December 2012 Print Issue

December 2012

Sexual Assault on Campus How does Boston College respond?

Volume IV, Issue 8

Dear Reader, As the holiday season rolls around, I encourage everyone to check out Gavel Media’s coverage of the Holiday season.

This month’s issue includes a list of fun things to do around Boston, a Holiday fudge recipe, and what is bound to be the biggest movie of the season.

Stay tuned to bcgavel.com over the break, as there will be daily updates. Enjoy the break, and we will see you in the Spring!

Happy reading,

Mason S. Lende Editor-in-Chief

Cover art by Gillian Freedman

Editoral Board MASON LENDE OLIVIA SIMONE ROB ROSSI MEGHAN SMITH JASMINE UDUMA MEIDEMA SANCHEZ GEENA DEROSE JILLIAN TIMKO ALLISON RICCATO JENNA LACONTE EMILY AKIN LAUREN LECKENBY KENNETH ST. JOHN SARAH GARCIA MICHAEL NATALIE ANDREW SCHOFIELD BILL STOLL MARION HALFTERMEYER SHANNON COGAN KELLY SLATER KATELYN CONROY GILLIAN FREEDMAN LOUISE SHEEHAN KARA WEEKS LISA MELLA DANEY RAMIREZ

Editor-in-Chief Print Manager Managing Editor News Editor News Editor Assoc. News Editor Assoc. News Editor Features Editor Assoc. Features Editor Culture Editor Assoc. Culture Editor Assoc. Culture Editor Opinions Editor Assoc. Opinions Editor Assoc. Opinions Editor Sports Editor Assoc. Sports Editor Copy Editor Assoc. Copy Editor Assoc. Copy Editor Assoc. Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Assoc. Photo Editor Design Editor Assoc. Design Editor

Video Department MEGHANA KUTHYAR Video Manager

Business and Operations RYAN LEAHY ANGELA SONG ERIC KOPELSON ARUEM SHIN PAT LENEHAN DAPHNE WANG JEANIE LEE

Executive Director Finance Director Ass’t Finance Director Marketing Director Ass’t Marketing Director Advertising Director Avertising Acc’t Manager

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the GAVEL / December 2012

December

The Gavel / December 2012 / Volume IV, Issue 8

Table of Contents News 04 04

Sexual Assault on college campuses: How does BC respond?

On The Edge: 07 America Scaling the fiscal cliff in rocky terrain

09 Technologic What to expect in 2013 12 How your habits now shape your health Stayin’ Alive

Opinions 14 14 Ignorance about Islam: It needs to end, now.

fine to try harder: 16 It’s Fighting back against a culture of laziness “good” (se)men?

18 AAllfew the facts about Artificial Insemination Four More Years:

20 The President has been re-elected

Features 22 22 Naked News:

BC Streak enters the Campus Media market

I wish I had asked...

24 Things Before picking my study abroad program

27 Overheard at BC

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Winterfest:

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International Update:

December’s Brew Review

Obama’s foreign policy goals

Culture 32 32

No Oven? No Stove? No problem!

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

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Holiday Shoping on a college budget

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Pick your Clique

36

Christmas in the City

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“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”

The new collaborations of Rap music

What to expect from this latest installment

Sports 42 42 Profiles in Ineptitude:

The Buffalo Bills lackluster performance

44

Amateur Ataxia

46

The enablers of America’s steroid Culture

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Media, universities dehumanize high-profile recruits

Concussions in the NFL: A threat to the league’s safety

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INSIDE: Scaling the fiscal cliff / Technologic: 2013 / Are your health habits killing you?

December 2012

Sexual assault on

college campuses: How does BC respond?

By Meghan Smith News Editor

W

hen you’re being raped time does not stop.

Time does not speed up and jump ahead like it does when you are with friends. Instead, time becomes your nemesis; it slows to such an excruciating pace that every second becomes an hour, every minute a year, and the rape becomes a lifetime.”

This was written by Angie Epifano, a former member of the class of 2014 at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. In October, Epifano described her experience of rape in an op-ed in the Amherst Student, a student newspaper.

Unfortunately Sexual assault on college campuses is not new. This crime moved into the spotlight in Massachusetts this fall when Epifano’s personal account of rape went viral across media at colleges and universities across the country.

In her story, Epifano described how difficult the healing process was because of how her college handled the attack. She reached out to rape counselors, but was never treated in the way that a rape victim should be treated.

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“I was continuously told that I had to forgive him, that I was crazy for being scared on campus, and that there was nothing that could be done,” she wrote. She was told that her rape would be reported as a statistic in the school crime records and was advised not to go through a disciplinary hearing. This disciplinary hearing would consist of Epifano, her rapist, and a faculty advisor chosen by each dueling out whether or not Epifano had in fact been raped.

“You have no physical evidence, it wouldn’t get you very far to do this,” a rape counselor told Epifano.

Amherst College is not alone in its way of handling rape as a statistic. But with Boston College’s new options for students to report crimes, it may be improving the way rape is handled on college campuses.

At BC, there were 11 sex offenses reported on campus in 2009, six in 2010 and seven in 2011, according to the annual disclosure of crime statistics. This disclosure is required to be made public by the Clery Act. Beware though—a 2010 report by the Center for Public Integrity said that 95 percent of campus rapes go unreported.

On Nov. 6, the BC Office of the Dean of Students announced that the availability of a new online resource for victims of sexual assault. The resource is designed to “assist survivors of sexual violence after an assault, provide support to the family and friends of survivors, and educate members of the Boston College community on the topic of sexual violence,” according to Paul Chebator, dean of students, in an email sent to students. It can be accessed at www.bc.edu/sar.

Students at BC now have four options to file a complaint at BC. One option is through the Sexual Assault Network (SANet), a 24/7 hotline that allows BC students to talk to a trained advocate who can provide resources.

Students can also report through the Title IX coordinator, reachable in Maloney Hall, or through the Office of the Dean of Students. With the latter option, the student can choose to speak anonymously, submit a written report in case the survivor wants to take action later, request a “Stay Away Order” to prevent the perpetrator from initiating contact, or request an on-campus conduct hearing and disciplinary process for internal charges and legal ac-

the GAVEL / December 2012

Sexual Assault: Myths and Realities Courtesy of www.bc.edu/sar

Myth: Sexual assault is committed in dark alleys by strangers.

Reality: 80-90 percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated by individuals known to the survivor. This can range from someone known to the survivor only by sight or someone very close to the survivor, such as a friend or lover.

Even male survivors are primarily assaulted by acquaintances.

Myth: Someone who was drinking or drunk when sexually assaulted is at least partially to blame.

Reality: Sexual assault survivors are never responsible for the attack, no matter what, no matter how much alcohol

was consumed. Responsibility lies with the perpetrator; the survivor is never responsible for the assailant’s behavior. Alcohol may increase the risk of sexual assault, and may make someone incapable of giving consent or protecting themselves, but it is not the cause of the assault.

Myth: Only women are sexually assaulted or raped, and only by men.

Reality: Both men and women can be sexually assaulted or raped, and assailants can be male or female with any sexual orientation.

Myth: It’s not rape if the couple is dating or is married.

Reality: Unwanted sexual activity in any relationship qualifies as sexual assault.

Myth: If the victim didn’t fight or try to run away, or there was no weapon or injuries sustained, rape did not occur.

Reality: Threats of violence are a weapon, and an individual being assaulted may not be able to resist vigorously for fear of injury or death.

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Resources for students Sexual Assault Policy and Resouces www.bc.edu/sar New online resource for students SANet: Sexual Assault Network (617) 552-2211 A 24-hour/seven-days-aweek hotline staffed by trained advocates University Counseling Services Day: (617) 552-3310 (day) Nights & Weekends: (617) 552-3227 Gasson 001 Women’s Resource Center (617) 552-3489 McElroy 141, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., www.bc.edu/wrc Open to all students (male and female), faculty, and staff, and offers a comfortable atmosphere to seek information about partner violence, and sexual assault.

Office of the Dean of Students (617) 552-3470 Maloney Hall 212 Contact: Kristen O’Driscoll kristen.odriscoll@bc.edu Information about the internal disciplinary system as well as guidance, support, information, and referrals.

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BC Police Department Emergency: (617) 552-4444 Non Emergency: (617)-552-4440

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tion. If the assault was off-campus, the office works with the Boston College Police Department, or BCPD, to determine external options.

BCPD is trained to respond immediately to any survivor of sexual assault on campus, according to John King, Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety.

“The BCPD works closely with all of these departments to report and investigate incidents as well as to provide support for survivors,” King said in an email. “Trained BCPD Investigators are assigned to sexual assault cases and assist survivors with local court procedures, with victim/witness advocates and with the Office of the District Attorney,” he said.

This response includes medical treatment, evidence collection, and help with pursuing legal action, including a restraining order. The student may choose if he or she would like to talk to the District Attorney’s office with the support of BCPD. Whether or not criminal charges have been filed, and even if the offense was off-campus, the university says it will take action against any behavior that violates the Code of Student Conduct.

BCPD encourages all students to report sexual assaults, and will work with the student throughout the process.

“Perpetrators could be charged with crimes such as rape or indecent sexual assault, depending upon the circumstances of the case,” King said.

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pifano faced skepticism from doctors, friends, and professors. She was eventually forced into a psychiatric hospital, and faced conflict with the university when she tried to get back on campus. Amherst College requires that the student have parental supervision, and Epifano did not live with her parents. Epifano said that the way the school treated victims was unjustified.

Because she did not feel safe and

felt harassed on the Amherst campus, Epifano had an emotional breakdown. “[The counseling center] decided that I should be sent to the hospital. And now they won’t allow me back on their campus? They allow rapists back on campus, but they won’t allow the girl who was raped to come back?

“The girl who did nothing wrong?,” Epifano wrote.

Epifano eventually withdrew from the university. She used this opportunity to speak out about the administration’s handling of sexual assault.

Amherst College—with a student population of 1800—had at least ten sexual assaults on campus in 2011, according to Epifano. Counselors told Epifano that there have been multiple serial rapists at the school in the last 15 years.

“Rapists are given less punishment than students caught stealing. Survivors are often forced to take time off, while rapists are allowed to stay on campus,” Epifano wrote. “If a rapist is about to graduate, their punishment is often that they receive their diploma two years late.”

Epifano’s experience exemplifies the bureaucracy of reporting crimes, especially those involving sex offenses, on college campuses and exposes the lack of accountability academi institutions face in dealing with the crime.

“What is the difference between a government and the Amherst College campus? Why can’t we know what is really happening on campus? Why should we be quiet about sexual assault?” Epifano wrote.

It is important to never stay silent about sexual assault, Epifano said. But without a laid out and visible procedure for dealing with victims of sexual assault and the perpetrators—one that holds universities and colleges accountable—can students be sure that they will not face an aftermath like that of Epifano? BC has made a step in the right direction with this new online resource.

the GAVEL / December 2012

AMERICA ON THE

By Geena De Rose Assoc. News Editor

EDGE

Scaling the fiscal cliff despite bipartisanship’s rocky terrain

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ith 2012 proving another year of intense partisan gridlock, the fear of breaching the “fiscal cliff” in 2013 has many Americans hoping for critical bipartisanship in the coming months. Without the ability to draft and pass new legislation, the American economy faces a tough fiscal situation in 2013 and beyond.

This “fiscal cliff” refers to the purported effects of current legislation which, through steep budget cuts and tax increases, may drive the fragile U.S. economy into a new recession next year. Although there is dire need to begin reducing the deficit, such sharp changes may prove too sudden and severe to the already ailing economy.

The legislation for such austere measures came about when Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 which, by containing unfavorable measures to both Democrats and Republicans, was meant to provide incentive for crafting an alternative bipartisan path to deficit reduction. With continued gridlock throughout 2012 however, the bill stands as it is with the measures going into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has cautioned that the economic repercussions of the legislation in place will be se-

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vere. “The realization of all of the automatic tax increases and spending cuts that make up the fiscal cliff, absent offsetting changes, would pose a substantial threat to the recovery…Coming together to find fiscal solutions will not be easy, but the stakes are high,” Bernanke said.

Although the threat posed by the budget-reduction measures is substantial, the term “fiscal cliff” may be more dramatic than realistic. “It isn’t really a cliff but a slope with the situation gradually getting worse over time,” David Hopkins, a political science professor at Boston College, said.

