, a lot of them have made a lot of promises in their bid about the infrastructure they would improve,” he said. “But when the rubber hits the road, what the International Olympic Committee cares more about is getting stadiums and venues done rather than fixing the Red Line or getting better buses.”

Adam Naylor, a clinical psychology professor in Boston University’s School of Education, said the psychological

effects of hosting an Olympics might be more interesting than the financial repercussions.

“There’s no doubt sports can bring communities together, add excitement and add good feelings,” he said. “There’s a lot of science to say that when people cheer together, they come together and there’s positive emotions, and some studies have shown that there’s some positive mental health benefits.”

With the release of the bid documents, Naylor said there will be more transparency between the Boston 2024 committee and the public, which could quell conflict between spectators and athletes.

“Especially in high-end sports these days, there are so many conspiracy theories, and the less we can have those, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

BU wrestlers look back one year after team’s last season

BY J.D. CAPELOUTO DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Less than a year ago, Boston University wrestler Matt Belikov, then a sophomore, stepped off the mat after a match, feeling invigorated and proud, a memory that was one of many he shared with his teammates. The feelings were in sharp contrast to the confusion and sadness he experienced a few days later when he realized there would be no wrestling team to come back to.

“We were pulled into a room, and everyone was speechless,” said Belikov, now a junior in the School of Management. “You felt everyone’s pain, as well as your own. We couldn’t really believe it. We didn’t think it’d really happen. It came out of the blue. It just really blindsided us. It didn’t really hit you at once.”

Former BU Director of Athletics Mike Lynch announced on April 1, 2013 that the 2013-14 season for the varsity-level wrestling team would be its last, The Daily Free Press reported. Shortly after the announcement, wrestlers launched the “Save BU Wres-

tling” campaign on various social media platforms and received support from BU students, alumni and groups including Student Government and Greek Life, the FreeP reported Dec. 11, 2013.

“It was a huge hurdle to overcome,” Belikov said. “I didn’t know what I was going to do at BU. It caused a lot of problems.

There was a lot of insecurity for me. I had to find a new place at BU. Those were my people. That’s where I enjoyed being, and they kind of just took that all away.”

Aquestion-and-answer document released by the athletic department called the decision to cut the wrestling team “strategic” and was neither financial- nor Title IX-based, the FreeP reported on April 3, 2013.

Since the wrestling team was cut, many team members and former coach Carl Adams have joined other athletic teams or have quit athletics altogether.

Belikov is now a member of the track and field team, where he is training to compete in the decathlon. While he appreciates his new teammates and coaches on the track team, Belikov said

nothing could replace wrestling for him.

“We had such a special group of guys. Just having them around was so much fun,” he said. “We had people from all over the school, very different kids, but we all had that one backbone.”

Adams, who had coached the wrestling team for 33 years, moved on to a new position within BU Athletics as coordinator of student athlete services.

“It [the new job] couldn’t be a replacement … so it would be difficult for anything to replace the

time I spent in the sport of wrestling,” he said. “I enjoyed helping them go after achieving their goals. And they were just fun people to be around and to coach.”

At the time the athletics department was considering cutting wrestling, Adams said, he had no idea the plans were in the works.

“When I first found out, my initial reaction was one of shock,” he said. “The athletes were devastated, and I’d think that would be an obvious emotion when you have your program pulled out CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PHOTO BY MICHELLE JAY/DFP FILE PHOTO

Carl Adams, former Boston University wrestling head coach, hugs Nestor Taffur, former captain, at the last meet before the wrestling program was cancelled.

BU opts out of AAU sexual assault climate survey, plans to create its own

BY RACHEL LEGON DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston University administrators opted out of an anonymous national sexual assault survey administered by the Association of American Universities and have said they have plans to conduct their own survey in the future.

The Daily Free Press reported May 1, 2014 that BU is one of 55 colleges under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for allegedly mishandling sexual harassment and violence complaints on campus and violating Title IX legislation, which prohibits gender discrimination at institutions that receive federal financial aid.

The AAU’s sexual assault survey will have a large sample of students from a variety different kinds of campuses across the nation, said AAU spokesman Barry Toiv. Results from the climate survey could be applicable to the universities participating.

“We think that the results will be extremely useful generally,” he said. “Each university will receive its own data, so it also serves the purpose of providing universities with their own information.”

Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said BU declined to participate in the survey because it will be conducting its own sexual assault climate survey.

“We want to have a survey that’s a little more tailored to our population, what we’re looking for and we also had some questions about the survey that AAU is conducting and the timing,” he said. “It didn’t quite fit into our cycles here, so that was important for us.”

Of the 62 schools in the association, 26 of the research institutions, including BU, chose not to participate in the AAU survey, Inside Higher Ed reported Jan. 13.

The AAU does not criticize any of the schools that opted out of the survey, Toiv said.

“Most of those that decided not to participate gave as their primary reason the fact that either they individually, or their state university systems, were conducting their own surveys,” he said. “Our individual universities have decided whether it is necessary for them to participate.”

While BU will be implementing its own survey in the coming months, Elmore said he recognizes how the AAU survey could be beneficial for data comparison, especially for schools within the same area.

“There may be some elements of attitudes and behavior and conduct that have more of a citywide implication than we think, so in an ideal world, we would have a similar survey as our other urban Boston area colleges and universities had, and that way we could share data and really get a good sense, but that’s just not where anyone is right now,” he said.

BU spokesman Colin Riley said in addition to creating its own survey on sexual assault, the university has taken other efforts to CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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NEWS

ACLU calls for end to profiling

CAMPUS CRIME LOGS

BY ALEXANDRA DAVID DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

BY J.D. CAPELOUTO DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts called on state lawmakers Monday to pass legislation that would help analyze and address problems of racial bias in policing, according to a Monday press release.

The legislation, introduced by Massachusetts Rep. Byron Rushing, Massachusetts Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry and Massachusetts Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, would make data collection about police-civilian encounters routine and uniform and make that data available to the public, according to the release.

Christopher Ott, communications director for the ACLU of Massachusetts, said the ACLU wants a more regular release of documents and data pertaining to police-civilian encounters.

“We want them [the police] to release the data that shows what’s really happening in terms of who are they stopping and searching and where in the city and why,” he said. “We want that released on a much more regular basis, which is what these bills which have just been introduced at the State House would do.”

In October 2014, the ACLU released a

The following reports were taken from the Boston University Police Department from Jan. 13 to Jan. 19.

Person attempts to steal, damages bike than “young white men” to be frisked or searched, and young black men were more likely to be targeted for repeat police-civilian encounters.

“Boston police made no justification for three-quarters of the stops and searches they did in the data that we looked at,” Ott said. “And all they put for that was ‘investigate person,’ so putting that on the documentation that they file is a lot like putting nothing at all. It’s essentially saying, ‘We felt like stopping this person, so we did.’”

The ACLU is asking specifically that police officers report concrete reasons for stopping someone, Ott said.

Racial bias in policing and police brutality have been on the radars of many Americans since the August 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, after a confrontation with a Fer-

SOURCE: ACLUM.ORG GRAPHICS BY SAMANTHA GROSS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

report called “Black, Brown and Targeted,” analyzing the latest data on police-civilian encounters made available by police. It stated that blacks were subjected to 63 percent of interrogation, observation, stops and searches, even though they make up 24 percent of Boston’s population.

Additionally, the report found when police-civilian encounters occurred, “young black men” were more likely

guson, Missouri police officer and the July 2014 death of 43-year-old Eric Garner after he was put in a chokehold by police in Staten Island, New York.

“A key part of what’s going on is that we can feel and express this concern that so many people have had since the Michael Brown shooting and the Eric Garner incident and the aftermath of these things, but

we need to do something about them. And that’s what this legislation is about,” Ott said. “These bills are meant to help analyze and address this problem that we see both in the Boston area and across the country of racial bias and policing.”

However, the report sparked significant controversy when it came out, according to the release.

“One of the criticisms of the report that was made was that the data it was based on was old,” Ott said. “Those recent numbers came from 2010. But that’s only because it’s the most recent data the police have made available.”

The ACLU had previously made recommendations to police to address the problems in policing. Matthew Segal, ACLU of Massachusetts’ legal director, said the ACLU had provided the Boston Police Department with recommendations pertaining to police-civilian encounters.

“Well before the release of our report, the ACLU made clear recommendations to police to address this problem: issue body-worn cameras to officers, provide receipts to any civilian involved in a stop, frisk, search or consensual interview and routinely publish data on police-civilian encounters,” he said in the release.

Segal said no policy changes have been made by BPD in response to the recommendations.

Several residents said there is no clear answer to improving race relations in the United States.

Laurie Foreman, 30, of Brighton, said legal action is imperative to properly address the profiling problem.

“It’s definitely an issue, and there needs to be legislation to alter this situation,” she said.

Jeff Foreman, 35, of Brighton, said he wasn’t sure how to go about making a change in the nation’s race issues.

“It’s a big issue in today’s society that needs to be rectified. I’m not sure what can be done,” he said. “I know there are steps to be taken, but I’m not sure how it can be changed.”

Survey participation could be useful, students say SEXUAL ASSAULT, FROM PAGE 1

educate and aid students.

“In the past few years, BU has established a Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center and implemented bystander intervention training and expanded its educational programs as part of a comprehensive approach to increasing awareness of the issue and the steps to take and resources available if one is the victim/survivor of sexual assault,” he said in an email.

Several students shared mixed feelings about BU’s decision not to participate in the survey, but they are glad that the university is taking steps to understand and assess sexual assault.

Jake Zingerman, a freshman in the College of General Studies, said that participating in the survey would be beneficial to the AAU’s universities, BU included.

