12/7/2009 V1I2

December 7, 2009

Volume I, Issue 2

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Decembe 7, 2009

Free speech Organization gives BC their lowest rating

“Hollywood East”

Film industry seeks to make home in Mass.

Standardized stress

Under pressure from the GRE, GMAT and LSAT

Uninvited proposal Union contract negotiations continue

TOP PROGRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DECADE

News

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BC shows no interest in new union proposal

By Tue Tran Co-Editor-in-Chief Union contract negotiations are still ongoing, as the Boston College administration extended the union’s contract one more month to Jan. 1. Discussions have intensified, according to John*, a grounds worker who wished to remain anonymous due to the possibility of disciplinary action.

The latest development, according to the workers, was an offer from the union to remove Article 16 4C from the contract, which establishes double overtime pay for the seventh consecutive day of work. This was in an effort to help BC achieve its goal of being cost-effective, while still being able to keep Article 18.

BC declined to comment on the details of what proposals are being discussed. According to workers, BC showed no interest.

Article 18 is the main issue of contention, as it limits BC’s ability

to contract outside workers. The BC administration, as John stated, wants to be able to hire other workers for “special events” but they do not want to define exactly what “special events” would include.

It is not that the union workers do not want any outside help with tasks — BC does currently contract out some work, including snow removal after a certain amount of snowfall.

Their fear is that BC would then be able to hire non-union workers without limit, to weaken the union and possibly even rid BC of the union further down.

“If Article 18 is removed, they will never hire another full time union worker,” John said.

“They want to weaken the union and have a contingent workforce after people leave,” Kevin* said, who also spoke anonymously.

Bob Lewis, the Assoc. Vice President of the Department of Human Resources, denied

this assertion, classifying those who believe BC will no longer replace workers who have left as “misinformed.”

Since the beginning of the monthly contract extensions, workers said that BC has not hired any full time workers to replace those who have recently retired, been unable to work due to injuries, and passed away.

According to John, BC allegedly contracted outside workers on Nov. 13, 23, and 24, and a grievance has been filed, claiming that this was in violation of the existing Article 18.

Lewis stated that he was not sure of the situation referenced.

“However, if we violated the contract, the union has the right to grieve the matter and bring it to arbitration before a neutral party,” Lewis said, in an email.

Another fear that some have of the situation is that the decrease in full-time, union workers will cause BC to be less safe, with BC not

checking the backgrounds of those non-union workers. All union workers go through thorough background checks.

“When you visit our campus, we want to make sure that you are safe,” John said.

Lewis, however, stated that BC would remain just as safe.

“Companies we contract with do background checks,” he said. “We have no intention of putting contract cleaners in dorms in any event.”

Kathleen Sellers, STM ’14, who has been helping to organize the student effort, said that she would like to know why the BC administration has rejected the proposals the union has made in an effort to help BC meet its bottom line.

“It has been my understanding that both parties in negotiation are trying to save the University money, and that these proposals were intended to do that,” Sellers said. “I would like to hear from the University what their rationale

is for not having accepted these proposals. There seems to be more to the story than is yet clear.”

John believed that the manner in which BC has come to the negotiating table could be considered an unfair labor practice with legal ramifications.

“We feel that this is not a negotiating style,” John said. “It’s a flat-out bullying style. BC is not trying to negotiate with us. … We’ve been the only ones making movement.”

Lewis was optimistic about how this issue will be resolved.

“I am positive about the outcome. We will work this out somehow. There is always middle ground,” he said.

While the uncertainty and their treatment by the BC administration are strenuous to the workers, John said, they still do their job and love being a part of BC. “We consider ourselves members of the community, whether [the BC administration does] or not,” he said.

New business ethics courses arise in wake of crises

By Sue Byun Contributing writer Increasing focus on ethics in business education has been a common trend in the past decade. Although approaches vary by school, there is a general pedagogical consensus in rethinking the role and integration of ethics in business school curricula.

A 2008 report by the Global Foundation for Management Education (GRME) identified trends and developments in management education. It called for business schools worldwide to move beyond simply offering highquality education and obeying the law to actively addressing social, environmental, and economic problems. Further, it specifically called for fundamental shifts and practices in business curricula. So far, many undergraduate business schools have responded to the call.

Although ethics have always been a part of the college business

curriculum, the Wall Street meltdown, globalization, and cases of accounting and financial fraud like Enron, WorldCom, and Madoff ’s Ponzi scheme have shone the spotlight on the role that business schools play in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the accrediting agency for business schools, requires ethics to be part of the curriculum, but business schools have a lot of flexibility in how they execute that requirement. There is an ongoing debate about the best way to achieve a shift in ethics education.

The difficulty surfaces because ethics issues do not always fit into a neat framework.

Grant Yang, CSOM ’10, a finance major who, upon graduation, will go on to work for a hedge fund in Manhattan, has found it most helpful when topics surrounding ethics were integrated into upper level business courses.

“This advanced mutual fund class I’m taking right now is mostly discussion and case study centered, which brings up a lot of gray areas, and now that I have some finance background I can formulate my own opinion,” Yang said.

At Boston College, starting for the class of 2013, the Carroll School of Management’s ethics requirement is being expanded to an intensive three-credit course called “Portico.” According to Dean Andrew Boynton, the course is grounded in ethics philosophy and is part of a general makeover of the CSOM ethics curriculum. Boynton hopes Portico will eventually be integrated throughout CSOM. In past years, the ethics requirement was less extensive.

The CSOM requirement was a one-credit discussion based course.

“The case studies we did in the class made me think, ‘what could I have done differently?’” Yang said. “It presented the questions that might come up in the real

Courtesy of happyhyderabad.wordpress.com

Ethics play larger role in courses due to last year’s crisis. world and set a good foundation going forward, but I think people didn’t take it too seriously because it was a pretty relaxed course with a light workload.”

In 2005, CSOM also established the Winston Center to engage business leaders, faculty, and students in ethical training and leadership formation.