The threat of a new recession has also brought out the lack of confidence the electorate holds in politicians’ ability to find an alternative path. Just more than half, at 51 percent, of Americans believe that Congress and President Barack Obama will not reach a deal in time, according to a Pew poll by the Washington Post. In addition, 60 percent of those polled believe that going over the “cliff” will have negative repercussions for their personal finances.

If this new recession comes to fruition, House Republicans may find themselves the subject of national blame.

Another Pew poll from mid-November found that 53 percent of Americans would blame Congress for failing to act as opposed to the 29 percent who would fault the President. With 90 percent of Americans facing higher taxes, however, no one is likely to be pleased with the measures to come.

Despite the lack of public confidence, discussions towards alternative legislation are in the works. In a meeting between President Obama and congressional leaders, both parties signaled optimism in working toward a solution.

“This isn’t something we’re going to wait until the last day of December

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Photo courtesy of Pete Souza/Wikimedia Commons

to get it done. We have a plan. We’re going to move forward on it,” Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said to CNN. Even House Speaker John Boehner said he sensed a “spirit of cooperation” coming out of the talks.

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The Cliff and Congress he stark effects of the current gridlock, made apparent by the threat of the “cliff”, have brought attention to moderate movements in both the House and the Senate. Although the members of the moderate “Gang of Eight” coalition in the Senate are eager to come to a compromise, Republican Senator Michael Crapo of Idaho recognized that the discussions need to come from the top. “At this point, the President and the speaker, the other leaders, are going to be meeting at the White House, and I think the focus needs to be on those meetings,” Crapo said to the New York Times.

A similar moderate group in the House has also gained national attention. The New Democrat Coalition, which is comprised of about 50 Democratic representatives, is dedicated to promoting bipartisanship. “We cannot have a full debate that allows us to address the multitude of issues facing our

country if either side takes a potential solution off the table,” the group said in a letter to President Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Despite the sounding of moderate voices throughout Congress, this lastminute struggle to amend the “fiscal cliff” is not a novel situation in U.S. politics. Budget negotiations in recent years have been marked by this “game of chicken” in which both sides refuse to compromise until the last minute,.

They will likely hammer out a deal somehow, although it may not be right away,” Hopkins said.

Reducing the deficit through the budget process is inevitable, no matter how unpopular or contentious it may be. “You have to come to a deal eventually—the government needs to be funded,” Hopkins said.

At the end of the day, the American people are hoping for a change in political gridlock that will reduce the deficit in an efficient, yet steady way. As menacing as it seems, the “fiscal cliff” may prove a powerful opportunity to engage in critical bipartisan negotiations.

“We need people to step up and put country before party,” Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) said. Unlikely as it may seem, working to solve the “fiscal cliff” presents an ample opportunity for both sides to do so.

the GAVEL / December 2012

technologic W

what to expect in 2013

By Jasmine Uduma News Editor

e all knew it was coming but it’s weird to have the end of the world so soon upon us. Those lazy Mayans never finished their calendar and as a result, hundreds of generations of people have been convinced of our eventual doom.

From earthquakes to hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires, snow storms, flash flooding and the end of Twinkies, we have seen many signs of the apocalypse that have arguably validated the Mayan’s laziness. In the latest scary news of apocalyptic weather patterns, solar flares are disrupting the Earth’s magnetosphere.

Essentially what this means is that, because of the unusually low level of solar activity in recent years, there is now a massive buildup of energy which has created large “solar storms” that are now hitting Earth’s magnetosphere.

Now if your first reaction is ‘I don’t care,’ here’s why you

should. These solar flares are strong enough to disrupt electronic systems on the ground. Satellites i.e. cell phone service, air travel, Wi-Fi, cell phones, car navigations, computers, the entire banking system, hospital equipment, computers and many other devices we could not possibly survive without.

For our generation, life without internet access really would be apocalyptic. And if life as we know it truly does end December 21 the worst part might be the realization of all the things we never got to do, the things we never got to see, the new Angry Birds versions we never got to play.

So, in trying to stay optimistic about the future of humanity, and in honor of the suspected coming of the end of days, here is a list of cool technologies and gadgets that will be released in 2013. Because Gavel Media does not want you to wake up December 22 and not be prepared.

Highly flexible touch sensors to appear on a range of new gadgets

Photos courtesy of XSense

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Imagine a touch screen as thin and flexible as your smartphone screen protector. That’s what developers are hoping to integrate on several new gadgets in 2013. Using “roll-toroll” metal mesh technology, engineers have created a new high-performance alternative to existing touch sensors.

Larger, lighter, sleeker, curved and edgeless tech toys can now be imagined for the future of handheld devices. The new touch screens will have low power consumption and lower total system costs compared to previous market alternatives.

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Launch of the PS4 and Xbox 720

LA100 fully autonomous UAV brings aerial photography to nonflyers

In late 2013, expect the release of the newest consoles, PS4 and Xbox 720. Reviews say the graphical power of these systems are going to be amazing.

The PS4 (Codename: “Orbis”) will have a screen resolutions of up to 4000 x 2000 pixels, as well as 3D gaming in full 1080p. The Xbox 720 (Codename: “Durango”) will have a state-of-the-art IBM Power PC CPU, featuring 16 cores, alongside a Radeon HD 7000-series graphics card.

Fujitsu Lifebook 2013

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Fujitsu Lifebook has come up with a completely new way to keep your obsession with tech organized. Never heard of them? All you need to know is their motto.

Comprised of mostly images, the creed by which they live is simply a picture of a tablet + a picture of a smartphone + a picture of a camera + a picture of a laptop , all adding up to equal LIFE. Simple, but so very poignant, yes?

Well for 2013, Fujitsu Lifebook is planning to combine all of these fancy pieces of technology into one. Check it out.

Though the price is undetermined, this is guaranteed to cost an arm and a leg. A tech-junkie’s habit could be fed for life.

Photo courtesy of Yanko Design

Firstly, if you have not read Gavel Media’s online piece on GoPro, do it. This next new gadget for 2013 is perfect for those who love photography. The new LA100 Micro UAV enables amateurs and professionals alike to capture high quality images and video from the sky.

The small aircraft is designed specifically to carry a GoPro HERO3 camera.

It can go anywhere between 12 and 50 mph for periods of up to five minutes, fly in winds of up to 28 mph, and operate in temperatures from -13° F to 140° F. Made mostly of foam and carbon fiber, the LA100 is only 30 oz., including a mounted GoPro camera.

Cool features include the ability to perform pre-programmed flight path, targeted specifically at users with no piloting background. Best part is the LA100 is designed to always return to the launch point. A camera can be mounted on top or the bottom of the wing for vertical images. It can also fly with two GoPros on board at the same time. Final asking price: $1,275. GoPros not included.

Photo courtesy of Lehmann Aviation

the GAVEL / December 2012

Yes fellow college student, you did read that correctly. There is now a cup that brews your coffee too. The minibru Coffee Mug lets you make a single serving of French press, right in the mug itself.

The cup is cool, convenient and dishwasher safe; It is also available now so if the world does not end, celebrate by buying yourself this awesome gift at ThinkGeek for only $24.99

Minibru makes single-serving French press coffee, in the mug

Puzzlebox Orbit brain-controlled helicopter is flying into production The only thing that would be cooler than owning a teleportation device (seriously, why don’t those exist yet?) would be telepathy. Thankfully science has caught up with that childhood dream for super powers and created a “toy” helicopter that can be steered using only brain power. Puzzlebox Orbit’s brain-controlled helicopter will be available to the public and, because the quest for further scientific invention and understanding is most important to them, so will all the code, schematics, 3D models, build guides and other information about their device under an open-source license.

It is hoped that the consumer Puzzlebox Orbit mobile/tablet edition with the NeuroSky headset will remain under $200 Two versions of the Puzzlebox Orbit system are being offered to the public. The first is designed for use with mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. The other, a NeuroSky MindWave Mobile EEG headset, communicates with the device via Bluetooth by analyzing brainwave data in real time and translating the input as command signals.

Leap Motion Following this trend away from touch activated gadgets, Leap Motion has created a way of using your computer without touching it. Simple hand movements are instantly interpreted with an unprecedented accuracy of 1/100 of a millimeter.

What’s even more impressive is that the product is only $70. The Leap Motion is about as epically futuristic as it gets for home electronics. About the same size as a smartphone, the gadget creates a 3D space to interact with and control software on your laptop or desktop computer. It is so accurate that it is able to sense individual hand and finger movements independently. Think Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Iron Man. It is pretty impressive.

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Photo courtesy of Go Interactive Wellness/Flickr

Stayin' Alive: How Your Habits Now Shape Your Health

By Marion Halftermeyer Copy Editor

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...

Breaking a sweat helps you live longer Take the million dollar stairs instead of the Maloney elevator to get your heart racing and some calories burning, especially if you don’t have time to work out regularly for large chunks of time. Besides the obvious reason that it helps you control your weight, exercise helps prevent high blood pressure, strokes, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, depression, cancer, and arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Not only that, but exercise is a great way to blow off some steam or anxiety and leaves you feeling happier. Exercising also can leave you more energized, the Mayo Clinic adds.

People who are physically active every day of the week are 40 percent less likely to die early, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They recommend two hours and 30 minutes per week of activity, such as brisk walking, and on at least two days some entire-body muscle strengthening exercises, like lifting weights, yoga or push-ups and sit-ups. Easy—just leave your dorm room five minutes before your next class starts, you’ll get the exercise you need in no time. Or here’s a two-in-one: run for the bus in high heels.

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Photo courtesy of Andres Levers/Flickr

A glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away Although a lot of the research is still unclear, there seems to be benefits for the heart in drinking wine, according to the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit medical research and education organization. Wine contains antioxidants which likely prevent heart disease, the clinic says. In the battle of red versus white though, it’s unclear which is better. Researchers say that red wine may explain the French paradox — the French have very fatty diets yet low levels of heart disease.

the GAVEL / December 2012

Spirit and mind count too

Photo courtesy of Zitona Qatar/Wikimedia

Photo courtesy of Colton Witt/Flickr

Not getting enough zzzz’s

When thinking about health, there is a tendency to narrow-mindedly think of only physical well-being. It is important to feed the soul and the mind as well. Stimulating the mind through studying and the soul through faith and volunteering are great ways to exercise these two important aspects of health. The CDC reports that only 17 percent of American adults have optimal mental health. According to the CDC, mental health is the “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

A declining GPA and irritable mood aren’t the only consequences of getting five hours of sleep or less per night. Not getting the CDC-recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night can actually put you at risk of being fat in the long run, according to a study published in October in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American College of Physicians. Researchers found that people who sleep for four hours per night for four nights in a row end up having the same ability as a type II diabetic person to respond to insulin. This means that less sleep means more risk of developing type II Diabetes or becoming obese.

But what you are doing now might kill you later on

America’s fatal coffee habit

Photo courtesy of Kizette/Flickr

The Coffee Statistics Report 2012 found that Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee per day, making us the leading consumers in the world. Drinking a cup or two a day won’t kill you, but drinking one too late in the day can interfere with your sleep, according to WebMD. Redbull and other energy drinks aren’t the way to go either. They typically contain lots of sugar—which can easily lead to weight gain. Take away: sleeping more and drinking less sugary drinks to compensate for your sleepiness reduces your risk of being overweight.

There may be 99 bottles of beer on the wall, but you only get one liver Yes this one is obvious. Alcohol—and drugs for that matter— are bad for you. Alcohol consumption among the underage, which includes more than half of BC’s student population, is responsible for 4,700 deaths a year, according to the CDC. What may not seem so obvious right now, because these effects are presumably hidden by hangovers and other immediate effects, is that alcohol in the long term takes a big toll on your liver, the CDC says. Overconsumption puts you at risk of

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alcoholic hepatitis and poor liver function as a result of liver disease—this means your liver is less effective at making nutrients available for use by your body. As we get older, the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, colon, and breast increases as the total amount of alcohol consumed increases. “Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases, neurological impairments and social problems,” the CDC says. Dementia, stroke, and cardiovascular problems are also potential consequences for heavy alcohol drinkers.

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Opinions

INSIDE: Trying is okay at BC/ Artificial Insemination/ Four More Years

Opinions Islam

December 2012

Ignorance about

Needs to End

By Sarah Garcia Assoc. Opinions Editor

NOW

Each day we hear of more atrocities and violence in the Middle East, like Syria and Gaza. In a time of violence, it is more important than ever to have interreligious dialogue. The War on Terror is barely over; many still believe we should keep fighting. With 9/11 still fresh in our hearts and religious extremists getting a lot of attention in the news, ignorance about the religion of Islam has never been greater.