“Honestly, they should have just done it because then they would have a better understanding of what’s going on everywhere,” he

said. “A way to prevent sexual assault is first to inform everyone about it.”

Darnell Reese, a freshman in CGS, said having data from a campus-specific survey and a national one could be helpful in understanding problems with sexual assault and how to address them.

“Doing this program with other universities, they can understand what other universities are going through,” he said. “It works both ways because working as a group, you can understand what’s happening across the country, but in other ways, having a campus-specific survey is good too.”

Eva Kennedy, a sophomore in the School of Education, said she would have liked to see BU participate in the AAU survey because the university is still part of the nationwide discussion about sexual assault on college campuses.

“Every college is so different that to give a picture of what our whole nation is. It’s important to have data from different colleges, like big versus small, city versus suburban,”

she said. “I feel like maybe they’re [BU] trying hard to educate a certain community or some people, but I don’t think they really have it [sexual assault education] for everyone.”

Mina Corpuz contributed to the reporting of this article.

A male student reported Jan. 13 that at 2:46 p.m. that his bike was damaged while it was secured to a bike rack at 46 Mountfort St. The assailant appeared to be attempting to steal the bike, but was unable to do so, according to BUPD. A follow-up investigation to determine who damaged and attempted to steal the bike has not been conducted Jacket worth $250 stolen from Fitness and Recreation Center A 26-year-old male reported on Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. that his jacket was stolen from the basement-level locker room at 915 Commonwealth Ave., the Fitness and Recreation Center. The jacket, valued at $250, was likely stolen between 6:10 and 7:27 p.m. BUPD will conduct a follow-up investigation.

Package stolen from apartment common area A 25-year-old female reported Jan. 15 that a package containing a pair of boots was taken from the common area of her apartment complex at 14 Buswell St. near South Campus. The theft occurred on either Jan. 8 or Jan. 9. Similar thefts involving stolen packages from common areas have been a reoccurring problem in Brookline, according to BUPD. Teenager jumps onto hockey rink during game A 16-year-old male, not affiliated with BU, jumped over the plexiglass wall onto the ice rink during the BU hockey game against Boston College Friday at Agganis Arena. He chased after the hockey puck then left the ice. BUPD later removed him from the facility, booked him for trespassing and prohibited him from returning the arena.

Roommates fight, no injuries reported Two students reported engaging in a physical altercation Saturday at 3 a.m. at Student Village II on 33 Harry Agganis Way. The fight occurred between the two roommates in their dormitory.

BUPD is investigating the incident. No injuries were reported.

Unknown person rummages, opens mail A student living off campus reported an unknown person rummaging through her mail and packages at 860 Beacon St. between 4 and 8:46 p.m. on Saturday. The victim’s mail was opened and appeared tampered with, but it is unclear whether anything had been stolen. BUPD does not know whether this incident is linked to an incident that occurred Jan. 12 involving the possession of marijuana at the same address.

GRAPHIC BY ALEXANDRA WIMLEY/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

NEWS

3

Study Abroad programs reach record high numbers

BY INAARA TAJUDDIN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

With Boston University expanding its English-speaking study abroad options, several directors of the abroad programs are seeing a record-high number of students traveling abroad for studies and internships.

BU programs in Shanghai, Madrid, Los Angeles and Paris have seen a growing number of students choosing these locations to study abroad, the programs’ directors each said.

Bill Linsman, director of the Los Angeles Internship Program, said there are 95 students participating in the program during the spring 2015 semester, compared to the 60 who participated in fall 2014 and the 45 who participated during summer 2014.

“Our primary mission is to provide an educational experience. The success we’ve had in alumni gaining employment has been tremendously influential, but is a consequence of that

activity,” he said. “We are now entering our 11th year, and every year it has grown because students tell other students that it works. The proof of the pudding is that 72 percent of the students who have been through the program are employed in entertainment, media or advertising today.”

Adding specific tracks in film and television, public relations, advertising and business have attributed to the growing number of students interested in the Los Angeles program, Linsman said.

Amalia Pérez-Juez, director of the BU Madrid program, said she is expecting the program’s largest group this spring with 96 students.

“Thirty years ago, we only had Spanish majors, but there are no Spanish majors anymore,” she said. “We are seeing a number of Spanish minors or double majors, so we are seeing students primarily from IR [international relations], political science [and] biology who want to come to Spain and practice their Spanish.”

Offering science and engineering tracks

GRAPHIC BY ALEXANDRA WIMLEY/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

have also helped increase the number of students interested in studying in Madrid, Pérez-Juez said.

“Over the years, we have grown into a different program, and now we offer something that has helped us grow in the past and that has been the science and engineering programs,” she said. “Those programs are not the typical ones because they are not taught in Spanish.

Although we are in Spain and the students live with host families and learn their Spanish, all those classes are taught in English.”

Renée Pontbriand, director of the BU Paris program, said the average number of participants for spring and fall programs ranges from 40 to 50 students.

“Professionalizing the academics and intellectualizing the professional is our mantra,” she said in an email. “Putting into practice in the workplace what you learn in the classroom is the ultimate goal of our program, while also allowing students to self-reflect. Many students are preoccupied with how they will be able to pay off their loans, so getting job experience is very important.”

Allison Rottmann, director of the BU Shanghai program, said this spring semester has 33 students, the largest group since the program began in 2009.

“I really hope it’s the start of something new, and that our new numbers for the next few years will stay between 25 and 35,” she said. “That would make me very happy because I do feel that at a university the size of Boston University and with China being as important as it is on the world stage, that there should be 40 or 50 students each semester that want to study in China. I’m very, very glad to see that the program is experiencing slow but steady and continual growth.”

Rottmann said she and the staff in Shanghai are well-equipped to deal with the increase of interested students in the coming years.

“We do think we are going to face some challenges this semester, but we feel perfectly capable of coping with them,” she said. “This semester, I’ve capped my class at 15 because I do want it to be more of a small seminar style than to turn it into a larger lecture. But who knows?

… We have, over the last couple of years, been slowly and steadily preparing for this increase, so I actually think we are in very good shape, and it won’t require too much adjustment on our part.”

Several students said they are happy to see that more people are interested in studying abroad, but feel that there are further improvements the various programs can make.

Keri McAlpine, a senior in the College of Communication, who interned while studying abroad in London, said she would like to see the program improve how it pairs students with internship opportunities.

“A lot of people that I knew while I was abroad had a bunch of complaints about the internship program and how it was run,” she said.

“For mine, I went on my interview for my internship and I didn’t think I wanted it, but [the company] pushed me into it. It seemed like they didn’t want to go through the trouble of finding something that I would like more, so I ended up staying with the internship.”

Cherie Gu, a senior in CAS who studied in Paris, said while the softened language requirements have allowed more people, including herself, to participate in the program, she can see why taking immersive language courses can be more fulfilling.

“Because they changed the language requirement, it means that people who don’t speak French very well can go to Paris,” she said.

“If you take all your classes in English while you are living in Paris, it defeats the purpose of trying to learn French at the same time.”

Amal Hechehouche, a junior in CAS who studied abroad in Morocco, said working and studying in another country can be challenging, but the experience helps students grow.

“I was working for an NGO [non-government organization] in Morocco called L’Espace Associatif that focuses on enhancing the relationships between different civil societies within Morocco,” she said. “It’s a really interesting and unique organization … It was definitely a challenge, but it was a really meaningful part of my abroad experience.”

BU community remains saddened by cut WRESTLING, FROM PAGE 1

from under you.”

Andrew Maksimovic, a senior in SMG, also joined the track and field team as a thrower following the removal of the wrestling team.

“It’s different, and there’s a learning curve, so we’re far behind, especially at the Division I level,” he said. “It’s a different lifestyle, and the nature of the sport itself is completely different from wrestling.”

While he is happy to be part of the track and field team, Maksimovic said, he harbors some resentment toward the athletic department for removing the wrestling program. “[The cut] made me hate BU a little bit, the administration,” he said. “I love the school, I love the city, I love the people, but President Brown and the athletic administration can’t really count me as one of their biggest fans.”

Maksimovic said he misses the stability of consistent practices and spending time with his teammates.

“Everything else could be variable, but every day, you leave whatever else is happening at the door, and you walk into the wrestling room and nothing else matters,” he said.

“That probably [is] what I miss most, having that time and a purpose to always be striving to achieve.”

As a freshman, Dane Harlowe competed in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, where he scored one win against a high-ranked wrestler. Since the team’s cut, he is no longer on a sports team.

Although there is more time to focus on academics, Harlowe said he misses the camaraderie with his teammates.

“We’d have practice every day, and we really had such a strong team bond, and without that bringing us together every day, it’s harder to get everybody in the same room again, with

everybody’s schedules the way they are,” said Harlowe, a junior in SMG. “It’s just tough, and I wish we could have that more often like we used to.”

BU Athletics did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Several students said they were saddened to see the wrestling program removed, despite how much it meant to the community.

Preeya Behal, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she can understand how the wrestlers might have felt losing an activity they were passionate about.

“Especially if it [wrestling] was their passion, it really sucks for them,” she said. “I’m an English major, and I love to write and I love to read. If that were suddenly taken away from me somehow, I would be able to cope, but it would be definitely a lot harder to find things to do around here.”

Ashley Cooper, an SMG senior, said although she feels bad about seeing the wrestling program removed, she sees a silver lining for former members.

“Wrestling was a big part of their lives … then that’s something they don’t have now, but now they have more time to do other things,” she said. “A lot of athletes have issues with time management, trying to keep up with all their training, and then also going to classes.”

Sonya Shekhar, a junior in SMG, said the wrestlers and students should have had more of a say in determining whether the team could remain at BU. “I remember a good number of my friends being upset about the cut … It was probably a monetary concern, but I feel like the students should have had a say in it. Students could have offered alternatives that would have at least lessened the blow.”