Richard Sorensen, Dean of Virginia Polytechnic Institute’s Pamplin School of Business and Chair of the Committee on Issues in Management Education of the

AACSB, said that the development of ethics programs such as Portico and Winston Center is growing across the country.

“Some schools have had an ethical focus for years while some programs are new,” Sorensen said.

“Business schools need to step up to take some responsibility for the leadership skills and ethical orientations of their graduates,” Todd Henshaw, a professor at Columbia University and panelist for The Washington Post’s “On Leadership” blog, wrote.

December 7, 2009

FIRE gives ‘red light’ to BC speech code

By Andrew Slade Editorial Assistant As members of learning communities, many students at Boston College and other private universities assume a right to speak and express themselves as they choose. For the most part, these assumptions are accurate in their representation of the manner in which schools treat student speech, but private institutions reserve the right to restrict those freedoms.

In an effort to protect individual rights of students and faculty at American colleges, a Philadelphiabased organization known as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has been evaluating speech codes and related actions taken by schools across the country for the last 10 years.

FIRE’s Web site offers a system through which schools are rated at one of three tiers: green, yellow and red lights. According to their site, a green light is given

to a school whose policies are not seriously threatening to the free speech rights of students. A yellow-light school is one with at least one policy that restricts a “limited amount of protected expression.” BC’s red light means that “the threat to free speech … is obvious.”

The BC FIRE profile outlines a number of written policies and events which have transpired, prompting the foundation to give BC its harshest rating. Most notable among these was the cancellation of an on-campus speaking event featuring Bill Ayers by University administrators. According to FIRE Program Associate and BC graduate Kyle Smeallie, “the Ayers incident was the most recent and well-known, but there are a multitude of incidents and policies that prompted FIRE to rate BC as a ‘red light’ school.”

In 2003, for instance, FIRE explains that BC attempted to restrict the autonomy of The Heights

by pushing for the establishment of an advisory board controlled by the BC administration.

They additionally affirm that administrators wished to restrict Heights advertisements and force them to “‘fully comply’ with Boston College policies.” Similarly, FIRE indicates that in 2006, the Office of First Year Experience confiscated all 3,000 copies of a freshman orientation issue of The Heights known as The Guide.

More recently, FIRE alleges that administrators contacted the BC Police Department and took disciplinary action against six students who, on April Fool’s Day of 2008, posted flyers satirizing certain service trips by advertising a “Black Baby Petting Zoo.” Senior Associate Dean for Student Development Paul Chebator is described as having acknowledged that the students’ intent was not racist, but that the flyer could be interpreted as racist.

Another factor that contributed

to the rating was the fact that BC President Fr. William P. Leahy, S.J. failed to respond to two separate letters that FIRE sent him, asking for clarification of the University’s position.

FIRE acknowledges that as a private institution, BC is within its rights to limit speech as it sees fit, stating that “[u]nless BC openly admits that it is not truly dedicated to free expression (which is its right as a private college) or removes its speech restrictions, BC will keep its ‘red light’ rating so that prospective students know that BC will not honor its stated commitments to freedom of expression should they choose to attend.”

As a private institution, BC is entitled to cancel events, as they did when Ayers was to speak, whenever the administration deems such actions necessary. FIRE takes issue with what they say is the administrations tendency to take advantage of these rights, undercutting their written position on expression.

On the BC Web site outlining behavioral policies, the Office of the Dean of Student Development asserts the “necessity of the presentation of opposing viewpoints and an openness to confrontation between ideas” to achieve a “meaningful commitment to society.” It goes on to state that “[t]he involvement of the University or its students in this process cannot achieve any meaning if the methods of engagement, reason, and dialogue are inhibited or constrained.”

FIRE makes clear that BC’s red light is not simply the result of its arguably suppressive actions; there are other schools listed as “not rated” for being completely open about their “dedication to certain values more than to free expression.” As FIRE indicates, however, BC’s actions seem to be contradicting its stated policy.

BC administrators were unable to be reached for comment at this time.

Terrorists’ trials causes debate over location

By Lake Coreth News Editor Nationwide controversy has surrounded the news that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other men accused of conspiring in the Sept. 11 plots are to be tried in a Manhattan federal court. Both emotional and political tensions run high as the nation weighs in on whether or not terrorists should be tried in a civilian court at the epicenter of the Sept. 11 events.

While Mayor Michael Bloomberg has voiced his support of the Obama administration’s decision to bring the trial to New York, New Yorkers are divided over the issue.

“It makes sense that [Attorney General] Holder wants to bring these men to justice at the site where they cost so many their lives,” Patrick Brescia, A&S ’11, said. “But I can’t help but feel that these men don’t deserve to be tried like everyone else. They aren’t American citizens, so why are they being treated as though they are?”

That said, only a select few of the men accused in the Sept. 11 plots have been granted trials in civilian court. The remainder of the trials will remain under the jurisdiction

of a military commission.

“Give them a trial,” Colin Madigan, A&S ’12, said. “These men are guilty and they will be proven guilty.”

He added that New Yorkers, like all Americans, deserve closure.

“We have been through a lot,” Madigan said. “Sept. 11 is a dark memory. Let’s end it by showing that we’re better than they are.

That we are above it all.”

Standing by the administration’s decision, the attorney general testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Our institutions are strong, our infrastructure is sturdy, our resolve is firm and our people are ready,” Holder said. “We need not cower in the face of this enemy.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, DVermont, echoed the attorney general’s sentiments.

“We have a judicial system that’s the envy of the world,” Leahy said. “Face the nation …

Let’s use our system.”

Despite the firm resolve of many that a civilian court is the proper place for such a trial, the divide across party lines continues to complicate the debate over how the accused should be tried.

While most Democrats have hailed the decision as an opportunity to showcase the aptitude and fairness of the American courts, many Republicans criticize the choice of venue. Entitling the accused to due process and a fair trial, many argue, treats these men like common criminals instead of as belligerent enemies of the United States.