Innocence of Muslims, a 2012 “film,” is full of lies about the prophet Mu-

hammad and the religion of Islam. The violent backlash it received is one example of the dangerous repercussions which ensue from religious extremism of any kind, which preys on the people’s imagination. The correct information is at our fingertips. It is crucial that we see how similar the religions of Christianity and Islam are and that we stop condemning nearly a quarter of the world’s population because of the actions of a few.

First, Christianity and Islam are sim-

Palestinian demonstrators in Bethlehem met with tear gas Photo Courtesy of Israeli Defense Forces Spokeperson’s Unit/WikiCommons

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Photo courtesy of Steve Evans/Flickr

ilar religions. The Old Testament is the fundamental text of both religions. The same line of prophets is central to each religion, beginning with Adam, then Noah, followed by Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The only difference is that in Islam, Muhammad is the last and final prophet, next in line after Jesus.

The most important tenet of both religions is to remember God, and to have no other Gods before him. Almsgiving is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, just as tithing is a responsibility of Christians. At the end of time, both believe that there will be a judgment or reckoning and everyone will be accountable for their sins. In the two religions, God, or Allah, is forgiving and merciful to all believers. Islam was never meant to replace or compete with Christianity, but to perfect and clarify it.

Muhammad’s ideas were as revolutionary as Christ’s had been 600 years

the GAVEL / December 2012

Opinions

prior. In a land of constant blood vengeance and warring tribes, he told of a God who dealt with punishment in the next life instead of the current one.

Muhammad formed a community of believers that transcended kinship lines. An orphan himself, Muhammad welcomed all the marginalized people of society. He hoped that Christians, Jews and gentiles, or non-believers, would join his religion—just as Jesus had hoped. Islam is an inclusive religion that brought an end to the violence that plagued the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century.

There are many misconceptions about the concept of jihad in the Qur’an. The role of jihad in Islam has been blown out of proportion; jihad is barely mentioned in the Qur’an. It is not one of the five pillars of Islam.

Jihad means “holy war,” and Muhammad was very clear that violence was only condoned if the community was attacked first. Once the threat was subdued, fighting was ordered to cease immediately. By definition, it is purely used as a defensive strategy. It does not condone killing of non-believers.

The actions of a few extremists must not be used to judge an entire religion. Christians would not want to be associated with such extremists as the members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who picket at funerals and www.bcgavel.com

Photo Courtesy of Esteban Jera/Flickr

claim that 9/11 was God’s punishment for homosexuality. The U.S., which is considered primarily Christian, would not want the whole country judged by the actions of a few; therefore we cannot do the same to other countries and religions. There are fundamentalists in every religion, and unfortunately this miniscule minority takes all of the attention.

Just as a few fundamentalist Muslims have misinterpreted Islamic doctrine, so have extremist governments used the Qur’an to oppress women.

The oppression of women is not inherently in Islam. The most fundamental evidence of this is that in Christianity, Eve was created from Adam’s rib and thus clearly inferior to him,;in Islam, Eve and Adam were created simultaneously, as equal partners. Muhammad’s first wife, Khadija, was his most trusted advisor until he died. It was her that he turned to for advice when he received his first revelation.

The burka, a long garment with a veiled face, is what many people think of when they argue that Islam is oppressive towards women. However, the burka is actually only worn in Afghanistan, and the veil, or hijab—which covers only the hair—is only required by law in Iran and Saudi Arabia. In all other countries with people practicing Islam,

it is a choice. Many women actually choose to wear the hijab, even if they are not required to. For these women, it marks entrance to adulthood.

How can we say that Western culture, which arguably pressures women into wearing form-fitting, cleavagebearing clothes, is necessarily less oppressive? I, for one, would like to wear something that forced men to focus on my words, rather than my appearance.

Nothing in the Qur’an says women cannot leave the house without a male escort or participate in politics, as many Westerners mistakenly believe.

In fact, many Muslim-majority countries, such as Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, have elected female presidents. The United States, on the other hand, is still waiting for its first female president.

Now, more than ever, it is important that the religions come together to work towards peace. We may have different cultures, but both Christianity and Islam are religions of peace. For the few who misinterpret the texts to their own advantage, there are hundreds of millions who follow these texts to peacefully give praise to God.

Photo Courtesy of Luuise Sheehan/Gavel Media

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Opinions

It’s fine to

TRY

HARDER

Photo courtesy of Judith Klein/Flickr

Fighting back against a culture of laziness

By Mike Natalie / Assoc. Opinions Editor

I still remember, much to my horror, my Organic Chemistry final two years ago. Now that the dust has cleared and I can think clearly back on the experience, I see more than myself freaking out. I remember the first person to finish that test. We had three hours, she finished in maybe two. She smiled confidently and left, leaving the rest of us dumbfounded. To this day, I don’t know how she could have been so good at orgo.

Here’s the scary part, though: people laughed at her. Not everyone, not even most of them, but enough for her to notice. As much as the high-stress situation permitted, there were nervous giggles and derisive snorts. She had upset the balance of things.

Organic chemistry is supposed to be impossible, nobody could do so well. She must do literally nothing else but study. That’s how I read the crowd, anyway.

I can’t remember the girl’s reaction, but it doesn’t really matter. She deserves — we all deserve — better than that.

Photo courtesy of Monotonous Sarah/Flickr

If something like that had happened in high school, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But here? We laugh at people for working hard and doing well at Boston College. We are allegedly one of the best there is, and this is what we do? The attitude that academics take a back seat to the rest of the college experience pervades this campus and college life in general. We are all smart people, but too many students here have the idea that displaying their intelligence isn’t “cool.” In maintaining this attitude, we are cheating ourselves out of the opportunity to receive a truly great education.

The manifestations of this blasé attitude are admittedly not always as mean-spirited as they are in this anecdote. For instance, how many times have you been studying and one of your friends says something like, “Oh, look at you!” in a friendly if somewhat condescending manner? It’s harmless enough, but it implies that you have come here for some reason other than to study, and that you are going above and beyond for actually doing so. Personally, I get this all the time. Though I know it’s not everyone’s pet peeve like it is mine, I think we can say it’s a symptom of a larger problem.

Photo courtesy of LollyKnit/Flickr

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the GAVEL / December 2012

Opinions And God forbid you’re caught putting in the time on a weekend, especially at night.

That’s pretty much always a social fauxpas. Where did we get this idea that the only “cool” way to succeed is without trying?

Photo courtesy of Sharon Drummond/Flickr

Photo courtesy of Scui3esteveo/Flickr

How long did it take you to peel back your buddies’ veneer of “Joe/Jane BC” and see the intelligent and thoughtful person underneath? How long did it take to move from everyday topics into deeper discussions? I do believe that the “philosopher” resides in all BC students; we just don’t get to see it very often. I’ve been blown away, time and time again, by how smart my peers can be. It’s partially the fault of my own arrogance that I keep underestimat-

ing BC students, but I know some of you out there are hiding your true intellectual abilities.

I would like to say, please don’t.

I am not trying to demonize fun. I just think it should take a backseat to our education, which can in turn be “fun” — stay with me on this — provided you take this opportunity for some serious self-assessment.

“This isn’t job training,” as one of my professors put it, “it’s a chance to figure out where you’re going, what you really want to do.” If you’re doing what you want to do, you should theoretically enjoy your work.

I know some of you read my professor’s

words above and see only a cliché. I will grant that hearing such things becomes tiresome, especially in light of our collective anxiety to get a job. But you should leave this place more than a greased-up cog primed for whatever machine — business, medicine, law, etc. — you want to enter.

I’m not arguing that learning to love what you do will necessarily bring you material success. If you are here for that, then by all means ignore everything your professors tell you. Drink, party, network, put in the barest minimum of work required to get that degree in whatever-it-is. You’re free to leave this school without much besides vapid but essentially happy memories, and

then worry about the doldrums of reality.

You know, real life: that thing that supposedly happens after college, as if what we are experiencing now is somehow inauthentic. It is, if you have come to school but ignored education.

So if you are that student putting in overtime for finals week, don’t think you have done something wrong because you are working harder than everybody else. If you hear, “Oh, look at you,” respond with a “Yes. Look at me. I’m giving my work the attention it deserves.”

Be proud you’ve found something to which you’re sincerely devoted.

Photo courtesy of Pragmagraphr/Flickr

www.bcgavel.com

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Opinions

A few “good” (se)men?

By Olivia Simone Print Manager On the corner of Chestnut Hill Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue she saw it. Or rather, it saw her. It had jumped from the pole, the phrases dancing cruelly across her sight, shaking its mean words at her.

The flimsy piece of paper was like bad porn that she couldn’t tear her eyes away from.

“I was angry at the idea that where donor conception is concerned, everyone focuses on the ‘parents’’”.

The historical society group that she had been leading continued to walk towards Boston College, but her feet wouldn’t let her go in that direction.

“We didn’t ask to be born into this situation…”

The closer she got to the flyer on the telephone pole, the faster the logic of its argument escaped her.

“Doing this to children like Katrina, just to satisfy the desires of adults, is morally wrong!”

An electric shock rattled every nerve — every dendrite — from her toes, jolting all the way up to the last knob of her spine. The little piece of paper, spanning the length of her hand, had, in 200 words, denounced the very essence of Nicole’s incarnation. The flyer protested artificial insemination on the basis that it deprives products of insemination from the right to know who their biological fathers are. It was quoting an excerpt from then 18-year-

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How much should you know about donors? old Katrina Clark’s 2006 article in “The Washington Post.”

You know that twenty-first century America is a hard crowd to please when giving birth becomes a controversial matter. There are Catholic pro-life advocates arguing against a woman’s choice to abort her unborn fetus and then there are anonymous people with who-knows-what-religion running across Boston hanging flyers protesting against a woman’s choice to be impregnated.

Need I raise the most obvious challenge to the anti-artificial insemination argument: what part of giving life is morally wrong? The simple answer: it isn’t. The more complex response would ask, how anonymous should the source of the mystery sperm really be?

The flyer in question was a plea against artificial insemination. “Stop artificial insemination?” Why? Because it is immoral?

Because the children are victims of their parents’ affection? Try telling that to your neighbor’s infertile husband. There are many couples or individuals who are incapable of reproducing on their own because of sexual orientation, infertility, by virtue of being single, and so on. Only the twisted wage war on artificial insemination as an

institution. The real controversy lies along the fine line of anonymity drawn by the institution to protect the donor.

Seven years ago Nicole was sitting in Mr. Michelly’s fourth period biology class diagramming Punnett squares when she was told that cleft chins were a dominant trait.

It was her freshman year in high school.

She was no older than 15.

“I raised my hand and told the teacher that he was wrong because I had a butt chin and neither of my parents did. That’s when I realized something was wrong,” Nicole said.

Nicolehurried home after school to confront her mother about her strangely cleaved chin. Her mother told her that she had been artificially inseminated — that her legal father was not her biological one.

And worse, that she would likely never know the man who had given her half of her DNA. Nicole’s situation was a unique one. She did not get along with her legal father, who, as it turns out, was infertile. Just a few years later, her parents’ divorce left tears of joy in her eyes, Nicole said. In the absence of her legal father, Nicole was then free to paint a picture of her biological one.

“He is happy, healthy and a dark haired

the GAVEL / December 2012

Opinions

Photo courtesy of Brenaval/Flickr

Photo courtesy of Gwire/Flickr Italian of course,” Nicole said nonchalantly.

“Or I picture a cartoon sperm.”

Sperm donation is how an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 children are born each year. Viable sperm is a consistent missing puzzle piece for all families who opt to have a child with this procedure. While artificial insemination is the granddaddy of all fertility treatments, it is far from the easiest – and with each successful implantation pushing $2,000 these babies are not cheap.

What Clark calls the “products” of artificial insemination in her “Washington Post“ article, are undoubtedly wanted immensely by their parent(s). While she recognizes her single mother’s desire to have a child before her fallopian tubes stopped pushing out fertile eggs, she hardly sympathizes with the anonymity required by her biological father.

Yet, her stymied self-discovery matured into a larger wrecking ball when she heard the story of an adopted woman who died abruptly from a heart disease because she had no idea she was predisposed to it. It isn’t only a matter of the absent-father syndrome for some children; Clark is frustrated by half of her medical history that remained unknown and deliberately inaccessible.