PHOTO BY STANISLAVA LABETSKAYA/DAILY FREE

PHOTO BY MICHELLE JAY/DFP FILE PHOTO

Students hand out “Save BU Wrestling” shirts at the program’s final meets before being disbanded by the athletics department last year.

4

NEWS

Jury selection for Tsarnaev trial to continue, request to delay denied

BY PAIGE SMITH DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Jury selection will continue for the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, amidst requests for delays from the suspect’s defense team.

Accused of placing two bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon and killing Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to the 30 federal counts against him, The Daily Free Press reported.

The first of the delays requested by Tsarnaev’s defense team was presented in June, proposing the trial be moved away from Boston, citing the inability to find an impartial jury. The request was denied by U.S. Federal District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr., the FreeP reported on June 19.

The latest request for a delay on behalf of the defense team was filed Jan. 13, following the Jan. 7 shooting at Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine in France, that killed 12 people.

“This measure would allow some time for the extraordinary prejudice f lowing from these events — and the comparison of those events to those at issue in this case — to diminish,” the defense team said in its request for a delay of jury selection.

The defense team cited par-

allels drawn by media outlets such as CNN, the Boston Herald and USA Today.

“These parallels so widely expressed cannot be lost on potential jurors,” the file stated.

“Even though the panels have been instructed not to read media reports about this case, the probability of exposure to reports of the Paris events, which began before all of the jurors were instructed, is exceedingly high.”

O’Toole rejected the request, and jury selection will continue this week, following a chosen pool of approximately 1,300 individuals. After filling out a highly detailed questionnaire, individual interviews of potential jurors began on Jan. 15.

Robert Keefe, a partner at Boston-based WilmerHale law firm and a former colleague of O’Toole’s, spoke highly of the judge and his ability to appoint a fair and impartial jury.

“He’s very smart. He’s very thoughtful,” Keefe said. “He does not make rash decisions and he thinks everything out.”

O’Toole’s extensive background, Keefe said, highly qualifies him to preside over such a case.

“He has terrific judicial temperament, and he treats everyone with respect,” Keefe said.

“You have to know his full career. As a result, given all that experience and background, it leads up to him to try a case like this and be fair to everyone.”

Paul Gugliuzza, associate professor at Boston University’s School of Law, said many of the details with this case make it different than others.

“Everything with this case is going to take much longer than in most other cases, and the reason for that is that the stakes are so high in this case, and there’s great public interest in this case,” he said.

Gugliuzza said there are a variety of advantages and disadvantages to having the trial in Boston, where the bombing occurred.

“The disadvantage would seem to be that you’re going to have to go through a very large number of jurors before you can confidently whittle it down to a jury of 12 that the judge and both sides are convinced will be impartial,” he said. “If you move the trial further away, where people were less intimately impacted by the case and also where there’s less media coverage of the case, you might be able to find 12 impartial jurors from a smaller pool.”

The option of the death penalty, Gugliuzza said, also inf luences jury selection and the overall proceedings of a complex case such as this one.

“The other difficulty with having this trial in Boston is that to sit on a jury of a case in which the death penalty is a possibility, all of the jurors must be willing to impose the death penalty,” he said. “In a state like Massachu-

PHOTO VIA THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION/FBI.ORG

Jury selection began Jan. 5 for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, whose trial will be continuing at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse throughout the year.

setts that doesn’t have the death penalty, you’re going to find a lot of jurors who simply aren’t qualified for the jury because they’re not willing to impose the death penalty.”

Keefe said fairness is of the utmost importance in a high-profile case, such as this one.

“You have to be fair to the government, you have to be fair to the defendant, you have to be fair to the victims, you have to be fair to the public, and you have to be fair to the jury,” Keefe said. “Judge O’Toole is trying to be as fair as possible.”

As the proceedings contin-

ue, Gugliuzza predicts the verdict will not be one of guilty or not guilty, but rather whether or not Tsarnaev is deserving of the death penalty.

“For the defense, the main goal is to try to humanize him a little bit,” he said. “Even as they’re presenting whatever case they might have for why he should not be convicted at all, I still think that presentation is going to be colored with the acknowledgement that really avoiding the death sentence would be sort of a victory for the defendant in this case.”

Boston residents consider implications of hosting 2024 Olympics OLYMPICS, FROM PAGE 1

better for the athletes, the fans, organizations,” he said. “Transparency gives people a lot more comfort with the process for better or for less.”

Frank Shorr, a professor in the College of Communication, said there are issues aside from money and stadium construction that affect the success of the Boston 2024 bid.

“People forget that the city of Boston has a population of about 750,000, and as much as it is a really cosmopolitan city and a city that people flock towards, it’s very small,” he said. “Getting around and trying to move from place to place is the major hurdle in getting the bid.”

Boston is no stranger to host-

P

ing large-scale events. Shorr mentioned the Democratic National Convention that was held in Boston in 2004, the World Series in 2013 and the Boston Marathon that takes place each year.

“This is something different in terms of geography, in terms of sports and venues and much more wide reaching,” he said. “But it’s not like we’ve never done this before. Certainly, yes, we’ve never done the Olympics before, but it’s not like we’ve never held a big event.”

Robert Volk, a professor in the School of Law, was living and working in London during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and witnessed the effects of the games on the city.

“The Olympics could be ben-

eople should know what the plans are and have input into the plans so if something doesn’t seem to work, they can be modified somewhat ... The citizens of the area need to have input.

eficial to the city if they’re done right,” he said. “The Olympics in London left the city with a big new park, new athletics facilities and better transportation options.

If that happens to Boston, that would be great.”

Volk said releasing bid documents to the public is helpful in building a strong presentation to the IOC. “People should know what the plans are and have input into the plans so if something doesn’t seem to work, they can be modified somewhat,” he said. “The citizens of the area need to have input.”

Several residents said the possibility of the Olympics was promising, but they could see it posing some issues for the city.

Erica Meninno, 25, of Jamaica Plain, said the Olympics would bring a lot of excitement to the city.

“I honestly haven’t given it a ton of thought, but it seems like space would be a restriction in Boston,” he said. “Although, I think the city of Boston would have a lot of excitement around having an Olympics given that it’s such a sports-oriented city.”

Albert Parks, 21, of Allston, said the transit system could pose a problem in organizing a strong Olympic Games.

“They could pull it off, considering there are already so many

people in the city,” he said. “[But] when it comes to the T and bus system, the city is not very strong in being able to host that many people.”

Laurel Anderson, 33, of Brighton, said proper planning could help alleviate issues raised by anti-Olympics organizations.

“It’d be really exciting,” she said. “It would be really nice for the city and its residents. However, I know we’re not even able to accommodate bicycles in the lanes. It is a little worrisome, but I would hope that with planning, they could figure it out.”

FEATURES

5

MUSE THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

music festival marketers put fans to work

BY KAITLIN JUNOD DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

I

nstead of peeling through candy wrappers looking for a golden ticket, Boston music lovers scoured the city on Jan. 13 looking for hidden vinyl records.

The citywide scavenger hunt for the coveted records was Boston Calling’s way of revealing its lineup for the May edition of the twice-annual music festival. Hiding places included Barry’s Bootcamp in Downtown Crossing and Symphony Hall.

Festival organizers used the same Find the Vinyl campaign to reveal the lineup for the September 2014 edition of Boston Calling, part of a growing trend in music festival marketing to better appeal to something essential to the business: the fans.

“It’s simple, old school and a fun way to reveal the lineup,” said Alexandra Hynes, co-founder of 44 Communications, a public relations firm whose clients include Boston Calling, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. “It creates a mystery, a game.”

Once a fan found one of the 11 records with a band name on it, they were instructed to post their discovery online via social media with the hashtag “#BostonCalling.” The prize was not only being the first one to know an artist on the lineup. Winning scavengers also received free tickets to the spring festival, which will take place from May 22 to 24 and whose lineup includes Beck, St. Vincent and local Boston band Krill.

The trend toward more interactive marketing campaigns didn’t start with the music festival industry, said Barbara Bickart, an associate professor of marketing in the Boston University School of Management. The tactic works because Boston Calling is a kind of locally specific event.

Marketers and advertisers are able to use a geographically constrained strategy like the vinyl scavenger hunt.

“It’s a one-time event, so that makes it easier to do these kinds of f lashy, fun things,” Bickart said.

While the Find the Vinyl event is a way to rally enthusiasm for Boston Calling, these types of marketing strategies do have their limitations, Bickart said. While

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA WIMLEY/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston Calling announced its line-up this week for the music festival in May by hiding records in the city for fans to find, part of a pattern of festivals using unique marketing schemes.

more interactive and creative than simply releasing a lineup online, there is a trade-off with the reach, the amount of people you’re able to have hear your message.

“The people that are likely to get engaged are the people who would have gone to the concert anyway,” Bickart said. “So it’s not like you’re expanding your reach so much.”

Still, Boston Calling’s creative lineup reveal joins similar stunts from music festivals across the country. Bonnaroo also opted for a more creative and interactive way to reveal its 2015 lineup, which was also revealed on Jan. 13. Fans were told to call a hotline to find out the name of a single artist that will be playing at the festival this June. These fans, too, were given the job of breaking the lineup to their friends and followers through social media and hashtags.

Although these tactics could be considered old school, Bickart said, they ref lect a new trend in marketing campaigns in other industries.

“With social media and digital marketing, we’re seeing a push to have more consumer engagement on involvement with creating the message,” Bickart said.

“This is part of a bigger trend to give the consumers license to create part of the message themselves.”

While there is no way to know for sure if interactive marketing strategies boost ticket sales, Hynes said, music festivals can be expected to come up with even more creative ways to reveal their lineups.