Boston College’s R. Shep Melnick, professor in the Political Science Department, had additional insight on the debate, noting that there is a central irony involved in having these men go through a full criminal trial.

“But what are the advantages?”

Melnick asks. “To show that our system is capable of doing this.

To show that this is truly fair, that the issue is highly transparent, and that it cannot be claimed that we railroaded them. The biggest difficulty with a military commission is that people have doubts about how impartial it is, about how much the military chain of command will determine the outcome.”

Legal analysts are skeptical of whether or not it is even possible for these men to receive a fair trial in a civilian court, let alone in front of a military commission.

The selection of jurors will be an especially foreboding obstacle facing defense lawyers responsible for representing the defendants.

Sitting in a courthouse just blocks away from where the twin towers fell will unavoidably play a part in the ultimate decision of the jury.

Then there is the issue of the death penalty. Public opinion in New York is known to be more wary of imposing the death penalty than other state residents. Despite the many terrorism trials that have been heard in the state — many of which involved followers of Osama Bin Laden — only one person has been sentenced to death in New York since the 1950s, the same decade in which the Rosenbergs were sentenced to death.

Complicating the issue, many other jurors may opt for life-in-prison as opposed to capital punishment out of the fear of making martyrs out of the accused. Earlier this year, at Guantánamo Bay, Mohammed — who has eagerly taken blame for the Sept. 11 attacks — testified at a military hearing.

“We don’t care about capital punishment,” Mohammed said.

“We are doing jihad for the cause of God.”

There is also the issue of torture.

Defense lawyers will inevitably present evidence to demonstrate that the defendants were mistreated and, moreover, argue that coercively obtained confessions are inadmissible in court. However, the government will want to avoid the possibility that the trials will spiral out of hand and become a forum for discussion against Bush Administration interrogation techniques and the American “War on Terror.”

“I would be disappointed if the judge allowed this to become a trial on the policies of the Bush administration,” Melnick said.

“If there is to be an investigation of the policies of the Bush administration, the proper place for that to take place is in Congress.

That is a political question that should not be tried here.”

Ultimately, the trial judge will assess the relevance of such issues in court, and only time will tell whether or not the culpability of the five terrorists or U.S. policies will take center stage at trial.

Regardless, if and when the trial makes its way in front of jury, it will undoubtedly take its place as a defining moment in U.S. history.

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Obama calls for 30,000 troops for Afghanistan

By Andrew Schofield Editorial Assistant In 2004, after more than three years of war in Afghanistan, then-President George W. Bush proclaimed, “Coalition forces, including many brave Afghans, have brought America, Afghanistan and the world its first victory in the war on terror.”

More than five years later, amid pleas for more troops from Gen. Stanley A. McCrystal, top military commander in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 more American troops into the increasingly violent conflict.

After an invasion of Afghanistan following the attacks of Sept. 11, American and NATO forces secured and reached relative stability in the country surprisingly quickly in contrast with the war in Iraq. However, after eight years, the situation has deteriorated considerably. Over 800 American soldiers have lost their lives.

The Afghani government faces legitimacy questions amid allegations that President Hamid Karzai played a role in election fraud; democracy in Afghanistan faces an increasingly powerful

opponent in the resurgent Taliban.

Last September, as the situation in Afghanistan was worsening, General McCrystal, in a report to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, asked for 30,000 to 40,000 more troops without which, McCrystal warned, the conflict in Afghanistan “will likely result in failure.”

After over two months of deliberation, Obama announced that he would not only increase troop numbers in Afghanistan by 30,000 to a total of nearly 100,000 troops, but also mapped an exit strategy, an element lacking in the previous administration’s policies.

In his plan, Obama would begin to draw troops out of Afghanistan by the middle of 2011, citing that the United States cannot afford an open-ended commitment.

In addition to the troop increase, the Obama administration laid out a strategy in which the new troops will focus on protecting the urban centers of Afghanistan including Kabul, Khost, and Kandahar, the Taliban’s spiritual capital. Obama is also focusing on non-military aspects of the conflict, such as increasing economic development and reconciling with less radical members of the Taliban.

The hope of the Obama administration is that the Afghani government will take an increasingly more important role in the fight against terrorism. In Obama’s words, “The days of providing a blank check are over.”

According to The New York Times, Obama spent over an hour on the phone with Karzai, pressing him to take a more active role in combating a drug trade that many believe is responsible for the resurgence of the Taliban. Furthermore, Obama is advocating increased training for local police forces and national forces in a similar fashion to the “surge” in Iraq.

However, the plan has met significant resistance, even from members of Obama’s own party.

Many argue that the United States is in no position to increase its commitment considering the problems on our own doorstep, such as the financial crisis and the fight for health care reform.

“I see no good reason for us to send another 30,000 or more troops to Afghanistan when we have so many pressing issues — like our economy — to deal with in this country,” Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), said.

Courtesy of time.com

A troop increase in Afghanistan follows Taliban resurgence.

Despite this criticism, the Obama administration maintains that the war in Afghanistan is vital to the security of the United States.

“If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow,” Obama said while outlining his position in front of hundreds of cadets at West Point.

What remains to be resolved is how Obama intends to pay the estimated $30 billion price tag. Dismissing a war surtax recommended by some Democrats, Obama offered no details, only

saying he will deal with the cost “openly and honestly.”

In the coming weeks, members of the White House administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, will testify before Congress and Obama hopes to have the additional troops deployed within the next six months. If Obama’s plan for increased troops stabilizes the region, the troops could be home by the summer of 2011.

However, if the condition of the security of Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, Obama will face more pressures here in the United States to focus more on domestic problems including the economic crisis.

New York rejects proposal on gay marriage

By Andrew Slade Editorial Assistant

On Wednesday, legislators in the New York State Senate voted 38 to 24 against a bill that would have given same-sex couples the right to marry. The bill had the backing of Gov. David Paterson (D) and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I).