“Those of us created with donated

www.bcgavel.com

“We’re all going to grow into adults and form opinions about the decision to bring us into the world in a way that deprives us of the basic right to know where we came from” sperm won’t stay bubbly babies forever,” Clark said. “We’re all going to grow into adults and form opinions about the decision to bring us into the world in a way that deprives us of the basic right to know where we came from, what our history is and who both our parents are,” she said.

When all is said and done — mom has been injected with the sperm of her choice, a zygote with cells of recombined genes and a mystery bag of 23 chromosomes is multiplying in size — the concrete facts about the mystery donor dwindle in magnitude.

If the child was conceived in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, the donor sperm is likely to have come from a medical student. Even if the donor’s interests had been included on his profile in the donor catalogue then what difference would it have made in the child’s life? Maybe that’s the way it should be: height, weight and color, a donor ID if desired.

No contact information from the donor; no obligation on behalf of the donor. No unnecessary angst for the child.

Unlike Clark, Nicole always considered herself lucky. Lucky to have a loving family, lucky to grow into the happy woman she is today.

“I don’t ever want him in my life. He was nice enough to go ahead and do that, and I’m here and there’s really nothing else to dwell on,” she said sternly.

On the frigid Saturday in October when Nicole caught sight of the flyer protesting artificial insemination and egg donation, she was shocked. “[Clark] should be grateful to be alive. I don’t see why she’s complaining,” Nicole said.

“What did I come from?” should not be confused with “who did I come from?”

Information including medical history, genetic predispositions, psychological history and perhaps, psychological studies, should be made available to the woman before she decides which sperm donor to use.

We are all inevitably a product of our nurture—society—the people who raise us and the demographics that surround us as we mature. Perhaps, for those of us with an ambiguous genetic makeup, the missing puzzle piece is not a void, but an enigma to embrace the uniqueness that comes with ambiguity.

[Nicole, who is a senior at BC, is not her real name—Gavel Media permitted her anonymity due to privacy reasons and the nature of the topic.]

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Opinions

Four More Years WELL FOLKS, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED. Barack Obama’s re-election af-

firms everything that he has done in his first term: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Wall Street and credit card reform, the endorsement of same-sex marriage, making college more affordable, and using multilateralism in US foreign policy. These are just a few success among many other successes produced by the Obama administration.

His re-election also serves as a referendum and a mandate at the same time.

Let’s throw out old strategies It is a referendum of the Republican party’s outdated Southern strategy. The Southern strategy is how the Republicans have turned the Dixiecrat states red. It intentionally preyed on the racial prejudices of many white Southerners who did not want the federal government telling them that they could no longer legally 20

By Francesska Jean-Pierre Gavel Media Staff

segregate black people. Republicans such as Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater wanted the Republican Party to benefit from a racially polarized country.

cal ads and rhetoric, to its portrayal of Obama as a foreigner, the Republican Party gave the Southern strategy one last try and they came up short.

Central to the idea of the Southern strategy is a white majority.

Caucasians would have to be an overwhelming majority in order for this strategy to work, and they have been the majority in the past. But the tides are turning. The United States is becoming a country where minorities, collectively, are becoming the majority, especially during our generation’s lifetime.

Latino, Asian and black voters voted in near-historic numbers.

Media commentators thought that these demographics would not turn out because they were not as enthusiastic this time around about Obama. The media, as it often does, underestimated the minority vote.

To their credit, Karl Rove and George W. Bush recognized this and wanted to broaden their base by reaching out to Latinos.

The Republican establishment rejected this outreach and instead pandered to its base during the 2010 midterm elections and during this election. From dog-whistle racism in its politi-

Minorities turned out and they turned out overwhelmingly for Obama. Their willingness for people of color to stand in line for hours—many emulating their relatives who lived through the time of Jim Crow laws—to cast their vote was a referendum on the Republican Party.

Let the liberalism flow in The election was a mandate for liberal ideas. From what I can tell

the GAVEL / December 2012

Opinions liberals are going to be very active participants in Obama’s second term. They are not sitting on the sidelines like they did in 2009, instead they are going to ensure that Obama not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk.

Liberals it seems are going to push the President to work on comprehensive immigration reform, gun control, taxes, environmental legislation and much more.

The only time that Obama acts progressively is when he is pressured and frankly, that is what he wants. He credits the historic changes that came with his first term to his supporters who pushed him to act. Many progressive organizations like 350. org and unions are talking about pressuring the Obama administration and having his back this time around.

Obama’s reelection serves as referendum and a mandate at the same time

Jumping the hurdles Obama’s next term is not without its hurdles. The congress is very divided—Republicans have the House while Democrats held on to the Senate. Many of the Democratic senators that have been elected are very liberal, meaning that there is obvious ideological polarization. Obama needs to become a more effective schmoozer. He cannot simply rely on taking his message to the American people. He has to work with Congress and Congress has to work with him.

Of course, we can’t forget that it was John Boehner and his gang of Tea Party Republicans who were the cause of all the trouble during the debt ceiling debate. Many pieces of legislation that would have sped up the economic recovery have died in the house. Even usually uncontroversial pieces of legislation such as funding transportation projects, had to be fought tooth and nail in order to pass. Obama seems poised to use the power of the bully pulpit more effectively especially during the “fiscal cliff” talks between him and members of Congress.

However, Massachusetts Democrats should be worried because their newly-won seats may be in danger in the next election because of two Republicans— Charlie Baker and Scott Brown.

This is not to say that the bench for the Democrats is not deep but memories of Martha Coakley’s failed attempt at securing what should have been a secure seat still haunt many Democrats and I’m sure they are not going to let it happen again.

Whether Obama adopts a liberal agenda has yet to be seen but undoubtedly he will start his second term as a smarter, wiser and more energized president looking to secure his place in history with a positive legacy.

Photo courtesy of Eytonz/Flickr

www.bcgavel.com

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Features

Features

December 2012

‘Naked News’ streaks across the BC campus BC Streak, a daily email blast sent to BC students, is trying to revolutionize the way that BC students receive and interpret news. When BC students think of campus news sources, their minds are immediately directed to the likes of Gavel Media, The Heights and The Observer, but this new participant is wading through the murky waters of campus media.

It all started when Mike Nardella, A&S ’13, and his friend from high school, Andrew Stern, NYU ’13, got the idea for a company called “Streak News” that provided news in an easily accessible format. It was broadly based and not intended for any particular region or university. “The idea was to provide concise content, just the headlines,” Nardella says. “If you want to read more, you can click the link.”

After a while, Nardella and Stern changed the way that Streak News operated by moving it to a specific demographic. Nardella says, “We decided to close up shop and specialize by school because the hook of locality would really help us out.”

Enter BC Streak, the pilot for Streak News’ transition to college campuses.

Nardella assembled a team of BC students to run BC Streak. “It appeals to BC students because it’s very local,” Nardella says. Students who receive the emails get headlines organized by section, such as ‘At BC, ‘ ‘Front Page,’ ‘Business,’ ‘Interesting’ and ‘Sports.’

“We have the ‘At BC’ section which tells you what is going on that day, sends you links about recent

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By Mason Lende EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

updates on all the BC specific sites like The Gavel Media or Her Campus and The Heights, and BC students really like that and like to interact with it,” Nardella says.

Every Monday through Friday, BC Streak emails its subscribers at 6 a.m.

William Chamberlin, CSOM ’15, who is in charge of compiling the daily email, says, “I compile articles sent in by the Daily News Team, and try to at least skim through all of them for quality control. If an article is a little too strange or if it is very poorly written, I throw it out.”

BC Streak, however, is not without controversy. On Nov. 16, the group linked to an article found on Gawker that several members of the BC community found offensive. They later issued an apology that read, “BC Streak would like to apologize for a link that was included in today’s issue. We will continue to do our best to screen articles for offensive content before they are linked in our emails.”

It was also important to target a

the GAVEL / December 2012

Features demographic like college students. Consider it the Twitter version of news at BC: It keeps you informed with a short headline. “[W]e realized it is very difficult for most college students to find time to stay up-to-date with a wide variety of news sources,” Chamberlin says.

Left: Photos coutesy of BC Streak Right: Photo by Louise Sheehan / Gavel Media

By assembling a marketing team, BC Streak has seen additional growth in the fall semester. “Our growth has been organic,” Nardella says. “It kind of started out with us telling a couple hundred friends to try this out and sign up. It’s grown by word of mouth from there to now which is about 1,750 BC students.”

The organization is not concerned with assembling record numbers of BC students but instead focuses on grassroots growth from localized marketing campaigns. “We’re not in your face; we’re not all over Facebook,” Nardella says.

“It’s more of we want you to come and find us. We want the students to like what they’re reading, and if not, for them to unsubscribe.”

BC Streak is driven completely by the needs, wants, desires and affiliations of the consumer that it serves. “Our picking of links is solely based on what we think will be the most entertaining to our consumer,” Nardella says. “We’re very open to criticism; we’re very open to suggestions. You can actually reply to any email to talk to us.”

Readers may notice a variety of special features assigned to different days of the week, such as Mod Monday, YouTube Tuesday, etc. This section has gained particular attention from email subscribers. “The specials are favorites among our readers. A lot of people click on the special things,” Nardella says.

BC Streak has grown dramatically in only two semesters at BC, both in terms of subscribers and the amount of use that it gets on campus. Nardella says, “Our readers are also very interactive, very loyal. If you get it, you probably open it. If you open it, then the statistics show that you click at least two links.”

Nardella has seen the progress of the organization first hand. He says, “It was really cool when I was in a lecture hall, and I saw four people in front of me looking through BC Streak in the middle of class clicking on stuff.”

As BC Streak continues to grow, it will continue to realize its ultimate goal: To inform and entertain. Nardella says, “It keeps you educated, keeps you plugged in to what’s going on in the world, when normally college students don’t know outside of their bubble what’s going on.”

Photo courtesy of Christine Soiles, CSOM ‘13 / Streak Marketing Team

www.bcgavel.com

Next semester, it plans to expand to two other college campuses, Boston University and New York University.

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Features

Things I wish I had asked before picking

By Jillian Timko my study abroad program Features Editor Are you ready? The deadlines for choosing Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 study abroad programs are coming up in February and if you’re considering going abroad you need to start thinking about picking a program.

We asked students currently studying abroad or studying abroad in the spring the necessary questions.

Do I have to complete certain classes for my major before going abroad?

For A&S students, the answer to this question can vary, but many majors require that students take some fundamental classes before going abroad.

For example, Communication majors must take their four required classes before spending a semester abroad. Math majors should complete Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra and Introduction to Abstract Mathematics. Economics majors must take both principles and theory courses, as well as Statistics beforehand.

LSOE students face similar requirements, according to Michela Shalvoy, LSOE ’14. “As an Elementary Ed. student you are required to take five methods courses along with your pre-practicums [student teaching placements],” she says.

“If possible, it is best to start your student teaching placements fall semester of sophomore year,” Shalvoy added.

Nursing and business students face less distinct prerequisites for going abroad. “[For nursing], second semester freshman year you decide if you would like to go abroad. Based on your decision you will be placed in Plan A or Plan B. The only difference between the two is that in Plan B you will be a semester ahead of Plan A to allow you to have a semester junior year in which you will not have to take any nursing classes or clinicals,” Jessica Fortin, CSON ’14, says.

CSOM students face no prerequisites for going abroad; however, according to Logan Kirst, CSOM/A&S ’14, “You need to be prepared [for planning to go abroad]. It might mean you have to take more CSOM classes sophomore year or even overload to make sure you’ll still be on track.”

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Are there popular places where people in my major go abroad?

There does not seem to be any set destination for a certain school or major; BC students go all over the world.

“I am human development within Lynch so you can go anywhere with a psych department, which most schools have,” Jessie Carbone, LSOE/A&S ’14, says.

For CSOM students, any university offering at least one CSOM core class is fair game. However, some places might be more popular or easier to go to then others, depending on your major.

“Nursing students go all over the world, [but] there is a nursing related study abroad program in Quito, Ecuador where you can complete your community health clinical,” Fortin says.

Language differences can also serve as barriers for certain study abroad programs; Regina Bellizzi, LSOE ’14, says, “Because the Lynch school doesn’t have a language requirement, it may be difficult for students to study abroad in programs that require classes to be taken in that language.”

the GAVEL / December 2012

Features Photos By Louise Sheehan / Gavel Media Map courtesy of Transparent 6lue / Wikimedia Commons

Is it easy to get classes approved?

How many classes can I take abroad that will count towards Most students can take up to two or three electives for their major abroad. In some unique cases, you can get required classes approved while abroad, but this is not the norm.