After working hard to book artists and keeping it a secret for months, announcing them in an exciting and creative way seems only right.

“It comes from a genuine place,” Hynes said. “It mirrors how the producers

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FEATURES

CATALYST THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

New app trend promises technology intervention

BY NAVRAJ NARULA DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The first step is admitting there’s a problem: smartphones are addictive.

Seventy-seven percent of millennials (adults ages 18 – 34) own a smartphone, according to a 2014 study by Experian Marketing Services. The same study found that the average owner spends 14.5 hours a week using that smartphone.

“It [the smartphone] is essentially attached to their [students’] bodies,” said Karen Sierra, a senior in Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s gotten to the degree that people no longer know how to be alone. They must either converse, watch or be virtually preoccupied with someone else.”

As technology promises to connect users to a smaller and smaller world, there is a growing hole in the market for technology that does the opposite.

Laren Conklin, a postdoctoral associate in the CAS psychology department, warns that while easy access to social networks through smartphones can help individuals connect with one another, this reliance can be detrimental.

“Some people come to rely on their phones too much, becoming anxious if their battery dies or using it frequently or at inappropriate times.” she said. “People may come to believe they need their phones to cope with uncomfortable situations and may lose confidence they can successfully cope with that situation without it.”

Feeling that draw himself, Luke Thomas founded Digital Detach, an app that temporarily locks down a smartphone to limit its capabilities to just phone calls and text messages.

“I was the guy who had the flip phone last year. My friends thought I was an old man, but I noticed they were constantly checking their phone. They couldn’t even

take a break to study for a class,” Thomas said. “Fast forward — I got a smartphone and noticed that when I was bored, my instant reaction would be to aimlessly browse on Reddit, Twitter, etc. Meanwhile, I was also complaining about how I didn’t have enough time in the day.”

However, disconnecting is easier said than done, Conklin said, because smartphones also serve as tools of social reinforcement.

“They help us feel connected, entertain us and provide us with convenient sources of information,” she said. “They also can serve to reduce feelings of anxiety or uncertainty for people … For instance, smartphones can reduce uncertainty about how people are doing socially. ‘How many people have liked the picture I posted?’

‘Has that guy I like texted me back yet?’”

In Conklin’s eyes, apps like Digital Detach can be used to help people set limits. If they have to have that validation and distraction, at least they can cut back.

“For instance, if a student wants to study for an hour, they could use an app like this before starting. During their study time, the app will help the student stick to the goal by keeping them from mindlessly surfing the web or social media during the time they set out to study,” she said. “Reasonable alternatives like putting the phone out of reach or turning it off may not always be ideal.”

Another option, then, is not to cut off distracting connections, but instead keep them separated from the necessary ones.

Meredith Flynn-Ripley is the CEO of HeyWire, a Cambridge-based company that aims to separate business text messages from personal text messages through Business Messenger, an app that launched on Jan. 15.s “The Business Messenger app is not only letting the business have a business identity and have insight into all of these

text-based business conversations, but it’s also letting people separate their business and personal communications,” she said.

While Flynn-Ripley is a technology advocate, she said attention should also be paid to the offline world.

“You do need to set boundaries, and technology can help us put more control in place,” she said.

Chen Shi, a School of Management junior, said the separation of different communication channels could help some people, but apps like Digital Detach probably won’t reduce smartphone addiction.

“Looking at their phone or not is a choice that people make, and the app can’t help people make a decision on spending less time on their phone but themselves,”

Shi said. “If people realize they spend too much time on their phone, they can just turn off the Wi-Fi or just turn off the phone. I don’t see extra value added by the app.”

Either way, unless those who are technologically connected find some way to cut back, Conklin said, it goes without saying that the problem will only get worse.

“It’s not really in the smartphone industry’s interest to help us become less reliant on smartphones,” she said. “Thus, unless people make the decision for themselves to become less reliant on smartphones and facilitate some level of independence from technology, I believe the trends we have observed in increasing smartphone dependency will continue.”

the blue light from your smart phone disrupts the production of the sleep hormone melatonin GPS apps gradually decrease your spatial skills using touchscreens rewires your sensory perception frequent tech use leads to overall higher anxiety and lower satisfaction with life looking down at a screen puts up to 60 pounds of added strain to your neck and shoulders GRAPHIC BY ERICA MAYBAUM/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Sources: Eurekalert.org, Healthcare.utah.edu, Kent.edu, igi-global.com, MSUtoday

INBUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

StartHub initiative promotes start-up innovation

BY MADELEINE O’KEEFE DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Just as its residents resolve to lay off fast food and turn off Netflix, Boston itself is making some changes of its own.

In his State of the City address on Jan. 13, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh announced he would be hiring a full-time “start-up czar” to manage Boston’s StartHub, a program that provides a way for local start-up entrepreneurs to interact with the city.

“Boston is a city of revolutionary innovation,” Walsh said in his address. “But in Boston, we know that a revolution only succeeds when it galvanizes the whole community. We need to support our local talent and spread opportunity widely.”

According to the City’s official website, StartHub will “unify and bolster start-ups, support entrepreneurs growing businesses in

Boston and market Boston’s start-up scene to the world.”

StartHub would be a one-stop resource to help local entrepreneurs find mentors, permits, and other necessities, and several local start-up entrepreneurs are thrilled to see the city working hand-in-hand with their innovation.

“Any focus on growing the startup community in Boston is wonderful,” said Todd Myers, founder and CEO of Tally, a social application that lets users explore what is good and bad about restaurants in the Boston area.

Ann Chao is the co-founder and CEO of Sonation, the creator of Cadenza, an intelligent rehearsal app for orchestra instrumentalists. From launching her own start-up, she said, she’s seen how difficult those beginning stages can be.

“A lot of times [starting a company] is in a lot of bureaucracy. You don’t really know CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

PHOTO BY EVAN JONES/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh speaks at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in October. StartHub, a new service for start-up businesses, was highlighted by Walsh in the State of the City address on Jan. 13.

FEATURES

7

SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Groundbreaking marathoner dresses to progress

BY LAURA PORECCA DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Writing about marathon running, Haruki Murakami coined this adage: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” Kathrine Switzer is scared of neither.

“When you run, you become fearless, not in a race, which is like the ‘frosting on the cake,’ but in the relentless practice miles and miles that come before that,” she said.

Switzer was the first woman to run in and finish the Boston Marathon in 1967. Until then, running in the marathon had been an all-male activity, and as a woman, Switzer was banned from participating. Ridiculed and physically attacked by competitors and officials while running the race, Switzer finished nonetheless. Her bib number, 261, would serve as the inspiration for her 261 Fearless Collection, a line of feminine active-wear that, Switzer hopes, will encourage more women to continue to break boundaries despite adversity.

“261 Fearless both inspires people through Kathrine’s story of courage and guts, and it allows women to share that story to others, effectively paying homage to those who came before, while encouraging today’s women to take their first steps” said Nicole DeBoom, CEO and founder of Skirt Sports, the Colorado-based company that produces the collection.

Switzer’s accomplishments have inspired women athletes across the nation and the world, visiting audiences of women in places such as Malaysia. Closer to home, but just as inspired as audiences around the world, was DeBoom, a swimmer, triathlete and Ironman winner. She was utterly moved by Switzer’s story and her book, “Marathon Woman.”

“As I discovered more about her story, I just knew in my heart that someday, I wanted to connect with her,” DeBoom said. “That day came in 2013, when I learned about her efforts to make 261 Fearless a global mission to empower women to break barriers in their lives.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHRINE SWITZER/AP FILE

Men attempt to stop Kathrine Switzer as she runs the 1967 Boston Marathon as the first woman to compete as a participant with a number, inspiring the name of her new activewear brand, 261 Fearless Collection.

DeBoom suggested creating 261 Fearless when both she and Switzer realized the barriers women often face within fitness, such as being intimidated or forbidden to show bare arms and legs. The goal of the 261 Fearless Collection is to give women the confidence to run and make a change in the world. Some pieces from the collection are even based on Kathrine’s experiences from the marathon. “[We] paid attention to the little details, like the fact that Kathrine lost a mitt when [race official] Jock Semple attacked her, so we added hidden cozy-mitts,” said DeBoom. “No woman should have to suffer from cold hands.”

Nor, Switzer said, should they have to suffer from lack of self-confidence. “[The collection] motivates you to get out and run, and gives you a sense that you are

part of a greater movement of women who are changing the world with their self-empowerment and confidence,” Switzer said.

After all, Switzer said, defying expectations naturally follows courage and determination.

“I knew if I quit, nobody would believe that women could run and that they were serious,” Switzer said. “They’d just think I was there for a prank.”

The 261 Fearless Collection, DeBoom said, continues to advance the Skirt Sports goal of empowering all women to get up and run. The collection allows for women of many different body types to enjoy the pieces, with sizes and fits ranging from extra small to extra extra large, and relaxed to semi-relaxed, respectively.

Switzer publishes her memoir “Marathon Women,” 20 years after publishing her first book

Switzer becomes the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry

GRAPHIC BY ERICA MAYBAUM/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF, PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHRINE SWITZER

“The products are 100 percent inclusive,” DeBoom said. “They are classic, timeless, beautiful pieces that help eliminate one of the barriers women face — lacking apparel options to help them get out the door.”

Beyond serving as the inspiration for DeBoom’s 261 Fearless Collection, Switzer continues to inspire and encourage women across the nation to get out and find their own race to run, so to speak.

“Put on your shoes and go out the door,” Switzer said. “The toughest part for everyone is starting somet h i n g .

Once you get moving, you’ll see your whole life change.”

The women’s marathon becomes an official event in the Olympic games, with the help of Switzer’s lobbying.