Many were surprised by the Senate’s failure to pass the bill, given New York’s image as one of America’s most progressive states. A poll conducted by Siena College this spring indicated support for samesex marriage among 53 percent of the state’s registered voters.

Nationally, the public is far less supportive of the concept.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released in May shows that 54 percent of Americans do not believe marriages between homosexuals should be recognized as valid. Among 18 to 34 year-olds, however, 58 percent believe that gay marriage should be legalized.

Same-sex marriage is presently legal in five states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. In Washington D.C. and New York, same-sex marriages are not performed, but those which take place in other states are recognized. States like New Jersey have legalized civil unions, essentially offering samesex couples the legal benefits of marriage without using the word.

In 2008, Californians famously voted to pass the ballot initiative known as Proposition 8. This was a similarly surprising defeat for gay rights proponents in another famously liberal state, as “Prop 8” explicitly stated that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Voters in Maine also passed a referendum which rejected its legislature’s passage of a measure to allow same-sex marriages to be performed. Had the referendum upheld the legislature’s bill, Maine would have been the first state to allow gay marriage as a

result of legislative action and the signature of the governor (as opposed to allowing it based on a court’s ruling).

The answer to the question of why voters and representatives in generally moderate-liberal states are voting against measures to extend gay rights is unclear.

“I believe that almost everyone would agree that people should never be denied their basic civil rights, or that there should be such a thing as ‘second class citizens,’” Kelsey Gasseling, BC GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC) President and A&S ’11, says. “However, when a political movement appears to conflict with a person’s religious beliefs, religious beliefs often take precedence over a person’s political ideals.

“I think another problem is that many people do not have close personal relationships with GLBTQ people,” Gasseling says.

“It is easy to vote against things like gay marriage when the entity whose civil rights you are denying does not

have a face. It is easy to vote in such a way that inhibits equality for all people when you think of GLBTQ persons as the ‘other.’”

Senators who voted in favor of the measure in New York tended to be representatives of New York City and Westchester County, while opposition came from upstate and Long Island. All 30 Republicans voted against the bill, as did several of the Senate’s more politically vulnerable Democrats.

“I think that there were political forces that in some respects intimidated some of those who voted,” Paterson said. “I think if there’d actually been a conscience vote we’d be celebrating marriage equality right now.”

Fear of political repercussions in the next election is likely to have impacted the decisions of those who voted as well. New York’s gay rights groups are playing a growing role in campaigns, giving nearly $1 million to candidates for state assembly in the last election. It is accepted among legislators that money like

that will likely be used in the future to target those who are on the record as opponents to their cause.

Although the defeat is a blow to the push for gay rights, supporters have vowed to revisit the issue in the future. They now know who is really on their side, and who, as Paterson suggested, needs to be talked to, citing outside pressure as the key reason for the bill’s failure.

“We are going to quash the intimidation,” Paterson said.

Scott Jelinek, GLC Senate Liason and A&S ‘10, believes not only are lives directly impacted at present, the bill’s failure sets a dangerous precedent.

“I was raised with the principle that everyone should be treated equally, a belief that was only strengthened by my education at Boston College and its emphasis on social justice,” Jelinek says.

“What could be more just than ensuring the rights that are given to all citizens without discrimination based on their sexual orientation?”

December 7, 2009

Peers lend ear, give advice on queer student issues Tue Tran Co-Editor-in-Chief Same-sex marriage is currently a hot-button issue throughout the United States. But simply being gay and coming to terms with this part of one’s identity can be tough.

At Boston College, the GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC) is aware of the difficulties and has officially launched Queer Peers, an organization that aims to help those grappling with issues of being gay.

The foundation of Queer Peers is as a peer support system, according to Tony Jennaro, Director of Queer Peers and A&S ’10. With training from Counseling Services, the “queer peers” provide confidential, oneon-one conversations for those in need of advice or simply an ear.

“Talking about the issue — any issue, for that matter — is the best step to take in ameliorating any conflict,” Kelsey Gasseling, President of the GLBTQ Leadership Council and A&S ’11, said. “By nature of their relation to human sexuality, GLBTQ issues are incredibly personal and difficult to address at times.”

GLC members believe that this organization needs to exist because there has been no place where GLBTQ can come to privately talk about their sexuality and know that they are among peers who understand the intricacies of their situation.

“We are simply students trying to fill a gap in the University’s support system,” Jennaro said.

“There are no explicitly safe spaces for GLBTQ students at BC, so we are trying to provide one.”

Scott Molony, A&S ’11, who came out as gay in his freshman year, found that coming out was hard, but having a peer to talk to made the process go more smoothly. “[Coming out] feels exceptionally difficult,” Molony said. “I promised I would never forget how difficult. But once done, it felt good. It didn’t make everything right, right away. But being able to speak to someone about it was a marvelous help.”

When Jennaro first came out at BC, he felt alone in his struggles.

“The biggest challenge, particularly when I was in the closet and coming out, is that there is generally a closeted atmosphere

at BC,” Jennaro said. “I did not know, really, any queer students, and that is a challenge to not be able to identify with anyone.”

Now, both Jennaro and Molony are queer peers who give to others the support they could have used.

There are currently approximately 15 queer peers, and they all have different areas of interest.

“We have a number of different people,” Molony said.

“And they can talk about different aspects about being gay.”

Molony felt that he can add to the conversation by being gay and Catholic.

“Faith has been an important part of my life,” Molony said.

“And having someone who is Catholic talk about it can be very helpful.”

But Queer Peers is not only for queer students who are coming out, but also for heterosexual students who are dealing with GLBTQ issues.

“Our hope is to be available conversation partners for any student with questions, whether they are speaking about themselves, friends, family members, or just wish to learn more about the issue in general,” Gasseling said.

The organization also hopes to promote dialogue on campus.

“Much effort has been put, and rightly so, to dialoguing with the administration,” Jennaro said.

“However, the general student body, while often represented as relatively accepting, does not engage in conversation surrounding GLBTQ identity.