Many juniors recommend that students save some of their core requirements for their semester abroad, as it is generally easier to get core classes approved then major electives or requirements.

Nursing students do not take nursing classes abroad, unless they go to Ecuador and complete their community health clinical. Lynch education students generally cannot take many major classes abroad, while Lynch Human Development students face fewer restrictions in getting abroad classes to count towards their major.

Kirst gives a good example of the restrictions facing students studying abroad in terms of how many major or minor classes they can take abroad. “I don’t believe there is a limit to how many courses you can take to count towards a major or minor, but many programs require you to take certain courses,” he says.

He added, “For example, every student here in Parma is required to take an Italian language course, art history course and a history of Parma course, leaving two slots open for major or minor requirements.”

www.bcgavel.com

The answer to this question varies widely between students with easy and difficult experiences of getting classes approved.

Many A&S departments such as economics or communication offer pre-approved classes that students can take abroad.

If departments do not offer these types of classes, “You should check the courses you want to take with your advisor and the undergraduate advisor…Courses get official approval when you come back,” Ashley Ormiston, A&S ’14, says.

Nursing students follow a similar process; “I think you do the same as any other major and have to go to the department chair,” says Katelyn DeSimone, CSON ’14.

However, some students have a very difficult time getting abroad courses approved; “I had to change my program from Venice to Florence at the last minute because I couldn’t get any economics classes approved to transfer credit to my major,” Jordan Kelleher, A&S ’14, says.

Shalvoy says, “From my experience it has been pretty difficult to get abroad courses approved because the Elementary Education major does not grant much (or any) leniency.”

CSOM classes can also be difficult to get approved because many programs offer economics classes but no business classes such as finance or accounting.

Is there a certain semester I have to study abroad for my major?

A&S students go abroad either the fall or spring semester junior year. Plan B nursing students can also go abroad either semester.

LSOE students can also choose which semester they want to go abroad. “I would recommend going in the fall. I say this because the majority of necessary classes are offered in the spring, so if you go during the spring there’s a big chance you’ll have trouble scheduling your classes,” Bellizzi says.

CSOM students face a little bit more restriction in terms of which semester they can go abroad. More CSOM students choose to go abroad in the fall because of recruiting season for internships. Finance positions particularly recruit on campus in the spring. Many abroad programs also go late during the spring semester making internships a bit more difficult.

“One major exception is accounting concentrations. All the recruiting for accounting happens in the fall so many future accountants choose to go in the spring,” Kirst says.

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Features

26

the GAVEL / December 2012

Features

Overheard at BC

Overheard at BC is a cherished Gavel Media tradition. Read on to get some laughs at the expense of your fellow BC students and be careful what you say— or it might show up here! All statements are 100 percent “overheard” and not fabricated by the Gavel Media.

“Why can’t I just be asexual?”

–Late Night

“I really have to find a husband tonight.”

–Senior girl at Notre Dame game

“He’s technically single, but I don’t know if he’s emotionally available.”

–Lower “I either have that, or syphilis.”

–Lower “I’m a sneaky b*tch wife already and I’m not even married yet.”

–Mod Lot “In my second life I’m going to come back as a student athlete.”

–Outside 90 “I think she was just commenting on the fact that we’re both very attractive.”

–Outside Mac “Guys, if nothing else, we aren’t high school moms.”

–Hillside “This bus driver needs to f*cking drive the bus.”

–Comm. Ave Bus “Writing a thesis will not help you get into grad school or law school or get a job.”

–A Professor in Carney “All I want is a gold band with a three plus karat emerald cut diamond.”

–Lower Photos courtesy of Patricia Drury / Flickr www.bcgavel.com

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Features

Winterfest

By Christian Fiedler Gavel Media Staff While most people associate beer with summertime festivities, winter is a great time for beer as well. Fresh-hop IPA’s, spiced beers and other seasonal treats are all part of beer during the colder months. Join Gavel Media as we try some of the season’s best brews.

2.) Heart of Darkness — Magic Hat Brewing Co. — South Burlington, VT — 5.7% ABV

1.) Sierra Nevada Celebration —Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. — Chico, CA — 6.8% ABV One of the neat things about Sierra Nevada’s Celebration IPA is its simplicity: no exotic spices or fruit added. In the glass, it’s a bit darker than a typical India Pale Ale, with a reddish, copper color and wonderful citrus hop bouquet.

On the palate, Celebration greets the drinker with a bitter whirlwind of pine and sticky citrus flavors that come from the beer’s use of fresh, lessthan-a-week-old hops. Sierra Nevada works hard to coordinate the use of fresh hops in their winter offering, and it pays off big.

Score: 4 out of 5 pints 28

Magic Hat makes a lot of interesting beer. Fruit beer, spruce beer and dandelion beer have all come out of their flagship brewery in Vermont.

This year’s winter seasonal, an oatmeal stout, is surprisingly straightforward.

Heart of Darkness pours an inky black color with a compact, tan head. Its aroma is reminiscent of bittersweet baker’s chocolate underpinned by nutty notes and roasted barley. On the tongue, Heart of Darkness is dominated by coffee flavors and a pinch of vanilla bean, and the oats in the beer’s grist provide a silky smooth mouth feel that makes drinking it a joy. Overall, a well-executed rendition of a classic beer from a very strange brewery.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 pints

3.) Our Special Ale 2011 — Anchor Brewing Co — San Francisco, CA — 5.5% ABV Anchor’s Our Special Ale is a holiday tradition, with a new recipe each year.

Last year’s rendition, gracefully aged for a year on a dusty back shelf, is a dark brown spiced ale that comes in a liter-and-a-half champagne bottle.

In the aroma, Our Special Ale is grounded in nutty malt notes and accented by cinnamon, allspice and pine. The taste is similar, with a slightly roasted background and a medley of cloves, ginger, spruce and fruit flavors.

With a light mouth feel and a bit of booziness, Our Special Ale isn’t particularly easy to drink, but it is certainly a unique offering. We’re looking forward to trying the 2012 vintage to see how it compares.

Score: 3.5 out of 5 pints.

the GAVEL / December 2012

Features All participants in this beer review were 21+. Please drink responsibly

4.) Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro — Left Hand Brewing Co. — Longmont, CO — 6.0% ABV Milk Stout, or sweet stout, is another solid winter offering. Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro, bottled with the same nitrogen gas blend that makes Guinness such a joy to drink on tap, is a great example of the style. The bottle explains to “pour hard,” allowing the nitrogen to cascade out of the beer and form a tight cap of tan foam.

In the aroma, the beer’s hefty dose of milk sugars carry sweet milk chocolate and cappuccino notes out of the glass. On the palate, Left Hand Milk Stout is super sweet, full of chocolate milk (think Yoo-Hoo) and a mild astringency that balances it out.

The real kicker here is the mouth feel, made creamy and smooth by the nitrogen carbonation. Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro is an amazing brew that would be perfect around the Christmas fireplace.

Score: 5 out of 5 pints.

Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro is an amazing brew that would be perfect around the Christmas fireplace.

5.) Tröegs Mad Elf — Tröegs Brewing Co. — Hershey, PA —11.0% ABV Mad Elf is the strongest (11 percent ABV — that’s wine strength) and probably the most unique brew we tried this month.

A strong Belgian Ale brewed with cherries and honey, Mad Elf pours a ruby color with plenty of champagne-like bubbles and a rocky white www.bcgavel.com

head. In the aroma, the Belgian character comes out strong with spicy phenolic and banana yeast notes, backed by a bit of tart cherry.

On the tongue, Mad Elf is well balanced between tartness from the yeast and cherries, and sweetness from the malts and honey. A moderate level of carbonation makes Mad Elf dangerously drinkable for its alcohol level. We highly recommend it, with caution.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 pints.

Photos By Kara Weeks and Jillian Timko/ Gavel Media and Kofler Jurgen / Wikemdia Commons 29

Features

International Update: Obama’s foreign policy goals

By Victoria Southwood GAVEL MEDIA STAFF

President Barack Obama has spent the last four years under intense scrutiny by American citizens, all of whom were eager to see how he approached foreign policy in George W. Bush’s wake, in the beginning of the Iraq war and in the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

In 2009, Obama took the presidential oath with a pledge to restore the international image of the United States. Whether he succeeded in doing this, and more importantly, whether he accomplished his foreign policy goals in the right way,

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is still up for debate.

The so-called “apology tour” that Mitt Romney accused Obama of taking when he was first elected has formed ammunition which Republicans have used to criticize Obama’s foreign policy maneuvers.

Obama has been criticized for doing the U.S. a disservice by making the U.S. appear weak to the rest of the world. Obama’s speeches in the Middle East included comments suggesting the U.S. had made mistakes in the past regarding foreign policy, but his speeches did

not apologize for these occurrences.

Instead, he made clear the U.S.’s desire to both create and restore alliances with countries in the Middle East, in spite of past conflicts.

This begs the question whether or not Obama appears to be a weak leader among the international community.

Generally, Obama has defined his foreign policy goals as focused on establishing a more diplomatic and collaborative relationship with the global order. More specifically, his foreign policy agenda can be broken down into the following categories: Afghanistan and Pakistan, nuclear weapons, Israel, Iran, energy security, and the renewal of American diplomacy.

Afghanistan and Pakistan Obama continues to view alQaeda and the Taliban in both Afghanistan and Pakistan as the greatest threat to U.S. national security. His plans to eliminate U.S. presence in Afghanistan by 2014 first require a revitalization of U.S. and NATO troops in the country.

The continued presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is meant to further ensure the appropriate training of Afghans to run their nation independently upon U.S. exit. As a part of this exit plan, Obama also outlines the importance of aid and support for economic development within Afghanistan. He plans to look to the Afghan government to be more active in response to

national issues. Concerning Pakistan, Obama will continue to provide non-military aid to the country and in return Pakistan will be required to continue security enforcement along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Overall, Obama appears to be trying to discontinue unnecessary U.S. influence and occupation in the Middle East, but Americans have yet to see whether his exit goals are realistic.

Considering the length of the war in Afghanistan and the difficulties that the U. S. has had in the past when it comes to exiting a war (like the Vietnam war) it is reasonable to be skeptical. Whether or not 2014 will bring about a true end to the war is uncertain.

Factors that may impede this goal include whether or not Afghanistan will be ready to take over the rule of their nation by 2014, as well as the government’s questionable capabilities of keeping al-Qaeda and the Taliban in check.

Nuclear Weapons Obama’s four-year plan also includes the securing of any and all loose nuclear material to keep it out of reach of terrorists. Part of his nuclear strategy consists of strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, suggesting that there should be more sanctions imposed if a country violates the treaty.

His long-term goals will work towards a nuclear weapon-free world. This will require work al-

the GAVEL / December 2012

Features lied with Russia on the gradual elimination of both countries’ nuclear weapons. Obama’s policy on nuclear weapons may be morally appropriate, but a problem arises when it potentially conflicts with the U.S.–Israel relationship.

Israel Obama claims that U.S. presence in the Middle East is dominated by a responsibility to protect Israel, our strongest ally in the region. This includes both supporting Israel’s sovereign right to protect its country and the continuation of military and economic assistance in the region.

What is left out of this outline is the fact that Israel is possibly the strongest nuclear power in the Middle East and despite the Obama’s desire to create a nuclear-free world, there has not been, and most likely will not be, a U.S. push on Israel to eliminate its nuclear capabilities.

Such a threat has already been made towards Iran. Also important to consider is the condition of Palestinians, who are currently experiencing huge amounts of oppression

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from Israel largely due to U.S. economic aid. Whether this will make it possible for the U.S. to guide the conflict towards a solution is unclear due to the lack of cooperation on the part of Israel and the Palestinians’ lack of resources that makes it difficult for them to survive their day to day lives.

Iran The ultimatum that has been established for Iran is aimed at the creation of a comprehensive settlement between Iran and the U.S. Successful elimination of nuclear development and terrorist support by Iran will guarantee U.S. diplomatic relationships with the nation, membership in the World Trade Organization and foreign economic investment.

On the other hand, continued nuclear development and passivity towards terrorists will lead to an increase in U.S. political pressure and diplomatic isolation of Iran.

Obama plans to establish a 10-year energy security strategy, which will include an investment of $150 billion in renewable and alternative en-

Photos courtesy of DVIDSHUB, US Army / Flickr ergy forms. His goal is to move the U.S. towards energy independence while simultaneously encouraging the world to develop an International Global Warming Partnership.