Skirt Sports founder Nicole DeBloom (left) teams up with Switzer (right) to produce her 261 Fearless Collection.

Boston start-ups embrace city’s planned initiative STARTHUB, FROM PAGE 6

how to get about in a quick and efficient way,” she said. “Interfaces with the government can make things happen a lot smoother and have innovation happen a lot quicker.”

Josh Pearlstein, a second-year graduate student in Boston University’s School of Management, shares Chao’s enthusiasm. “You’ll have a knowledge transfer,” he said. “People that have experience will be able to share with first-time entrepreneurs.”

Pearlstein, who also serves as president of BU’s Graduate Entrepreneurship Club, recog-

nizes how crucial a little bit of assistance can be for new companies buried beneath paperwork and registration woes.

“I know it varies based on what you’re trying to do,” he said. “Like if it was something like TicketZen [an app that allows users to remotely pay parking tickets], you need a little bit more cooperation from the city. It gets a little bit more intricate.”

At the same time, Pearlstein said the program can act as an incubator, where start-ups can work together, ultimately helping the Boston start-up community at large to grow even stronger.

“It’s incredibly exciting,” he said. “It’ll be phenomenal for Boston.”

Both Chao and Myers are already pleased with the start-up community’s progress.

“One of the best things about the Boston start-up scene is that everybody is willing to help,” Myers said. “It’s a very collaborative mindset … It makes us all successful.”

Myers said he also credits Boston’s success to the growing presence of large tech companies in the area. Myers himself came to Boston originally to work for Google, but stayed and founded Tally. With the city’s extra attention towards companies like his, he ex-

pects a bright future to come.

“They act to pull and retain talent in Boston, some of which goes on to found new local startups,” he said. “They’re [the city is] really kind of doubling down on it,” he said. “It’s an exciting place to be now.”

Anyone interested in learning more about Boston’s start-up scene is welcome to join the BU Entrepreneurship Club on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m in SMG Room 221 for a live panel including Walsh’s chief of staff, Daniel Koh, and Rob Biederman, the CEO of HourlyNerd.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entrepreneur

OPINION

8

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Felicia Gans, Editor-in-Chief Jacklyn Bamberger, Managing Editor

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

44th year | Volume 87 | Issue I 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 © 2014 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Mike DeSocio , Multimedia Editor

Judy Cohen, Sports Editor

Allie Wimley, Photo Editor

Mina Corpuz, Campus Editor

Casey Mintz, Editorial Page Editor

Samantha Gross, Layout Editor

Alexandra David, City Editor

Joe Incollingo, Features Editor

Shakti Rovner, Office Manager

Obama’s plan for free community college idealistic, unrealistic U.S. President Barack Obama has big plans for the future of higher education during his last two years of presidency, and not everyone is happy about it.

The proposal, called “America’s College Promise,” was highlighted in Tuesday’s State of the Union speech. Under the plan, community college would be made free for students so long as they attend the school at least half-time, maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.5 and make “steady progress” toward graduation. It would benefit an estimated nine million students annually.

Students, college presidents and advocates of higher education are praising the plan.

In addition to benefitting students, the proposal could provide an economic boost by strengthening the middle class, according to supporters such as John O’Donnell, the president of Massachusetts Bay Community College. Although Massachusetts is home to some of the best private universities in the country, data shows that graduates from public colleges are more likely to stay and work in Massachusetts than those graduating from private schools. It is due to this, O’Donnell told The Boston Globe, that the state will eventually move to this model.

“For economic and social justice reasons, it’s absolutely necessary,” he said.

With the national average annual cost of attending community college hovering around $3,800, making community

college free would certainly help many people gain access to higher education. It sounds ideal. However, the plan is more ambitious than may be reasonable in our country right now.

The United States faces a deficit of $564 billion this year, and the plan is expected to cost about $60 billion per decade. States would have to pay roughly 25 percent of the cost, and with Massachusetts facing a deficit of $765 million, many are questioning how this proposal will be funded.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is one of those who are less optimistic about the realism of the president’s plan.

He declined to take a side on the issue, saying in a statement to the Globe that he is looking forward to reviewing Obama’s proposal “to consider the educational as well as budgetary impact it would have on the Commonwealth.”

Baker has said he wants to make higher education more affordable and improve connections to the workforce, but perhaps this is not exactly the right way to do it.

Philosophically, of course, free higher education for all is a great idea. Minimum wage is nearly unlivable, and providing free community college would decrease the number of people who have no choice but to depend on minimum wage. We have public school systems from kindergarten through 12th grade that are covered by taxes, so why not add two more

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isiana provide lessened public higher education costs for students who keep their GPA above a certain level and score to a certain threshold on standardized tests.

Strengthening the education system in the United States may sound like the best path for the country, but while free education would be nice, the numbers simply don’t add up.

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t’s no secret that the United States is falling behind in education, and while this is a great way to propel us forward, it’s extremely idealistic.

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years of education on to that? It sounds like a perfect plan. In the long term, having a more educated middle class would be a great economic boost. But that’s in the long term. In the short term, it seems like a plan that is a little too ambitious to be realistic.

The theory of universalizing education is great, of course, and tuition-free universities work in some other countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Germany.

But the money for that comes from taxes, and their taxes are much higher than ours. It’s unrealistic to think that Obama will be able to get this initiative through Congress when he’s also pledged to tax the middle class less and the wealthy more. The Republican-controlled U.S. Congress and the president do not exactly get along, and getting them to agree on this will likely take longer than the two years Obama has left in office.

There’s always going to be a reason to tax people more, whether it’s universal healthcare, better infrastructure or education. It’s no secret that the United States is falling behind in education, and while this is a great way to propel us forward, it’s extremely idealistic. This plan, as good as it is, is happening at a bad time.

Obama sees his time running out, but realistically, this plan cannot happen in the next two years. It’s going to take a longterm initiative to get this to work federally. Perhaps this is a plan better left to the states. States such as Florida and Lou-

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1. _____ and groom 2. Vibes 3. Small slender gulls 4. South southeast 5. Therefrom 6. Steed 7. Type of sword 8. Instructing 9. Eastern Standard Time 10. 4th Hebrew letter 11. Delight 12. Devil tree 13. Poems 18. A type of plastic 22. Disguise 24. Historical periods 26. Telephoned 28. Threesomes 29. Dogfish

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OPINION

9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

We are all Bad Feminists State of the (New) Union

BY ROBIN NGAI COLUMNIST

Often when I identify as being a feminist, I’ve been asked, “But what sort of feminist are you really?” Most are probably wondering whether I hate men or want the world to be solely ruled by women.

What I really want to say is, “Why does it matter?” but instead I answer politely with something along the lines of supporting equality and fighting for rights that men have had for centuries.

I find myself constantly reminding people that I am not a man hater. It’s concerning to know that we live in a world where feminism is synonymous with that ideal. Feminism is not about hatred, but about freedom and acceptance.

It has always confused me as to why society needs to categorize feminists into certain groups, giving us labels. It confuses me as to why feminists need these labels among ourselves as well.

Aren’t we all fighting the same fight?

Shouldn’t we all be on the same boat on some level? As I learned more about these labels, I understood that some feminists would be radical, and others would be liberal and the list continues.

There are simply just different approaches to achieve a goal that is almost always the same: equality. Of course, equality is not that simple, since there are multiple ways to define equality for every person.

There is no wrong way to be a feminist, but we also shouldn’t be worlds apart.

We should be actively bridging the gaps and working to understand one another to achieve our goals.

For me, equality means living in a world where women govern their own bodies. A world where there is fair pay and benefits.

A world where women are not sexually harassed. To live in a world where I don’t have to explain why I am a feminist because everyone is, including men, would be the dream.

Of course, these are my personal desires, desires that not every person will agree with, and I’ve come to terms with that. I’ve also realized that I am not in any way the

perfect feminist.

While on break, I picked up “Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay as I waited at the airport for my flight home. I had heard high praises about how it was a thoughtful, intelligently written piece that critiqued our current state of affairs in the world. Plus, it was at every bookstore I visited and kept popping up on my recommendations list on Amazon.

Most of all, I was intrigued by the title. Bad feminist? How could a word with such a negative connotation be combined with “bad” to make it even worse? Curiosity struck me, and I knew I had to read on to find out.

Gay’s book discussed how race, sexuality and society all play into how we view feminism. From critiquing television shows to celebrity figures to novels and essays, the book showed me ways to think about things that I would have missed altogether.

Though I did not always agree with her points, I felt that it was important that I had been exposed to her views and opinions.

The things we read and the views we explore shape our own views much more than we will ever know.

After reading her novel, I found myself identifying as a “bad feminist.” Well, at least with certain aspects of Gay’s definition of a bad feminist. I found that in many ways, I connected with her explanations.

Much like Gay, I can’t help but sing catchy tunes that I know I shouldn’t (i.e. songs with lyrics that are not the kindest to women). I still enjoy when men pay for dinner on the first date, and I can’t help but feel guilty about some of the choices and opinions I have as a feminist. I feel like I have been taught that there is one way to be a good feminist.

Maybe that’s why people feel as if they need labels for feminists. They feel that feminism is supposed to fit into neat categories, ones that don’t defy their stereotypes, and that feminism is supposed to have rules that can’t be broken.

When one goes about breaking rules, order becomes chaos. The term feminism becomes one that we can no longer recognize because it doesn’t fit into the box it’s supposed to.

But things are changing. This generation of women is redefining what feminism is and what it can be. We’re beginning to break free of the labels and stereotypes. Being a “bad feminist” is becoming more acceptable because we’ve realized that, in the end, we’re all human.

Gay says it best, stating “I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.”