So much of our efforts as a group is to break through this silence… which will empower students and allies to talk about issues of sexuality and gender identity.”

To do this, Queer Peers has a Safe Spaces campaign.

The initiative calls for student organizations and individuals to commit to creating safe spaces in their dorm or office with a presentation and discussion facilitated by a queer peer to examine various GLBTQ issues and what a “safe space” might entail.

Queer Peers, though, is not only focusing on students. The GLBTQ Mentorship Program will foster dialogue between undergraduate students in the GLC and Queer Peers and those in the Lesbian and Gay

Faculty, Staff and Administrators Association (LGFSAA).

Navigating BC culture as a GLBTQ student can be complicated.

“This is the biggest shame,” Jennaro said. “One’s four years of college should be a time to come into one’s identity, to discover fully who they are, but the environment at BC does not facilitate this for GLBTQ students.”

But Jennaro added that BC has improved, and he said that Queer Peers will aid in this.

“It is not fair simply to paint a picture of BC as a completely closeted and homophobic place, since we are progressing,” Jennaro said. “And hopefully the efforts of queer peers will help create an atmosphere where more people can fully live out their identities and be themselves.”

For those struggling to come out, Molony said that he has been there and understands. “But,” he said, “there’s life, there’s hope, and the anguish of the closet need not be.”

Queer Peers holds office hours in the Women’s Resource Center in McElroy 141.

6

Features

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American academics exceed expectations

By Lorna Greene Contributing writer So far, my exchange to Boston College has been the most rewarding and interesting experience of my life.

Coming from University College Cork in Ireland, I was unsure as to what I could expect from an American university.

When I first started classes at BC, I was disgusted by the fact that lecturers here give homework and set reading that they actually expect you to do. I was further appalled when I learned that class participation and attendance mattered, and that I may actually have to be cognitive and conscious in class. I was struck by the sheer madness of it all. What kind of establishment is this, anyway?

Professors remember students’ names.

It will be noticed if you are not in class. Entire lecture transcripts are not posted on blackboard for my convenience at a less hungover time.

It became clear to me that

attending classes while still drunk from the night before was not going to be an option at BC. Ignoring the set reading and using Wikipedia synopses of books would not be good enough, and I may actually have to go to the library before the prescribed study week! At my home university, lecture time may as well be called nap time for the majority of classes. Students turning up is not so much a requirement as an added bonus and attending half of your lectures in a week is a job well done.

Without a doubt, the academic side to Boston College has challenged me and my previous scholastic experiences in college life. The teaching systems at BC surpass anything I have come across in two years of higher education in Ireland. After getting over the initial shock of the approach to academics at BC, I have come to realize that the American teaching system is nothing less than fantastic. The way in which classes are conducted and the emphasis placed on student

participation and discussion is invaluable as a learning tool.

Simple things, such as the structure of a class or a professor’s approachability, go so far in offering students a better education and awakening us to the fascinating topics and issues our classes address.

These subtle disparities make all the difference when it comes to students engaging in their discussions and actually wanting to attend lectures. I have surprised myself with the interest I have had in my classes here. I have fallen in love with certain subjects thanks to the enthusiasm of the professors involved and the emphasis placed on my participation and engagement with the material. It makes all the difference in one’s approach to learning and enjoying the academic side of college life.

I am nothing but grateful to BC for allowing me the opportunity to study here as an exchange student. I feel that BC has made me appreciate the fact that a university

is first and foremost about education and learning. When I don’t take my classes seriously, I am the one missing out, and in doing so I fail to get the most out of my college education.

I think one example that best illustrates the difference between an Irish university education and its American counterpart is the Irish use of words such as “lecture” and “lecturer,” which imply being talked at and no connotations of discussion or group participation.

Americans on the other hand refer to “classes” and “professors.”

Classes would imply interactive learning, dialogue and some form of a teacher-student relationship.

This, along with the word “professor,” a professional person intent on teaching rather than merely reciting facts to a class, highlights a major advantage in the American learning system.

I can now safely say that Boston College has exceeded many of my expectations, while at the same

time opening my eyes to many aspects of American culture to which I had previously been blind.

I have been met with many different emotions since arriving in Boston and beginning my year at BC. The life of an international student has left me surprised, disappointed, intrigued, excited, impressed, dismayed, inspired and frustrated at one stage or another. However, I would not change a single second of my experiences so far.

I know that when it is time for me to return to Ireland and UCC in May I will be sorry to leave the excellent learning resources at BC behind. I am already jealous of the BC students who will make use of this fantastic system for four years. However, I will go home with an amazing experience a new appreciation and determination towards my studies at home. I feel that my experiences as an exchange student here will be very beneficial to my academic future and to my final year at UCC.

Boston-area women find home, community

By April Chang Contributing writer A diminutive figure, draped by a moth-eaten cloak, ceased to tremble as she entered what at first glance might be mistaken for a cozy, red-brick café — Rosie’s Place, a women’s homeless shelter.

The receptionist at the front desk warmly greeted the meager, silverhaired guest, who paused to chitchat before entering the dining hall.

Since the economic recession began, Boston has been seeing a pronounced increase in the visibility of homeless women. Although women suffer disproportionately from homelessness, they receive less attention than their male counterparts. This may be due to the fact that women do not fit the stereotype of homelessness.

“Women tend to make themselves less visible. They avoid putting themselves in the public eye,” says Marty Wengert, director of volunteer services at Rosie’s Place, the first daytime shelter for poor and homeless women founded in the United States.

Kip Tiernan founded the shelter on Easter Sunday, 1974, in the South End of Boston.

“When Kip saw women disguised as men lined up in front of the food bank at Pine Street Inn she said, ‘We could do much better than that,’” Marsh says.

Now, some homeless women use various aliases to enter different shelters, complicating the record-keeping process.

“It’s primarily related to substance use and the whole social milieu that younger homeless women are living in,” Wengert says. “Their vulnerability puts them at risk for HIV infection and drug addiction that often leads to overdosing.”