Under U.S. guidance, this organization would support international action in response to global warming issues and the recognition of those issues.

Diplomacy Finally, diplomacy remains a significant part of Obama’s foreign policy goals. He intends to continue the renewal and rebuilding of U.S. alliances around the world and establish U.S. consulates in new areas of the world. Obama also hopes to establish and strengthen alliances with Asian countries.

This should prove important to Americans as China and other Asian countries move up in the world order, especially concerning the manufacturing of goods. A positive diplomatic relation-

ship with these nations is critical to U.S. prosperity.

Obama’s foreign policy goals for the next four years encompass all of the major issues that Americans are concerned with in terms of our international presence and image. The diplomacy that Obama plans to use in his attempts to revitalize U.S. international relations may be preferable to a hegemonic attitude towards the rest of the world.

If Obama is able to accomplish what he sets out to do within the next four years, Americans will likely embrace this more diplomatic attitude regarding foreign policy.

However, if he is unable to accomplish his goals it is likely that the future will include not only criticism of a weak foreign policy strategy, but also possibly the election of a president who will approach the world with a more “bigstick” type of attitude.

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Culture

INSIDE: Pick Your Clique / Christmas in the City / The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Culture

December 2012

No oven? No stove? No problem!

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

By Mary Yuengert / Gavel Media staff

Break out the Christmas lights, put up the mini Christmas tree you’ve always wanted in your dorm and add the Holiday station to your Pandora playlist. Christmas season is officially upon us!

Everybody has a food that reminds them of the holidays at home — grandma’s pumpkin pie, mom’s specialty brownies and even Aunt Helen’s “adult eggnog.” My biggest concern when coming to college was that these things would not be right at my fingertips when the holiday season finally arrived.

How was I supposed to get the toffee candy that my mom starts making the day after Thanksgiving? Where could I buy an Advent calendar? And, most importantly, how was I going to survive finals week without those sugar cookies with holiday pictures on them?

Well, have no fear. Holiday desserts can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers that he or she has a microwave and a fridge in his or her dorm room (please tell me that somebody gets the Harry Potter reference).

One of the staples in my house around Christmastime is fudge. It’s on every platter, either in chocolate, peanut butter or white chocolate form.

Whether you put it out at parties or use it to give yourself that perfect study break during finals, this white chocolate peppermint fudge will certainly bring back that feeling of home when you need it most.

Ingredients:

Preparation: 1

Line an 8 x 8 inch pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2

Combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk and butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl.

1/4 tsp salt

3

Heat in the microwave in oneminute intervals until melted, about 2-3 minutes total.

35 crushed peppermint candies

4

Add the peppermint extract and salt. Mix well.

5

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth it so it is evenly spread.

6

Pour the crushed peppermint on top of the fudge after it has cooled down a bit.

3 cups white chocolate chips 1 (14 ounce) can condensed milk 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) butter 1/2 tsp peppermint extract

7 8

Use a knife to swirl the candies into the fudge mixture until the crushed pieces are well-distributed.

Pop the fudge in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours. Once set, cut into 1-inch squares and enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Mary Yuengert/Gavel Media

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the GAVEL / December 2012

Culture Holiday shopping on a college budget

By Jenna LaConte/Culture Editor

This holiday season, Gavel Media invites you to make a pledge.

I, (insert name here), pledge not to give anyone on my gift list a lessthan-awesome present. I pledge not to give my father a tie. I pledge not to give my mother a scented candle. I pledge not to give my siblings presents that my mom purchased on my behalf. Most of all, I pledge not to drain my bank account at the Boston College Bookstore on overpriced university apparel.

Now that you have joined us in our cause, it’s time to get shopping. Here are some easy ways to wow your loved ones with presents that say, “Look, I didn’t get you a gift card!”

Brew up an original concoction.

Mitche sy of Patty

Photo courte

If you are of legal drinking age and have anyone age 21 or older on your shopping list, put your bartending skills to work with homemade kahlua.

It is the perfect cocktail to enjoy by the fireplace on a cold winter night and it only requires five easy-to-find ingredients: 4 cups of sugar, 4 cups of water, 2/3 cup instant coffee, 2 cups of vodka and 3 tablespoons of vanilla.

Mix these together, let simmer for 30 minutes and cool before bottling.

ll/ Flickr

Save big on Boston College gear. Whether they live on the other side of the world or a few exits down the Mass Pike, your mother, father, sister, brother and great aunt had better rock the occasional BC sweatshirt. Few people realize that just about every Target, TJ Maxx and Marshalls within 30 miles of BC carries Superfan gear for a fraction of what you would pay at the BC Bookstore.

Get in touch with your creative side. Attach a candlestick holder to

ley/Flickr

tos courtesy of Kevin Doo

Top and bottom left pho

www.bcgavel.com

a Mason jar with a hot glue gun, and voilà! You have a Southern belle wine glass. If you need some artistic inspiration, Pinterest is flowing with ideas.

Photo courtesy of

Allerleiru/ Flickr

Turn your digital photos into solidified memories. A picture is worth a thousand words. By that same logic, giving your mother a photographic gift is like saying “I love you” 333.3 times. On Snapfish and Shutterfly, you can transform the pictures on your hard drive into a calendar for 2013 or a commemorative photo book of your most recent family vacation. You can even upload a family photo for a personalized iPhone case.

Bookmark daily deal websites.

During the month of December, retail stores turn into battlegrounds of ruthless shoppers — especially when the store window flaunts the word “SALE.” Why wait in line when you can hop online? Websites like Groupon and Rue La La offer daily deals on everything from designer watches to remotecontrol helicopters, typically at discounts of 50 percent or more. If you make a habit of stalking these websites with the regularity that you stalk your friends on Facebook, you will find a great deal on your sister’s signature perfume in no time.

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pick your

Culture

Photo courtesy of shotsbydrew.com

Young Money Entertainment

Leader: Lil Wayne Big names: Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga Defining Lyrics: 1. “I’m fl-fl-fly, I’m flying high/Ain’t got time to talk, just hi and bye.”- Nicki Minaj (“Make Me Proud”) 2. “Real G’s move in silence like lasagna.”- Lil Wayne (“6 Foot 7 Foot”) 3. “You already know though/You only live once, that’s the motto, YOLO.”- Drake (“The Motto”)

Photo courtesy of RJ Shaugness

BC Clique:

Leader: Rick Ross Big names: Meek Mill, Wale, Omarion Defining Lyrics: 1. “Stunt so hard, make them come and indict me/I think I’m Big

Meech, look at my timepiece/It’s Audemars, hundred racks at least” - Rick Ross (“B.M.F.”) 2. “I’m at the round table, where your seat at?/Where your plate, where your lobster, where your sea bass?” - Gunplay (“Power Circle”) 3. “I’m a boss” ( x 16) – Meek Mill & Rick Ross (“I’m A Boss”)

BC Clique:

CSOM finance majors. You wear a suit to class. You name-drop the companies you interview with like it’s your job. You tell your English major friends that some day, if they’re lucky, you’ll hire them as your secretary. You like champagne on principle. You know who you are, and the rest of us are judging you. But it’s okay; we’ll probably all work for you some day.

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Screenshot by Louise Sheehan/Gavel Media Photo courtesy of NRKP3/ Flickr Screenshot by Louise Sheehan/Gavel Media

Maybach Music Group

Dance Teams — we’re looking at you, Synergy, Uprising and the likes. LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” would be your theme song, except you already have one and it’s “The Motto” (because YOLO). You have excessive amounts of what others would term “swag,” and your crew rocks the sweat pants, tight tank tops and Timberlands as a uniform.

Everyone on campus, from your biggest fan to your saltiest hater, wants to be you. Too bad you don’t care what they think (because YOLO).

the GAVEL / December 2012

Culture

By Rob Rossi / Managing Editor & Emily Akin / Assoc. Culture Editor What is a clique? Good question. A clique, for our purposes, is a rap conglomerate of musicians, writers and producers who make albums as a group and feature each other on solo projects. Cliques are exclusive, unique and demanding of loyalty from their fan bases. Four main rap groups, each with a distinct sound and image, are battling for supremacy over the hip-hop world. And you must swear allegiance to one of them. We’re talking long-term commitment. There’s no turning back. Choose wisely.

Screenshot by Louise Sheehan/Gavel Media

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All Leader: Tyler, The Creator (OFWGKTA) Big names: Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, Hodgy Beats Defining Lyrics: 1. “I’m an over achiever, so how ‘bout I start a team of lead-

Photo courtesy of NRKP3/ Flickr

BC Clique:

Screenshot by Louise Sheehan/Gavel Media

Parkour Club. If you enjoy jumping off benches and curbs in the BC quad, OFWGKTA is your clique. Skaters welcome, hoodies required. You’re privileged and grew up in a nice neighborhood, but you’re still kind of crazy and your bros are too. You stand out at what you do, but on no one else’s terms. Actually, you kind of like weirding people out while you’re doing your thing. You have a different breed of swag, but you stay true to what you love, so it’s all good. Just one thing, please: watch your mouth!

G.O.O.D. Music

Photo courtesy of Incase/ Flickr

ers/And pick up Stevie Wonder to be the wide receiver”Tyler, the Creator (“Yonkers”) 2. “Sixteen, I’m hollow with Tyler and skipped shots/Just throw him that whole bottle, I’ll show you a role model”Earl Sweatshirt (“Chum”) 3. “That’s a pretty big trunk on my Lincoln town car, ain’t it?/Big enough to take these broken hearts and put ‘em in it.”- Frank Ocean (“Swim Good”)

Photo courtesy of Andrew S/ Flickr

Leader: Kanye West

Big names: Big Sean, Pusha T, Common Defining Lyrics:

1. “Bow on our arrival, the un-American idols.” – Kanye West (“Clique”) 2. “Whoever told you sky’s the limit is lookin’ dumb/Cause I’m 22 and I’m moonwalkin’ on the Sun.” – Big Sean (“B.E.T. Cypher”)

BC Clique:

3. “My presence is a present.”- Kanye West (“Monster”)

BC Bros. You live in the Plex and rap to yourself in the mirror every morning as a pump-up. You overuse the phrase “the maaaan” and have excessive amounts of what you would term “swag.” In your mind, everything you do and wear completely lacks irony (which fits in nicely with G.O.O.D.’s image). In our minds, everything you do and wear is too ironic to take seriously (which also fits in nicely with G.O.O.D.’s image).

www.bcgavel.com

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Culture

Christmas in the city

By Lauren Leckenby / Assoc. Culture Editor

Photo courtesy of EandJsFilmCrew/ Flickr

Each year the lights are strung and the wreaths are hung around Beantown for the holiday season. Boston has countless festivities to partake in as chilly fall turns into frigid winter, whether to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or simply New Year’s Eve. Of course, you may have attended the annual Faneuil Hall Christmas tree lighting, but there is more to this city’s holiday culture still to come for the 2012-2013 season.

Lighting: FREE. That is basically all

you need to know about the Boston Common Christmas Tree Lighting to be convinced to attend. If you missed the Faneuil Hall Lighting, the Boston Common Lighting is certain to be just as spectacular in kicking off the holiday season on Dec.1, and the Common will be a great place to visit all month to get in the spirit!

Photo courtesy of Bugsy Sailor/ Flickr

Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fairs: Throughout December, Harvard

SoWa Holiday Market: This year

Square will host its historic craft fairs featuring local artisans. The gifts these artists will be selling have been prepared over the past year, handcrafted with care. Cambridge has been hosting this tradition for more than 25 years, allowing the exciting charisma of the fair to be in full swing. Take a study break and hop on the 86 bus to check out this unique shopping opportunity.

marks the ninth annual SoWa Holiday Market, where gift shopping for every family member is made much easier.

Known for its array of unique artists and crafters, SoWa is planning to offer indie jewelry, pottery and plenty of other trinkets. For the reasonable entrance fee of $5, the Holiday Market will take place on Dec. 8 and 9 at the Benjamin Franklin Institute.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”:

BC 2 Boston is hosting the opportunity to see “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” for the discounted price of $25 this winter. From Nov. 23 to Dec. 9, Dr. Seuss’ original story will come to life on the stage of the Wang Theatre in downtown Boston. It would be a shame to pass up this accessible way to see Cindy Lou Who and the rest of the gang during the Christmas season.

Boston Common Christmas Tree 36

rendition of the classic ballet, “The Nutcracker,” has a new and improved soundtrack this year, sure to be more entertaining than ever. Put on by Sugar Coated Productions, “The Slutcracker” will be at the Somerville Theatre in David Square from Dec. 2-24.