BY SARA RYAN COLUMNIST

To be quite honest, I’ve watched one or two State of the Union addresses in my young life. I’m a dork for political rhetoric, but there is something utterly boring about the address.

The president reveals some major policy initiatives and his party applauds wildly while the opposition sits stoically. Then, after the hour-long speech, political pundits take over to rehash every. Single. Detail. From U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner’s facial expressions to who shook the President’s hand first, it seems that nothing is too mundane.

All of this might contribute to why people aren’t tuning in. In the wake of the Internet revolution, far fewer people are watching the State of the Union. According to Nielsen, 45.8 million people tuned in to former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s 1994 State of the Union, but on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama had an audience of just 31.7 million. Don’t forget that the U.S. population has grown by about 53 million in that same timespan. To put Obama’s ratings into even better perspective, the State of the Union was broadcast on 13 different channels. Sunday’s AFC Championship game on CBS raked in more than 42 million viewers.

In an effort to give the State of the Union a much-needed facelift, Obama and his advisors took to social media and circumvented traditional media altogether. As Obama heads into his final two years in office, this is the best strategy he can adopt to make himself most effective.

The State of the Union is an important moment (or 60 moments) for the president. It is the one time each year he will address the country from all major networks without tragic or breaking news to share. It’s an opportunity for him to carefully craft a message and then deliver it without the media’s spin.

Clearly Obama’s administration has been trying to create more of these unfiltered moments with the public. Obama announced his free community college plan on Vine and Facebook two weeks ago with little warning to traditional media outlets. Back in November, the White House posted a video announcing the new immigration executive orders, again with

Interrobang

few details leaked to the press. These policies received a lot of backlash, as the media and other politicians rushed to respond. The community college program even prompted Boehner to counter, in what I’m sure he and his staff thought was an equally hip way, with Taylor Swift GIFs. Feel free to check it out. Let’s just say Christmas came early for this political columnist.

The point is that even though the administration broke the news on its own terms, and without the media’s perspective, journalists still get to weigh in. It is after the fact, but they still have the opportunity to provide context, statistics and expert opinions. By tweeting first and issuing press releases second, the White House is providing its #nofilter message. It gives Obama a chance to argue for his decisions before people such as Rush Limbaugh and Rachel Maddow offer their opinions. Why wouldn’t Obama take advantage of this opportunity?

This year, the Obama administration took its new digital media strategy and applied it to Tuesday night’s State of the Union. It launched an extensive web page to preview the State of the Union and highlight the different ways to watch. The White House even offered an “enhanced” version alongside the live video of the address — complete with detailed charts and pretty colors. On Wednesday, the White House engaged with the public on its second annual “Big Block of Cheese” Day, where Twitter users asked questions and administration officials answered.

All of this is exactly what the State of the Union — and the Obama administration — need. In a digital media age, we’re bored if there aren’t 87 things to pay attention to. By making the State of the Union a digitized and interactive affair, the Obama administration increased the media buzz and engaged younger viewers.

According to the latest Washington Post/ ABC poll, Obama has an approval rating of 50 percent, his highest since spring 2013. Building on this number is the best thing Obama can do for his agenda and his party. With a Republican-controlled Congress, the only way Obama will accomplish anything will be if he has more than a lackluster nation supporting him. Sure, compromise and bipartisanship could go a long way, but there’s a better chance of the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks hugging it out in the middle of overtime next weekend than Republicans and Democrats agreeing to compromise on the big-ticket items right before the 2016 presidential election.

Obama has not fulfilled our ridiculously high expectations for his presidency in the last six years, and no one has been more critical than the media. If the administration continues to use social media to circumvent the press, at least temporarily, some of these State of the Union promises might actually have a shot.

A New York man hired an excavator and bulldozed his home Monday without telling his wife, the legal owner of the property. We here at the ol’ Free Press were wondering what BU people would do without telling their significant other?

SMG: Sell the Maserati.

ENG: What significant other?

President Brown: Appear at a City Council hearing.

CFA: Quit their job waiting tables.

COM: Mute their significant other on Twitter.

Jack Eichel: Transfer to Boston College.

CGS: Declare a major.

FreeP: Move into the FreeP office.

10

SPORTS

Offensive woes plague women’s basketball in road loss to American

BY EMMANUEL GOMEZ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAWK/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Redshirt junior guard Troi Melton made 7-of-8 free throw attempts and recorded 11 points in BU’s loss to American.

Coming off a two-game homestand, the Boston University women’s basketball team hit the road Wednesday night to take on American University and was defeated 75-45.

The Terriers (4-14, 1-6 Patriot League) have lost 11 of their last 12 games and did not fare much better against the Eagles (12-6, 7-0 Patriot League) as they only mustered 17 points in the first half.

“We’ve been going through a rough stretch lately,” said BU coach Katy Steding. “But as a young team, that’s just going to happen. But there really is no excuses. Is it frustrating? Yeah.

Do we need to get better? Yeah, but we can’t get too down on ourselves. We’re competing every night. It’s just part of the learning curve, and I know we’ll get better. Just give us time.”

The Terriers took the lead in the first minute, as senior forward Mollie McKendrick hit a jump shot to open up the game. From there, it was rough

sledding, as the Eagles responded with an 8-0 run. The Eagles then expanded their lead to 18-9 with 10:58 left in the first half.

Seniors Arron Zimmerman and Shaquilla Curtis carried the Eagles offense in the first half, as the Terriers’ defense had no answers for the forward-guard duo.

“They really hurt us early,” Steding said. “We never plan for people. We like to play our set defense. We don’t like to isolate anyone. It takes a whole team to play defense, and we just didn’t execute very well today. I’d like to say we looked good at times, and we played a lot better defense than the score would imply. But, you know, sometimes, that happens, a team just can’t miss.”

The Terriers continued to struggle the rest of the half, as American just could not be stopped. Freshman Emily Kinneston came in the game off the bench and immediately made an impact, scoring six points near the end of the first half.

“They have a lot of good players,” Steding said. “They have a lot of weapons, and when you’re shooting like they were, it’s contagious. [Kinneston] came in and did a lot of good things for them.

But once again, we can’t ever just defend one player. Defense is a team game, and we just need to improve. The effort is there, just not the execution, just yet.”

The Terriers went into the halftime break down 39-17, looking dismantled. They came out in the second half with a lot of energy, but to no avail, as American continued to pour it on.

The two teams constantly traded buckets in the second half, as BU kept it to within 20 points until about the nine-minute mark. The Terriers received contributions from a variety of players in the second half, including redshirt junior guard Troi Melton and sophomore forward Meghan Green.

It was too little too late, unfortunately, as American’s lead ballooned to

31 points with 3:50 left in the second half.

When the final buzzer rang, the scoreboard illuminated a 30-point blowout.

“We can’t hang our heads,” Steding said. “It’s just one game. I have to remind them that this is just one game. And we will get better than this. These things happen over the course of a long season.

We just have to grind and get through it and learn from it. We’re young. I can’t say that enough. We’re going to learn.”

A combination of BU’s struggling offense and American’s scorching hot one led to the lopsided result. Steding was not discouraged, though, and said the team has a bright future.

“We have nowhere to go but up,” Steding said. “And that’s exactly what we’ll do. Just like the players, I’m learning too. This season has been a learning experience for us all. But, sometimes, you need to go through rough stretches to reach good ones. And I think we have some good ones in store for us.”

Men’s Basketball Steals Victory From American in Rematch of 2014 Patriot League Championship

BY NICK NEVILLE DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

In a rematch of the 2014 Patriot League tournament final, the Boston University men’s basketball team defeated American University by a score of 59-54 at Agganis Arena.

The Terriers (8-10, 4-3 Patriot League) earned the win Wednesday night following a three-game losing streak.

In addition to getting back into the win column, it was a historic game for BU as two players entered prestigious company with their play in this matchup.

The story of the game was the turnovers committed by American (11-8, 4-3 Patriot League), which BU capitalized on. Sophomore guard Cedric Hankerson stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and a program-record nine steals.

“We played against them last year, so we’re experts on their offense,” Hankerson said of his big day. “They like to back-cut a lot, so at times, I kind of saw that coming.”

BU played stifling defense

throughout the game, forcing 13 American turnovers. The Terriers were able to turn those turnovers into 15 points.

“We just wanted to be active defensively,” said BU coach Joe Jones. “We hoped that our press could generate some turnovers for us, and I thought that was key tonight. I thought our guys kind of played with a lot of energy, and that created some things for us.”

In addition, junior guard John Papale moved into the program’s all-time top-10 list in 3-point field goals when he hit the 170th long distance make of his career.

This game was a test for both teams, as the top ranked defense in the Patriot League faced off against the fourth-ranked offense. The Eagles were only surrendering 55.6 points per game entering Wednesday’s matchup, eight points better than the second-ranked Colgate University defense.

The Terriers got off to a quick start, scoring the first seven points of the contest, despite the absence of junior forward Nathan Dieudonne. This was the first game he missed all year

after appearing in all of the previous 17.

He was benched following an incident in the team’s previous overtime loss at Loyola University Maryland Sunday.

“We had an incident at the end of the Loyola game,” Jones said. “I just thought it was the right thing to do for him and our program. We love Nate, and he’ll be ready to go Friday at practice and in Saturday’s game.”

BU had a 10-point lead at one point during the first half, but the Eagles came storming back with a flurry of 3-point shots.

Despite the best efforts of the Eagles’ offense, the Terriers were able to keep them at bay and entered halftime with a 27-24 lead.

Free throw shooting was key for the Terriers early, as they made seven shots from the charity stripe in the first 20 minutes. Coming into the matchup, Hankerson ranked 13th in the NCAA in free throws attempted, and went 5-of-6 from the line against the Eagles. Freshman guard Cheddi Mosely sank two key free throws in the final seconds to

seal the victory for BU. The Terriers started off the second half even hotter than the first, scoring 12 unanswered points. However, the Eagles would not go away.