“One of the things we try to remember at Rosie’s Place is that a day a woman comes to us is probably one of the worst days of her life,” said Sarah Marsh, executive director of Rosie’s Place.

The shelter administers eight different programs that work towards creating permanent solutions through affordable housing, education, and advocacy.

“Times are tough, but you

need to let pride step aside a little,” said one guest as she realized that her last resort, Rosie’s Place, could actually be able to help her get back on her feet.

Medical care is readily available, with doctors and nurses there five times per week. Six full-time social workers, or “advocates,” are available for one-on-one counseling. “[The advocates] helped me figure out everything from housing to dealing with my drug addiction.

That’s why I’m here to give back by volunteering,” said Pam, a former Rosie’s guest.

The shelter holds 20 homeless women, and guests can stay a maximum of 21 days. The other guests are given the option of pursuing permanent housing by paying one-third of their income.

Lunch and dinner are served every day and the guests are welcome to second helpings. The dining hall resounds with the hustle and bustle of women young and old, each shaped by and sharing their different backgrounds and life experiences. The occasional tinkle of a child’s laughter and the cooing

or chastising of a mother creates a warm, maternal atmosphere.

Craft Cooperative, a microenterprise providing women with the resources and training to create and sell jewelry with little to no experience, organizes arts and craft activities every week. Five glass shelves showcasing Craft Cooperative jewelry have become the centerpiece of the dining hall.

Currently, 150 women are enrolled in 10-week classes. Among the 1,000 volunteers that come to Rosie’s annually, many serve as teachers for the ESL and GED prep classes. Boston College has become a strong affiliate of Rosie’s Place through PULSE and 4Boston. Other universities with strong ties include Northeastern and Lesley University.

Three shower stalls and a laundry facility with two sets of washers and dryers are open all day. The clothing room disseminates bags containing sweaters, jeans, undergarments, and socks daily. The special occasion closet is open for guests who have impending interviews.

The emergency closet is often used

by battered guests who have left all of their possessions behind and thus need a complete wardrobe.

Rosie’s Place runs on a $5 million annual budget. They accept no government funds, in order to maintain control over their policies. Private individuals contribute about half the funds to support Rosie’s Place. The other half come from foundations, civic groups and corporations.

“Thirty-five years ago, we started with a budget of $1,200,” Christina Gordon, Rosie’s board of investor, says. “Bank of America and Pioneer Investments have sent their associates to volunteer at Rosie’s to help us achieve our mission.”

Volunteers, many of whom are college students, provide 58,000 hours of service every year in addition to 55 full-time employees.

Marsh hopes Rosie’s Place will continue to be a place of hope and nourishment for the homeless women of Boston.

“Our ultimate mission is for this place to go out of business, Marsh says. “This will be the day every woman in Boston will have housing.”

December 7, 2009

Twenty-one candles illuminate memories

By Tue Tran Co-editor-in-chief

Courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

College students soon realize that standardized testing is not only for high school students.

Students test to determine future

By Laurel Manlow Copy Editor Whether it is memorization of vocabulary, honing of math skills or perfection of logic games that is taking up seniors’ time this semester, standardized tests are a lot to handle. Some students are taking the LSAT, GRE and GMAT with the worst-case scenario in mind — that they do not find a job by the year’s end.

For others, their test of choice is imperative in the decisionmaking process of their graduate schools.

Juggling a GRE class or studying on one’s own with the normal academic workload is a demanding task. Kaelan Sullivan, A&S ’10 and sociology major, took the LSAT in October.

“Studying for a standardized test is like taking an extra course or two, so it is especially overwhelming to study for them during the school year,” Sullivan says.

She purposefully picked a test date that would allow her to study in the summer, even though she is not applying to law schools this year.

Psychology major Jessica Hough, A&S ’10, says that the added stress is difficult to cope with.

“I thought those standardized test days were behind me,” Hough says.

Many students thought the SAT would be the last general test they would have to take.

However, the GRE is strikingly similar to the SAT with its broad spectrum of verbal, quantitative and essay sections.

The GRE is a useful way to

make up for a substandard class grade. Many students seem to think that their test score can eliminate them immediately from the yes pile. Robert Howe, Associate Dean for Admissions and Administration of Boston College’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, says that the GRE is generally not used in this way but “more as a tie-breaker.”

A class is made up of multiple assignments, and students have as much time as they need to write personal statements. But most students only have one chance to prove themselves on a standardized test. The GRE, for example, costs $150 each time. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) claims that anyone can take the test once per calendar month; however, it is impractical to assume a person can take this test as many times as necessary to achieve a desired score.

Other exams can only be taken on certain infrequent test dates. Ryan Sachs, A&S ’10, who is to take the LSAT this week, says that he changed his schedule in order to be able to take the test, but that it is of the utmost importance in application considerations. “[I think that the LSAT score is] more important than your GPA,” Sachs says. “If you are above the middle 50th percentile but your LSAT is below, I think they’ll throw your application out the window.”

So the pressure seniors experience is not surprising. BC students going into law seem to agree that the LSAT score can be a major deciding factor. It is not uncommon to hear that

someone decided not to apply to a certain school based on his or her score.

Sullivan does not believe that the LSAT score correlates to future performance.

“Logic games, a rather unpopular portion of the test, seemed to test logic, but in absurd ways,” Sullivan says. “I think I could be successful in law school without having excellent logic games skills.”

It is unlikely that a state prosecutor or corporate attorney will be plauged with questions on a daily basis and given approximately one minute to respond.

“I can already assume that the GRE will be an inadequate measure of my psychology intelligence,” Hough says of the GRE test this December.

English students are minimizing their creative writing styles into neat five paragraph essays that would have been more acceptable in the ninth grade. Sociology majors must temporarily forget about everything they have learned in their sociology of education classes teaching about how standardized tests perpetuate inequality in America.