This risqué performance, intended for a mature audience, would be a memorable night for any group of adventurous roommates.

Candlelight Carols: On Dec. 17 and

18, the Trinity Church on Clarendon Street will be an evening of song and holiday cheer that all are welcome to attend. By candlelight, the choir will fill the church with sounds of Christmas joy not to be missed. The church will be accepting donations, but for broke college students like us, this may be the perfect way to experience some Christmas cheer for little or no money at all.

“The Slutcracker”: This scandalous

Holiday Pops: Everyone’s favorite

orchestra, the Boston Pops, will be performing their Holiday Pops Show throughout December with special guest Ol’ Saint Nick. Keith Lockhart will join the Pops to transform Christmas classics into musical genius, and everyone is welcome to sing along. The shows will be held in the Symphony Hall from Dec. 5-24. Tickets can be pricey, beginning at $30, so grab a cheap seat now and enjoy.

the GAVEL / December 2012

Culture

Photo courtesy of Chris Devers/ Flickr Photo courtesy of Haags Uitburo/ Flickr

Photo courtesy of Ryan Gallagher/ Flickr

Photo courtesy of Jeff Levene/ Flickr

Photo by Jenna LaConte/ Gavel Media

www.bcgavel.com

37

Culture “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”

By Victoria Southwood / Gavel Media Staff of 13 dwarves fighting to reclaim their dwarf The tale of Bilbo Baggins is familiar to kingdom, Erebor, from the dragon Smaug. The most: he began as a quiet hobbit of Hobbileader of the motley crew, Thorin Oakenshield, ton, the Shire, living peacefully and minding is a legend of the Shire and leads Bilbo and his his own business until Gandalf the Grey encompanions on an unforgettable journey. tered the scene.

Throughout his journey, Bilbo encounters In the beginning of The Lord of the Rings all sorts of creatures, of whom Gollum may be trilogy, Bilbo’s nephew Frodo Baggins, led a the most significant. His encounters with Golsimilar life. lum allow Bilbo to discover his own capacity The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure befor courage and ingenuity, while helping him gins with Gandalf journeying to the Shire in come into possession of his “prepursuit of recruits for his next big adventure. cious” ring.

In LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo is this This is the plot line as defined lucky recruit. For those who have only been

by The Hobbit film website, and introduced to the films and are unfamiliar it is safe to say that while it with the books, it might be a surprise to know sounds consistent with that of that the precursor to this trilogy, The Hobbit, the novel, fans will be sitting started off with a nearly-identical scene. on the edge of their seats, While both our generation and the one anxious to see if the film before have been exposed to hobbits, gobis true to its 75-year-old lins, dwarves, orcs and wizards before, not as origins. many know of the history behind Bilbo BagThe seemingly angins. The story will tell how he developed a cient story behind The relationship with wizard Gandalf the Grey, Hobbit and LOTR is how he truly won possession of his “precious” one of the most interesting aspects behind ring, and what the oh-so-important story he its contemporary popularity. Most surprisis writing in the beginning of Fellowship of ing may be the fact that a child discovered the Ring is. Luckily, the population of LOTR it. fans who did not read Tolkein’s books from At 10 years old, Rayner Unwin was the beginning finally have the opportunity the first person to read the manuscript to find out. of The Hobbit in 1935. He diligently rePeter Jackson, director of the LOTR trilogy, ported the story to his father, a pubwill once again bring the stories of Middle lisher, who, upon Rayner’s request, Earth to theaters in this latest installment. had the book published by 1937.

Jackson is not the only returning crew memLater, as Rayner Unwin became ber for fans to be excited about. Much of the a publisher himself, he was aporiginal cast will be making appearances, proached with LOTR manuincluding Ian McKellan, Cate Blanchett, Ian scripts.

Holm, Christopher Lee, Elija Wood and Andy Despite the fact that he Serkis, with Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins thought the books would on Friday, Dec. 14. lose roughly £1,000 upon The Hobbit takes place 60 years before publication, he viewed the time of LOTR. It begins with the arrival of them as a work of geGandalf in the Shire, as he attempts to recruit nius and decided to Bilbo to embark on a journey with a team publish them anyway.

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the GAVEL / December 2012

Culture

This was a genius move in itself.

Anticipation for The Hobbit is building among fans, as the LOTR trilogy is one of the most famous series in film history. Each of these films is among the top 33 grossing box office hits, and the novels have been polled as one of the most popular literary works of the century.

In preparation for the release of the film, the New Zealand filming location is used as a www.bcgavel.com

theme in multiple facets of life. The country has created legal tender featuring Hobbit images and Dwarvish words (these are technically not meant for circulation, but the most expensive coin is worth roughly $3,000 USD). Additionally, Air New Zealand has started showing a Hobbit-themed in-flight safety video — search for it on YouTube under “An Unexpected Briefing #airnzhobbit.” Peter Jackson even makes a cameo in the short film.

Fans will finally get a visual representation of the story of Bilbo Baggins of the Shire, 75 years after The Hobbit was published. As about nine years have passed since the last release of a film, fans of Tolkein’s work will no doubt show up to theaters excited to continue this visual journey through the world of hobbits, dwarves, dragons and orcs.

Screenshots by Louise Sheehan/ Gavel Media

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INSIDE: High School Recruiting / Steroids in Sports / Concussions in the NFL

SPORTS

SPORTS

December 2012

Profiles in Ineptitude: The Buffalo Bills

By Bill Stoll Associate Sports Editor

Over the last 13 NFL seasons (this year included), the Buffalo Bills have a winning percentage of .396 percent.

They have managed to achieve a winning record once.

They have failed to make the playoffs a single time. They have finished with a record between 5-11 and 8-8 nine times.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is that they have been mired in a state of sheer mediocrity under the pretense that they are “rebuilding.” The Bills have threatened to make the playoffs only once, in 2004.

The rebuilding project has taken the better part of a decade and the current Buffalo Bills team is no closer to making the playoffs now than they were in 2002.

In today’s NFL, teams go from playoff participants to bottom feeders, and vice versa, in a single season. It is almost unfathomable for an NFL franchise to achieve this level of incompetence.

Every other NFL team has made the playoffs at least once over the same time period, even the hapless Cleveland Browns. Even the long-time NFL doormat Cincinnati Bengals have managed to make the playoffs three times.

What it comes down to is complete and utter incompetence from the Buffalo Bills front office. They are so heinous that the average Bills fan could have made better personnel decisions than any of the general managers tasked to build a winning team.

So how exactly did the Buffalo Bills manage to be so pathetic? What follows is a list of such decisions that helped doom the franchise to mediocrity.

Let’s call it “An Idiot’s Guide to Ruining an NFL Team.”

Coming off an 11-5 season which ended 2000 in the playoffs with the infamous “Music City Miracle” against Tennessee, the Bills seemed poised for another playoff run.

The defense finished second in the league the year be-

40

fore. Though they lost all-time sack leader Bruce Smith to free agency, Smith was at the tail-end of his career — or so GM John Butler thought. Butler elected to draft Erik Flowers, a DE out of Arizona State. Smith would go on to have five sacks with the Redskins the next season.

Flowers would go on to have five career sacks, be cut by the Bills the ensuing training camp, and out of football by 2005.

The only major personnel issue was the quarterback controversy between 38 year-old Doug Flutie and 27 year-old Rob Johnson. Head Coach Wade Phillips elected to have Rob Johnson named the starter, even though Flutie had led the team to a 10-5 record the previous season. Johnson’s record as a starter? 4-7. Flutie’s? 4-1.

The team stumbled to an 8-8 record, missing the playoffs. Following the season, GM Butler and the Bills’ sack leader, 26-year-old Marcellus Wiley, left for San Diego.

New GM Tom Donahue decided to take 2001 the team in a different direction and began the rebuilding process. To start, he fired Head

Coach Wade Phillips, and replaced him with then Titans Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams.

Donahue decided to go with a youth movement by releasing or failing to resign multiple veterans.

The team went 3-13. Rob Johnson, entrusted to be the franchise quarterback, wouldn’t last the season due to injury and poor play.

With the 4th overall pick in the 2002 draft, 2002 Buffalo selected Mike Williams from Texas. Williams was one of the top two tackles in the draft.

the GAVEL / December 2012

SPORTS and would go down as one of the biggest draft busts ever, he was released by the Bills in 2006.

In the midst of the draft, the Bills rocked the football world by trading for New England QB Drew Bledsoe, who had lost his job the season before to Tom Brady.

The Bills gave up their first round pick in the 2003 NFL draft for Bledsoe.

A lackluster pass defense caused the team to finish 27th in scoring defense, and the Bills struggled to an 8-8 record. having one of the league’s best 2003 Despite two receiving tandems, the Bills elected not to resign WR Peerless Price, trading him to the Atlanta Falcons for the 23rd pick in the next draft.

The defense would improve to being 5th in the league.

Bledsoe took major steps back in production, finishing with only 11 TD’s and 12 interceptions and a passer rating of 73 percent. The offense finished 30th in the league and the Bills limped to a 6-10 record.

Photo courtesy of Mark Cromwell/Flickr Photo courtesy of omarperkins/Flickr

Head Coach Greg Williams was fired at the end of the season and replaced by then Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive-Coordinator Mike Mularkey. draft, the Bills attempted to fo2004 cusIn this on the offense, using their two firstround draft selections on WR Lee Evans, to be a number two receiver behind starter Eric Moulds, and QB JP Losman, to be the eventual replacement for Drew Bledsoe.

Buffalo would start the season 0-4, but charged back, winning 9 of the next 11 games, bringing them to a 9-6 record for their week 17 game against the then 14-1 Pittsburg Steelers. Had the Bills won the game, they would have made the playoffs. They lost 29-24.

Tom Donahue and Coach Mike Mu2005 GM larkey decided that they would move

forward at the quarterback position, choosing to release Drew Bledsoe and start JP Losman. Willis McGahee had blossomed into a quality starting running back and the returning defense appeared vamped www.bcgavel.com

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Photo courtesy of stinerphotos/Flickr

for another run at the playoffs.

Losman went 1-7 as a starter, being alternately benched for Kelly Holcomb.

The defense regressed, going from 8th in the league to 24th, as did the offense which went from 7th to 24th. The team ended up with a 5-11 record.

GM Tom Donahue was fired prior to the start of the next season and coach Mike Mularkey resigned. Donahue’s replacement was former Buffalo Head Coach, Marv Levy, the person who led the Bills to their Super Bowl years in the early 1990s.

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Photo courtesy of pnther60/Flickr

Levy became the acting general manager and hired former Chicago Bears Head Coach Dick Jauron.

Jauron would be fired halfway through the 2009 season.

Of the 26 Buddy Nix, the former 2006-2009 players draft- 2010 head of the Bills’ scouting ed by the Bills from 2006-2008, three department, was named general manare currently on the Bills roster.

ager prior to the start of the season.

JP Losman, Trent Edwards, Brian Brohm and Ryan Fitzpatrick all started at quarterback for the Bills.

Nix would hire Chan Gailey to be the head coach of the Bills. In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Bills front office continued to puzzle their fans; despite having two well above-average running backs in Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson, they drafted RB CJ Spiller with the #9

The respective records of the teams through these years are, in order, 7-9, 7-9, 7-9. 6-10.

the GAVEL / December 2012

SPORTS Photo courtesy of Mikell Herrick/Flickr

overall pick. Lynch was traded in the middle of the season.

QB Trent Edwards started the first two games of the season, then was cut a week later. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick guided the team to a 0-8 start, finishing with a record of 4-12. Bills fans were told that the rebuilding process would finally begin and a winning team would return to Buffalo in a couple years.

Buffalo would push their record to 5-2 after week 8, before losing seven straight games, and ultimately finishing with a 6-10 record.

Their defense finished 30th in total scoring.

After week 7, the Bills and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick agreed to a 6-year, $59 million deal. He would lead the NFL in interceptions.

The Bills traded their 2011 leading receiver of the last several years, Lee Evans, to Baltimore for a late-round pick.

In the draft, the Bills took CB Stephon Gillmore with the 10th overall pick, and it’s too soon to tell how he will develop.

Buffalo started out fantastically, going 4-1 and defeating the Patriots for the first time in nearly a decade.

They signed DE Mario 2012 Williams from Houston in the off-season for a six year,

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istered only five and a half sacks through 10 games.