“It was funny because you felt like you had control of the game, and then a minute later it’s a four-point game,” Jones said. “They’re just smart, veteran players who know what they need to do. We knew that they were just going to keep coming at us, and we had to keep them at bay.”

The 3-point bomb seemed to be the go-to play for American in this one, but to an extent, it worked. The Eagles went 7-of-21 from 3-point range but hit some key buckets that kept the game close.

It was a one-possession game going into the final minute, but BU’s defensive prowess held strong to win the contest.

The Terriers will look to make it two in a row against Bucknell University on Saturday at Agganis. Jones said he appreciates the resiliency of his team and is confident about what’s to come.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAWK/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Sophomore guard Cedric Hankerson set a school record with his nine steals in BU’s win over American.

“I love this team, and I feel like we have a chance to evolve into something pretty good if we keep moving in the right direction,” Jones said. “I feel like we’re just scratching the surface of what we could be, and I think in the next month and a half, we could make a run at this thing.”

First line shines, guides No. 6/7 women’s hockey to win over No. 3/4 Quinnipiac University

BY JARETT LEONARD DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A top-10 opponent with a nation-leading goaltender may be intimidating for some teams, but the No. 6/7 Boston University women’s hockey team brought its best effort to the table in a 4-1 win over No. 3/4 Quinnipiac Wednesday night at Walter Brown Arena.

The Terriers (15-5-2) wasted no time in solving Quinnipiac goaltender Chelsea Laden, who, coming into this matchup, led all of NCAA Division I women’s hockey in wins (20), shutouts (12) and goals against average (0.91).

“We did a nice job, and we got some timely goals,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “The power play goal was big and then to have [junior wing Sarah Lefort] get her own rebound and put that one in to start the third, where

even though they got the one quick goal after, we still had a cushion.”

Freshman forward Victoria Bach opened the scoring 5:26 into the game when she danced into the left-wing circle and fired one high over the glove of Laden. The Terriers added to their lead later in the first when senior captain Marie-Philip Poulin set up junior forward Kayla Tutino with a feed across the slot for an easy tap-in on a 4-on-3 advantage.

BU barely outshot Quinnipiac (20-2-3) in the opening period, but seven blocked shots and seven saves by sophomore goaltender Victoria Hanson kept the Bobcats off the board in the first.

Hanson continued to keep Quinnipiac at bay in the second period. The Stoughton native deflected a breakaway shot from forward Nicole Kosta

to the end glass early in the period, while senior Erica Uden Johansson rang the crossbar behind Hanson with under a minute left in the frame. The shots remained tight with the Terriers holding a slight 15-13 advantage.

Both teams opened the final period with quick tallies. Lefort buried her own rebound in front to give the Terriers a 3-0 lead early in the period, but Kosta would finally beat Hanson with a shot from the low slot just 26 seconds later. BU then went to work to regain its three-goal advantage as Poulin netted a wrister from the goal line that beat Laden on the short side.

“All in all, the kids are playing well, and we’re getting a lot of topheavy production from the big line, but the other lines are getting chances and opportunities, and if they keep doing that, they’ll score their goals,”

Durocher said.

Hanson played a solid game in net for the Terriers, but her team’s defense made her task easy all night. The BU goaltender made 21 saves in the game, while the rest of the Terriers blocked 19 Bobcat shots.

“People were working hard and getting in lanes and getting out to the points with defense and helping out,” Durocher said. “That’s another aspect of the game that you have to have. They did get some flurries. When they did get some chances, we were there. A little bit of that’s luck, but a lot of that is really hanging in there, showing the courage and showing the conviction to make that an important part of the game.”

The newly formed Terrier top line of Lefort, Poulin and Tutino accounted for three of four goals and seven of the 12 total points in the contest. Both Durocher and Poulin said

they are pleased with their progress.

“It’s been pretty good,” Poulin said. “We’ve been reading each other pretty well, and we try to talk it up and try to feed off each other. We try to play as hard as we can.”

BU has now won back-to-back games and will look to carry over that momentum into a weekend series with the University of Vermont.

“It’s a real positive,” Durocher said. “Winning the game gives you a lot of confidence. Playing well gives you confidence. If this thing ended up a 1-1 tie or a 2-2 tie or something, we still might have had the confidence. To get a solid victory, it’s a real positive, and now you get a couple of wins in a row, and we’ve got to build on that and wait for Vermont to come here this weekend and see if we can get on a little bit of a run.”

SUNDAY, JAN. 25

MONDAY, JAN. 26

BOTTOM LI NE THURSDAY, JAN. 22

FRIDAY, JAN. 23

SATURDAY, JAN. 24 Men’s Basketball vs Bucknell 1 p.m.

The New York Knicks broke their 16game losing streak with a 99-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Men’s Ice Hockey @ No. 12 Vermont

Women’s basketball @ Bucknell 2 p.m.

7 p.m.

Women’s ice Hockey vs Vermont 3 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey vs No.12 Vermont 7 p.m.

The last time the Knicks won a game, Women’s Ice Hockey vs Vermont 3 p.m.

the New England Patriots’ footballs were still fully inflated.

SPORTS

11

Benedykciuk: Ohio State quarterback situation presents favorable problem BENEDYKCIUK FROM PAGE 12

Louisiana State University is also an excellent fit for Miller. Combining Miller’s agility with Leonard Fournette’s raw talent would immediately place LSU’s offense at the nation’s top tier.

Other fun but highly doubtful possibilities include the University of Alabama and the University of Oregon. The Crimson Tide is always one of the top teams in the nation, and with Miller at the helm, it may be able to defeat the Buckeyes in a po-

tential rematch. Similarly, picture a replay between the Ducks and Buckeyes — and picture Miller commanding Oregon’s powerhouse offense. These scenarios, though far-fetched, are fun to think about.

Continuing the hypothetical, where would the Buckeyes be without Miller?

Meyer would still face a difficult decision.

Should he go with the hot hand in Jones or the star power of Barrett?

Jone’s success was incredible, unexpected and clutch. The numbers he posted in his first-ever starts against the best

competition in the nation are still hard to believe. He displayed his athleticism, his intelligence and his composure in all three games he played.

Barrett will need to extensively impress Meyer and the rest of the Buckeye staff to win the starting job back. The National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes were led by Cardale Jones, not J.T. Barrett.

To reiterate, all of this is theoretical.

If Miller stays, his career has earned him the right to start. Barrett and Jones lack the experience that Miller has. However, Mill-

er has never won a National Championship.

Jones, in his three career starts, has more experience than Miller in that regard.

Lastly, nothing should be taken away from Barrett. He was almost definitely on his way to a Heisman Trophy nomination before suffering his injury. He is, as proven by his record this past year, also very capable of leading this team.

The bottom line is this — the Ohio State Buckeyes have a very difficult decision to make, and even so, they still seemingly cannot go wrong.

Somerby helps anchor, stabilize Terrier defense in his sophomore season SOMERBY, FROM PAGE 12

Somerby was up for the task.

——— “Hardworking.”

“It all starts with off the ice. He’s someone who the guys look up to, even though he’s just a sophomore,” Grzelcyk said. “He comes in, he works hard each and every day. He sets the tone not only for the freshmen [defensemen], but all the [defensemen] in general.”

——— With BU’s disappointing 2013-14 season in the rearview, Somerby consulted his coaches on what he needed to do to improve off his freshman showing.

The agenda was set: He needed to continue to hone his skating and agility, while also learning to assert himself more against opponents by way of his towering frame. With the summer now in full swing, Somerby was ready to get to work.

In the weight room, Somerby worked with strength and conditioning coach Anthony Morando on ways to cut down his weight while also bulking up muscle. On the weekends, he worked extensively with skating coaches on ways to revamp his style of play to make himself more of an active presence out on the ice.

By the time the calendar turned to September, Somerby had lost 20 pounds and was

brimming with confidence. A bounce-back effort was in the cards for both him and the Terriers.

——— “Improved.”

“The first thing that I think about is how much he’s improved and how decisive he’s become, how physical he’s become,” Quinn said.

“He’s been a presence ever since the season started, and he’s a big reason why we’ve had the success that we’ve had this year.”

——— With just 12 regular-season games remaining in the 2014-15 season, Somerby has sufficiently demonstrated thus far that his seesaw freshman campaign stands as an uncharacteristic outlier to an impressive career.

In 20 games with the scarlet and white this season, Somerby has posted a plus-4 rating, while ranking second on the team with 31 blocks.

Looking past the stat sheet, Somerby has improved his game in nearly every facet. His enhanced skating ability has awarded him the opportunity to stay locked in on fast and crafty forwards, while his heightened confidence and ability to use his size to his advantage has resulted in booming hits dealt to opposing skaters.

“We can put him out there against any forward and count on him to kind of be a defenseman that is really going to limit their scoring

opportunities,” Greeley said. “He’s a guy that we can rely on to give us 20 good minutes a night.”

Somerby’s newfound impact on the Terriers has stretched far beyond what he has produced out in the rink.

Although four freshman defensemen are taking up a large chunk of minutes, Somerby’s dedication and devotion toward fine-tuning his play has served as a positive template for his younger teammates to follow.

“He’s a great example for our players that come in here and watch how he prepares and how seriously he takes things in the weight room, how seriously he eats. He’s a true pro already, and he’s in college,” Quinn said.

Like Somerby, BU’s entire defensive structure has witnessed an impressive turnaround this season.

Just a year after the Terriers languished in last place in Hockey East with 3.23 goals allowed per game, BU currently ranks fourth in the conference at 2.05.