In the end, standardized tests are still an American rite of passage students must master before pursuing the discipline of their choice. It is difficult for a university to be first to eliminate the test, as it has become an inherent competition. But as Graduate Dean Howe puts it, “If all the universities got together and decided to not accept it, I would be just as happy.”

With one sweep of a clock’s second hand, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts decided that it was okay for me to have wine with dinner. After years of going out with friends who could order a glass with their meals, it was a nice to finally have that option.

However, we place too much emphasis on alcohol at 21. To me, turning 21 — some arbitrary number — meant that I was deemed by someone to be “grown up.” And now, there are no other age minimums for me in society, except for senior discounts at movie theaters.

For me, however, turning 20 was even more monumental. I have always wanted to be “grown up,” and I was thrilled to turn 20 because I was leaving teenagedom, where people dismiss everything you say as either naive or angsty. That’s why I was shocked to find that so many friends were afraid to turn 20.

Aren’t the 20s supposed to be the best years of our lives?

But it wasn’t until I turned 21 that I recognized that some of the biggest changes I’ve seen in myself have come in this one year alone.

Perhaps it was because of what was occurring around me, but I think it had a lot to do with having 20 years under my belt. It is at this point in my life that I truly felt nostalgic. Of course I’ve always reminisced about fond memories, but this feeling was different.

I was grocery shopping over the summer and passed by Toaster Strudels. I immediately rolled my cart back a step and looked at the variety. Not to be overly dramatic, but I felt a slight chill. Visions of my mother preparing the strudels before school came up in my mind.

I could see the smiley-faced sun she drew for me with the icing — excuse me for my sentimentality. I had to grab a box.

Oddly, I was not just pushing a shopping cart down memory lane.

In that moment, I recognized that that young “me” is not the “me” today. Of course childhood will always be a part of a person, but I felt so removed from it — well, at least a decade removed.

I then thought about the other versions of myself that have

brought me to who I am at this very moment, and it was in this realization that I felt older. There are moments that I chuckle at and others that cause me to blush.

Some episodes make me laugh even harder when I remember thinking that I would never survive past some of the embarrassment or drama or obstacles.

Yet here I am, and they are nothing but distant memories.

Perhaps that is what feeling “grown up” means: being able to look back and to laugh about the childishness and naivety, and realizing that life may be full of big moments, but they are only big for that one instant in time. And perhaps the smaller moments will one day seem much larger, like my mother’s smiley-faced sun.

I also remember the dreams of the younger me. While some of these dreams have changed, others remain the same. As a youth so eager to grow up and move to a big city, I could never have imagined that some hopes would be realized by 21. Accomplishing some of those goals rewards me with a substantial sense of growth and maturity, giving me a confidence to continue pursuing the rest.

Being in my 20s has given me an overall sense of serenity, even if every day is scheduled from sun up to way after sun down. This calm is definitely after the storm that is childhood — even though I know I have a lot more growing up to do before I’m a full-fledged “adult.”

The real world may be a bit of a rude awakening — as my mother likes to remind me — but I’m more excited for it than I am scared. If we have to find out what happens when “people stop being polite, and start getting real,” we might as well go in with enthusiasm rather than defeat.

As a new member of the 21 and over bracket, my biggest grown-up purchase thus far may not be a bottle of wine, but a box of Toaster Strudels, filled with strawberry and cream cheese. I’d like to say that they tasted just as good as I remembered, but it was tainted by all those “adult” concerns, such as Calories and nutritional value. Perhaps when I grab my next box, I’ll suspend all the knowledge I’ve gained these past years and simply enjoy.

www.bcgavel.com

Connections allow ‘home’ to be a roving place

By Alison Athey Assoc. Features Editor When people ask, “So… where are you from?” they usually expect a two-word answer, three words max. There are students from all 50 states and 96 different countries at Boston College. For most, home is a definite place located only a few hours away.

For some of us, however, the answer to the question “Where are you from?” is less clear. In my 20 years, I have lived in seven different home towns, on three different continents, for no more than five years apiece.

My father works for the United States government (no, not the CIA, promise), and this means that my family picks up and moves every few years. I was born on a small Army base in Georgia, then moved to New Orleans as an infant. From there, I moved to the westernmost point in Texas, where my father served on the Border Patrol.

My father then got a job with Diplomatic Security, a branch of the State Department. This meant that my family spent a brief 10 months in Houston,

Texas while waiting for our first overseas assignment. From there we moved to Tel Aviv, Israel for two years, then to Washington, D.C. for four, then to Frankfurt, Germany. Since this is a mouthful, I like to say I’m from a little bit of everywhere.

I have learned the art of moving over the years.

Schlepping all of your stuff to school freshman year gives you a decent impression of the discomfort of the process.

Moving a whole household, however, is a whole different beast. I first had to sort through all of the junk I had accumulated over the years, and figure out what I wanted to keep and what really didn’t need to make the trip across the ocean. Then my family had to box everything up ourselves, or otherwise supervise a team of men who had missed the deodorant memo and were less than sensitive to those family heirlooms that belong in boxes labeled “fragile.” Finally, there were the three months when we held our breath and hoped that all of our material possessions made the trip.

Picture this: a family of

five, each with a backpack and carry on, sprinting through the Atlanta airport to catch a 3 a.m. plane after 20 hours of travel.

Now add two cats. Navigating through airports without losing anyone (except the occasional stuffed animal) becomes second nature.

The main challenge for nomadic kids, and just about every other kind of kid, is navigating through school.

Moving so often meant that my siblings and I perpetually found ourselves forced to play the role of “the new kid.” When we were attending international schools, this wasn’t such a big deal. Everyone there was used to kids cycling through and moving away. However, being the new kid in a big public school in the United States was a different story. It was sometimes isolating and forced my siblings and me to be proactive about finding and making our place at the new school. Getting to know the other new kids helped, and one or two classmates were usually willing to show us the ropes.