The egregious misuse of talent by the Buffalo Bills has been a telling sign of their failings. It is all but set in stone that this year will be yet another year without a post-season berth for the Bills, extending their streak. The franchise has been in rebuilding mode for more than the past decade and it doesn’t seem like there is an end in sight. For a fan base which has been asked to continue to support the team during these putrid years, the current state of the team is unacceptable.

$100 million deal and he has reg-

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Amateur Ataxia

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Media, universities dehumanize high-profile recruits

By Teddy Kolva Gavel Media Staff

The University College football is one of the most profitable sports industries in the world. Each year, Division-I football programs make nearly $2 billion, accounting for over 80 percent of the total revenue of athletic departments across the country.

At the top of this lucrative industry is the University of Texas. They reported earnings of around $46.2 million last year — including $8 million in merchandise royalties and $12 million in premium seating.

While it is evident that the University of Texas invests a seemingly absurd amount of money into their football program — reaping the rewards of an industry that thrives in the state of Texas — few realize that their biggest investment in the program lies not in ticket sales and marketing, but in recruiting top-notch, skilled football players.

Money has no direct correlation in the recruitment of blue-chip athletes; a university’s revenue does not directly factor into whether or not top-ranked players attend their school. However, one can easily argue that the grandiose,

glamorous nature of a program like Texas, spurned by massive annual revenue, draws the likes of players who wish to be in the limelight at Texas — arguably the epitome of exposure and national attention.

University of Texas Head Coach Mack Brown, in all of his prestige and fame, is frequently referred to as “Mr. February” for his recruiting prowess. There is no mistaking that Brown’s recruiting successes correlate with his team’s financial successes and his own generous salary. This past recruiting “season,” Brown corralled in two five-star recruits and boasted an average Rivals.com (one of the more respected sources of recruiting news within the industry) rating of 5.7 out of 6 among all of his recruits.

With this influx of talent and skill into the University of Texas football program, potentially driven by an increase in profits across the board, comes an obsession in recruitment and national exposure. The increasingly profound presence of money in college football has not just created an obsession on behalf of coaches and administrators, but has formed a new era of high school players bent on maximizing their recruitment in order to reach the highest level of college football.

Photo courtesy of Phil Roeder/Flickr

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the GAVEL / December 2012

SPORTS Photo courtesy of goarmyphotos/Flickr

The Player Skilled high school football players are a vital commodity to Division-I coaches and administrators who wish to sustain their financial success. While this is observing the college recruiting process through a capricious lens, it makes sense.

Without talented individuals, even the best coaches have trouble getting wins.

Former Boston College Head Coach Frank Spaziani failed to recruit substantial players during his tenure. As a result, the Eagles fell behind in ACC play and “Spaz” was tossed after four mediocre seasons.

Tom O’Brien, former NC State head coach, and Danny Hope, former Purdue head coach, faced similar issues in recruiting and were consequently booted from their respective schools.

Recruiting talented athletes proves to be profitable, but amateurs are victimized through the process, often by the media and various scouting agencies that characterize and quantify highschool athletes in excessive ways.

For instance, Rivals.com labels players www.bcgavel.com

through a rating system based on a series of combine performances and observations made by football recruiters around the country. Players become associated with the ranking designated to them — desensitizing the recruiting process.

Visits to campus may personalize the recruiting process, but increasing pressures from social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook put unnecessary strain on the athlete, possibly even forcing them to make a rash decision.

Max Redfield, ranked 37 in the ESPN 150, de-committed from USC in early November. Using his own Facebook page, Redfield expressed his emotions regarding his de-commitment and exposed his recruitment to a multitude of social media outlets and bloggers. Redfield will most likely commit to Notre Dame in the coming months.

It is not clear whether or not Redfield was pressured into committing early to USC — no source has confirmed that he felt overly inclined to commit there.

However, the substantial buzz generated by bloggers, recruiters and scouts undoubtedly affected his decision in some

way. Without useful advising and guidance, recruits like Redfield face a decision that can be clouded by media outlets.

Long gone are the days that spectacular Friday night performances on the high school gridiron land athletes at the elite programs in the country. Performances in summer camps, combines, and 7 v.

7’s prove to be just as important or even more beneficial than performances during the regular season Outside factors, including strongwilled coaches, gossipy bloggers and social media, all have unnecessary influences on the athlete’s ultimate decision — one that he should be making with only his best interests in mind.

The college football recruiting landscape has evolved tremendously over the past decade, putting the spotlight on young athletes to get recruited by the country’s top programs. Ultimately, the effects of such recruitment combined with the pressure stemming from external media sources and recruiting personnel, have put high school athletes desiring to play at a high level in a difficult, unfair predicament.

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Who is to blame?

By Jake Miller Gavel Media Staff Another tough game at the plate: 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. How many times can you do this at the Double-A level before the front office no longer sees you in their future plans? Their patience is starting to wear thin, as is yours.

These eight hour, cross-country bus rides are not something you want to call a career, and your wife is struggling to make rent while supporting two kids in your absence.

The two of you cannot live off a minor leaguer’s salary. You thought you would have been promoted to the big league team by now, and so did management.

As your dreams of reaching the promised land of professional base-

ball start to fade, you start to realize that time is slipping away from you.

Imagine how tempting it is to use steroids to get a leg up on the competition. With infrequent testing and unclear rules , these players often flirt with danger by consuming and injecting PEDs — performance enhancing drugs. With competition becoming fiercer at the lower levels of sports like baseball, some players see “juicing’ as their only option.

There are notable examples of athletes who do not use use steroids which makes those who do abuse them even worse. Players like Dustin Pedroia, Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Hall all put in the extra hours of hard work to get where they are today.

Fans and players alike want their respective sports to be played the

right way. Clean players reached stardom without PEDs, so why should the ungifted and the uncommitted be allowed to achieve the same status or success?

The perfect example of this was the 2012 National League batting title race. Melky Cabrera was suspended fifty games for violating the league’s drug policy, ended the year with the highest batting average in the league, ahead of teammate Buster Posey. Posey, renowned for his work ethic and honest approach, was awarded the batting title by Major League Baseball instead.

At first glance, this may seem like a step in the right direction for baseball in its fight against steroids. However, the stark reality of such a ruling reminds us that baseball is purely a numbers game.

Photo courtesy of vgoklani/Flickr

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the GAVEL / December 2012

SPORTS Long-wedded to this statistical perspective, baseball knows that Melky Cabrera won the batting title. He wielded his bat better than any other player in the National League, the correct measurement of the batting average stat. What this average does not account for, though, is that Cabrera did this while on steroids.

Do fans actually want equality, though?

None of the pink hat-wearing, bandwagon-jumping, fair weather fans could care less about the integrity of the sport. They only want to see the mammoth home runs, the bone crushing hits and the breaking of long-standing records.

Many people would rather see a high-

The enablers

One look at the neon green walls of Marlins Park in Miami will show even the most oblivious of fans that team officials are looking to increase capital by creating centers of attraction. “Where else but Fenway Park can you come see the Green Monster in all its splendor?”

The need to fill seats has led to team owners seeking out the best players money can buy, regardless of past drug use and abuse.

The largest risk of continued steroid use in sports like baseball, football or track and field

The answer is that some fans do care and they are losing confidence in the integrity of the game. They are not alone: with these fanatics stands most of the athlete base because of respectable players like Pedroia, Rodgers, and Hall.

So, the real answer to the problems of “roid rage” is this.

Until Barry Bonds is stripped of his career homerun title and Bill Romanowski divested of his sack totals — much like how Marion Jones and, most recently, Lance Armstrong were publicly tarnished for their usage — steroids will continue

of America’s steriod culture

scoring game with six home runs than a pitching duel that yields only six hits all game. They do not appreciate the small aspects of the game that hard-working athletes labor to perfect.

When two mid-level seat tickets cost $250, however, can you really blame them?

With an economy limping along at a pace slower than David Ortiz’s pace around the bases, many “fanatics” have transformed into “casual fans.”

Consequently, team owners are gradually realizing profits are maximized when their stadium is turned into a place of spectacle, not special teams. They are looking to attract families by creating an atmosphere that is fun and fan-friendly.

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appears to be the fan’s loss of confidence in the fairness of the game. The lure of dramatic numbers and awe-inspiring highlights is too much for fans to ignore and the money fans bring in is too much for owners to give up, so nothing truly effective is done.

These attitudes are negative forces that pull the game toward the promotion of steroid use. If shooting up can get you to the majors more quickly, to the hearts of fans more readily and to the wallets of owners more easily, why not chance it?

to carve out a niche in sports.

Players like Barry Bonds and Melky Cabrera will continue to pop up as cult heroes in sportscrazed cities until fans and owners stop rewarding them for steroid use.

The trouble with this solution is that steroid usage is hard to prove and the only way to enhance that process is by public demand. In what has become a vicious cycle, we fans who demand so much from our players statistically, are the only solution to the problem that we caused.

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By Andrew Schofield Sports Editor No, it is not the first time that football has come under fire for rules which do not protect the players’ health. Between 1905 and 1906 nearly 40 people died during the course of play, so President Theodore Roosevelt took action. The league adopted the forward pass while banning so-called “momentum plays,” in which the offensive line would charge at the line of scrimmage from ten yards back.

Roosevelt thought this would ensure the longterm viability of the game he so dearly loved.

Fast forward over 100 years later. While the sport has certainly become safer relative to that era, the long-term viability of the game — with the issue of concussions becoming ever

more pressing — is far from ensured. Coming under fire from both the NFL Players’ Association as well as independent neurologists, Commissioner Roger Goodell has been forced to answer for the ill effects that concussions have caused for the game’s players — both past and present.

During the summer, over 2,000 former NFL players filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL — seeking compensation for the harmful effects repeated concussions had on their long-term health. Consider Jim McMahon, who won the Super Bowl as quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Riddled by a long history of concussions, McMahon suffers from early stage dementia — he struggles to remember the most simple of tasks on a daily basis.

Moreover, just this past month, ESPN’s Outside the Lines learned that the NFL began to give out settlements for brain-related injuries in the late 1990s. They did this while denying any link between concussions and the long-term health of the player for another decade. Struggling to undo the work of his predecessors such as Paul Tagliabue, Goodell spoke this past month at Harvard University of the need for a change of culture within the sport — a rejection of what he called the “warrior mentality.”

The need to combat such a mentality cannot be denied. How-

Concussions in NFL

ever, the challenge that faces Goodell and other league leaders is how to dismantle a “warrior mentality” in a sport that thrives — or perhaps, more aptly put, survives — on its violence. In a recent survey conducted

by ESPN, football reigns supreme as the most popular sport in America — trouncing basketball, baseball, and soccer. And while the sport’s inherent violence is certainly not the only determining factor of such popularity, it certainly has some effect.

Photo Courtesy of public domain

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In Something like the Gods, Stephen Amidon, author, critic and father of BC wide receiver Alex Amidon, examines the role of the Western athlete – charting his or her progression from the Greek Olympics to contemporary

the GAVEL / December 2012

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A threat to the league’s safety society. In this examination, Amidon claims that, above all other figures in the public domain, the athlete captures the imagination of the average American — claiming that they have the ability to “stop the world in its tracks.”

Another interesting point that Amidon makes through the course of his work is that when one watches a live sporting event, the spectator sees the athlete’s performance as a product of genius and naturally-endowed talent — not the end result of years of hard work and pain.

The same could be said for the after effects of such physical performance. Rather than ailing victims

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recovering from physical injury, the spectator chooses to view the athlete in one of two lights: either the proud victor celebrating his performance, or the depressed loser seeking answers for his or her poor performance.

In a sense, the spectator dehumanizes the athletes that he or she so passionately follows. In order to fabricate a form of fiction, human beings like LeBron James are turned into a set of numbers — describing his physical ability and contribution to the team.

If it is true that in order to make football safer and more viable longterm for generations to come, society as a whole must dismantle this “warrior mentality” so ingrained in

the culture of the sport, then the issue is complicated by our very selves — as we are reluctant to think of our cherished athletes as anything less than demi-gods.

The issue is compounded by the state of contemporary society. With trust in political figures at an all-time low and with the tabloid-driven nature of Hollywood spiraling out of control, the athlete in contemporary society holds the most revered position.

If football is to become safer for generations to come, it is the spectator, not the NFL, who must change. The spectator must examine what he or she asks of the athlete when tuning in every Sunday afternoon.

For while it is our most cherished sport, there very well come a day when it could be too late.

Above: Photo courtesy of MaxDenver/Flickr

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