Multiple factors have played into it, but BU’s revitalized “D” corps has been a leading component as to why the Terriers have forged a 13-4-4 record, a No. 3 national ranking and a tie for the top spot in Hockey East standings this year.

From Grzelcyk’s perspective, the correlation between Somerby’s second-year jump and the team’s improved efforts on defense has cer-

tainly not been a fluke.

“In my opinion, it’s been the biggest part [of our success], for sure,” Grzelcyk said of Somerby’s enhanced play. “We knew that he was going to have to play some big minutes coming in as the only sophomore. What he’s been able to do so far, he’s been able to contribute in that way.

“When he’s out there, he’s a lot more physical. He’s probably the most physical [defenseman] we have. He’s really someone who looks to engage bodies, and we need him for that.”

——— “Confidence.”

For Somerby, neither his size nor his skating has been the defining determinant in his road to success. Rather, it’s been his poise as a player to bounce back in the face of adversity.

“Confidence always plays a factor,” he said.

“Last year, there were a lot of ups and downs.

We were losing a lot and getting scored on quite a bit, and it can kind of be degrading.

“This year, you come in, and you have a clean slate, and you can start new, and you start with one good game, and you kind of build off that.”

BU’s towering blueliner will never shake off the physical labels sutured to his persona, but at this point, Somerby isn’t concerned with making any new impressions.

He’s just focused on the task at hand.

Eyes up, phone down when you’re around the Green Line.

ne i L n e e r Gr u o h c t at Wa o e d i v safety /safety om mbta.c • Be careful when getting on or off the trolley.

• Pay attention when walking or biking near the tracks.

• When driving, pay attention to traffic signals and approaching trolleys when turning or crossing the tracks. www.oli.org

Quotable “I love this team, and I feel like we have a chance to evolve into something pretty good if we keep moving in the right direction.”

BU coach Joe Jones, pg. 10

Sports

Cedric the Record Breaker Sophomore guard Cedric Hankerson sets school record with nine steals and scores 18 points in victory. pg. 10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

The Blue Line Quarterback University

BY MIKE BENEDYKCIUK DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Ohio State University Buckeyes have the best problem in football — they have too many talented quarterbacks.

Braxton Miller, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, was unable to play this past season due to a shoulder injury aggravated during summer training. Miller’s original replacement, J.T. Barrett, was on pace for a Heisman Trophy nomination until he fractured his ankle on Nov. 29, 2014, just before the Big Ten title game. Then, after helping the Buckeyes eviscerate the University of Wisconsin in the conference championship by a score of 59-0, third-stringer Cardale Jones led OSU through the first-ever College Football Playoff. It defeated the No. 1 seeded University of Alabama in comeback fashion during the first round, and then did the same to the heavily favored No. 2 ranked University of Oregon in the National Title Game.

Many believed that after Jone’s tremendous play, he would be poised to enter the NFL draft. Though his performances in his three games were spectacular, Jones concluded, rather easily, that he should stay at Ohio State. “It was very simple for me,” Jones announced in a Jan. 15 press conference. “The NFL, after three games, was really out of the question for me.” His choice to stay at OSU further complicates the Buckeyes’ quarterback derby for next season.

OSU coach Urban Meyer must answer a very difficult question — which one of my talented quarterbacks should I start in 2015-16?

As many professional teams like the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills yearn for one solid starting quarterback, Ohio State has three.

This question can clearly only be answered after training camp is held this summer. Additionally, Ohio State’s quarterback situation may change drastically before the start of next season. One would suspect that Meyer favors Miller, who has only lost two games as a starter at OSU. Although, due to newfound competition in Barrett and Jones, there is no guarantee he wins the starting spot, and he could realistically drop to become the new third-string quarterback.

Miller is an Ohio native and embraces competition, so there is a very good chance he remains in Columbus. However, it is also very possible he transfers. Let us consider the hypothetical situation, though, that Miller leaves Ohio State. Where does he go, and where does that leave the Buckeyes?

Rumors of Miller’s departure from Columbus have spread like wildfire. Jameis Winston’s departure from Florida State University opens the door for Miller in Tallahassee.

A (healthy) year with the Seminoles under veteran coach Jimbo Fisher would mentally and physically prepare Miller for the NFL. Additionally, though, Miller has been linked to several other possible landing spots.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

PHOTO BY WILLA RUSOWICZ/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Standing at 6-foot-5, Doyle Somerby brings an intimidating presence to the BU blue line.

BY CONOR RYAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Upon first glance, it appears rather easy to sum up Doyle Somerby in just a word or two.

“Big.” That’s usually the first thing that comes to mind.

Such a reaction is commonplace these days, reinforced repeatedly with every thunderous check that the 6-foot-5, 223-pound, Boston University defenseman delivers against his foes in the rink.

But for Terrier teammate and childhood friend Nick Roberto, Somerby’s juggernaut-like reputation was first put on display during a simple travel team football scrimmage over a decade ago.

“We were just screwing around, playing some tackle toss-up, and one of the dads thought he was funny, hitting us,” Somerby reluctantly recalled. “I just caught him right, and the next morning, he came to the rink with ice packs all over him, and he had broken ribs.

“After that, I kind of realized that I was a little bit bigger than I should have been at that age.”

——— It would appear too easy to simply label Somerby as a “big” defenseman and just leave it at that. The physical evidence is certainly there, to say the least.

However, for Somerby’s teammates and coaches, his commitment to the game of hockey and his emergence as a difference maker on defense has yielded a new set of characterizations.

To them, there’s much more to the sophomore than just a big body on the blue line.

——— “Reliable.”

“He’s really reliable in the defensive zone,” Roberto said of Somerby’s play. “He knows his game. He doesn’t try to do too much.”

———

Hockey was instilled into Somerby from a young age, as the Marblehead native first laced his skates and began pond skating with father, Philip, at 3 years old.

From that moment on, hockey served as an integral part of Somerby’s life. The results quickly followed.

“Nobody approaches the game like he does,” said BU men’s hockey head coach David Quinn. “Everything is about hockey. Every decision he makes is based on hockey.”

The first tough decision that Somerby was forced to make came in the eighth grade.

For his entire playing career up to that point, Somerby had thrived as a physical power forward. However, a switch to St. Mary’s High School in Lynn prompted a beckoning to the blue line.

The transition wasn’t easy at first, Somerby admitted. Learning to move his imposing frame both lateral and backwards to thwart opposing skaters unveiled new challenges for the raw defenseman, but his tenure as a grinder up front also gave Somerby a new perspective of the game.

“It’s a common move in the sense that it really helps kids with the puck,” said Boston University associate head coach Steve Greeley about Doyle’s conversion to defense. “He’s not uncomfortable having the puck on his stick.

“The fact that he’s played forward … Now he jumps on the back end, and he understands a little more about time and space with the puck.”

Despite his self-admitted dismay at rooting for a Boston College product, Somerby focused on modeling his game after Brooks Orpik, a strong, physical defenseman who excels at moving the puck. A few early rough patches aside, Somerby’s development at his new position quickly bore promising returns.

——— After his freshman year at St. Mary’s, Somerby made another move, this time almost 130 miles north to Kimball Union Academy in

Meriden, New Hampshire.

With a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council championship under his belt after his junior campaign, Somerby began to attract NHL scouts, who were intrigued by the defenseman’s puck-moving proficiency and next-level size. The promising defender was ready to make the next jump.

Nerves weren’t much of a problem for Somerby as he sat inside the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, home of the 2012 NHL Draft.

“I knew that I was going to be a late-round guy, if I got drafted at all, so I just tried to take in the day and not be too nervous or anything,” Somerby said.

That same cool and collected demeanor that Somerby exhibited throughout his career on the ice remained with him throughout the selection process.

That is, until he finally heard his name called.

“It was all kinds of excitement. My family was there, and we just kept it loose and relaxed,” Somerby said. “When I was actually called, you just go numb for a little bit.”

The New York Islanders selected Somerby in the fifth round, with the 125th overall pick. The journey might have been unconventional, but Somerby’s adherence to his game had been validated.

——— “Physical.”

“He’s so difficult to get around,” Greeley noted in regard to Somerby’s presence during a game. “Below the dots, he’s always pushing …

He plays physical, he plays hard and he’s a kid that’s really tough to play against.”

——— In the midst of his time with Kimball Union, Somerby made the next step in his hockey career, announcing his commitment to Boston University in January 2012.

There was little deliberation for Somerby in choosing his collegiate team.

“I’ve been a BU fan since I was a little kid,” Somerby said. “One of my coaches growing up played at BU, and he used to sneak us in the Zamboni door at Walter Brown Arena. Ever since then, I wanted to be a Terrier.”

Going into his freshman campaign with the Terriers, Somerby was expected to slowly ease his way into the team’s defensive corps as the 2013-14 season progressed.

However, a season-ending shoulder injury to fellow blueliner Matt Grzelcyk in January 2014 forced Quinn to give the unseasoned Somerby extended minutes on the ice.

Somerby’s physical style did translate to the college level in some regards, as he placed fourth among defensemen and paced all his freshmen teammates with 53 blocked shots.

The blueliner also managed to notch four points in 34 games.

However, shifting up into the collegiate ranks presented its share of hardships for Somerby.

“Just the speed of it. Coming in from prep school, my skating wasn’t all the way there,” Somerby said. “Everything happens really quick, and the turnovers that you have can be put in the back of your net real quick.

“You just have to limit how bad your bad is, and it took a little bit to realize that.”

Skating for a Terrier team that slumped to a 10-21-4 record, Somerby suffered from lapses both on defense and in discipline.

He posted a discoursing minus-12 rating on the year, though just one player on last year’s roster posted a positive rating, while 49 minutes in the sin bin put him first among his teammates in penalty minutes.

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