Moving every few years teaches two distinct sets of

social skills. People who are shy by nature learn how to blend into any crowd. They learn to observe social cues at an early age, and can mold their mannerisms to fit into the various new communities they encounter. On the other hand, people who are more outgoing by nature tend to become even more extroverted. They too learn how to observe social cues, but then figure out how to stand out in a crowd in the most flattering way possible.

Language barriers put a limit on how well assimilated people can become in a new community. In Germany, most people spoke English, so I was lucky enough to get by only knowing the words “danke,” “bitte,” and “sheisse” and maybe how to order a beer. In Israel, few people spoke English, forcing me to communicate through makeshift sign language and find friends within the English speaking community.

In my experience, it has been important to acknowledge that it is the responsibility of the visitor to learn the language of the host country. When people sensed

that I was respectful of their language, they were far more willing to negotiate some means of communication and tolerate my sorry-I’m-a-lost-American smile.

In addition to language disparities, cultural differences also had to be taken into account. There are different holidays to observe, different ways of tipping waiters, and different ideas of personal space to become accustomed to when living abroad.

Despite traveling in the Middle East and Africa, I never really experienced true “culture shock.” Living in diverse places has, in fact, taught me that people are much more similar than different. School is school, whether it is in the desert of South Africa or the suburbs of Maryland. Kids just want to fit in and have fun. Adults just want to love and provide for their families, however these are culturally defined. Seeing people not as Texans, Israelis or Germans, but simply as people has allowed me to feel at home in the various places I have lived over the years.

‘Glee’-ful lessons on diversity and acceptance

By Nicholas Stratouly Contributing Writer Despite lagging ratings on network television, FOX has something to celebrate this year: the network’s new show, Glee, won “Favorite New Television Cast Ensemble” from the Multicultural Motion Picture Association’s (MMPA) annual Diversity Awards.

The Diversity Awards celebrate the achievements of those who foster diverse perspectives and unity through film. The awards are meant to promote opportunities for people of all cultures and backgrounds to share their stories.

Historically, most television shows have not been beacons of diversity. In 1999, not one of the 26 fall prime-time shows had a non-white character in a leading role. The NAACP, upon realizing the heavily Caucasian casts and groups of writers, producers, and directors, called for the networks

to change and threatened a boycott of the programming. The NAACP, however, said that the solution was not simply to have an African-American or Asian featured in a cast; but rather, that networks must ensure they do not reinforce negative stereotypes.

Since 1999, networks have made great progress. The networks have not only diversified their shows, but also their staffs.

Shows like Showtime’s Weeds, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and NBC’s Law and Order: SVU feature at least one African American or Asian as a major character. Because of this change, the ratio of prime-time ethnic casting has risen to one in eight in 2009. Unfortunately, there still remains a long way to go and networks must be careful not to simply fulfill a “minority checklist” but really promote the true goal of diversity: demonstrating togetherness and unity.

In light of all this, FOX’s Glee

steps in as a worthy recipient of the 2009 Diversity Award. Glee is the story of a group of quirky Ohio high-schoolers who, spearheaded by their Spanish teacher, Will Schuster, band together in glee club. The characters themselves are the outcasts of this stereotypedriven high school. The storyline focuses on togetherness — all the characters are in glee club by choice — and through their friendships, break down inhibiting barriers of high school despite attempts made by cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, and Mr. Schuster’s jealous wife, Terri, to disband the club. From overachieving quasinerd Rachel Berry, to wheelchair bound Artie Abrams, to Tina Cohen-Chang, an Asian girl with a stutter, the characters display diversity in all its forms.

The tagline of Glee — “a biting comedy for the underdog in all of us” — alludes to the capacity for all viewers to somehow relate to

Courtesy of blog.newsok.com

Diverse characters in Glee makes humor out of stereotypes. the “underdogs” of the show.

It takes this message of unity and features the cast members ganging together and supporting each other through the trials and tribulations of high school and life. The musical ensembles are

usually done in a unified format, with the members of all ethnic groups sharing the limelight — a limelight that can only be achieved by all members of the glee club working as a cohesive team.

December 7, 2009

‘Shore’ serves up Coffee with a shot of activism more stereotypes

By Tue Tran Co-editor-in-chief Stereotyping by region runs rampant on college campuses.

Wherever people from different states and countries cross paths, there is the propensity to use a person’s land of origin to help mold one’s understanding of that person — and reality shows certainly don’t help.

New Jersey, infamous for being the target of negative comments and jokes, has recently been the hotspot for reality shows.

The lives of wealthy women have been highlighted in The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and then there was the emphatic and loud cake decorator on Cake Boss.

Now, MTV is taking its turn at telling the story of New Jersey through the tales of whom they describe as the “hottest, tannest, craziest guidos.” After the success of True Life: I’m a Jersey Shore Girl, MTV decided to cash in on the popularity of this localized culture in a new series called Jersey Shore.

The series premiered on Dec. 3, and even before that, many people were against it, after only seeing the promotional clip.

It follows a group of rambunctious “guidos” who share a beach house for the summer. Hair gel, designer clothes, muscles, and tans are all vital to the storyline.

Michael May, CSOM ’11, thought Jersey Shore, like other reality shows, would cause more people to stereotype his home state.

“These shows focus on a very small minority of people who live in New Jersey, and people who watch them assume these people represent everyone from New Jersey,” May said.

But even without these shows perpetuating the stereotypes, New Jersey has often been the butt of jokes, which has caused tension on the Boston College campus.

Elizabeth Monahan, A&S ’11, who was born and raised in New Jersey, grew up with jests about her state, but since they were told by New Jerseyans, she believed them to all be in fun. But when Monahan came to BC, she became aware of how some people thought the stereotypes were true. “[I]t actually upset me to realize

that people weren’t joking about the ‘dirty Jerz’ — they actually believed the stereotype,” Monahan said. “I remember calling my mom one night freshman year and being genuinely upset about the jokes. I don’t think anyone meant to be legitimately mean, but in the end, it was my home.”

May, however, says that people making negative comments about New Jersey does not bother him because he knows they have a narrow view of the state.

“Most people only know New Jersey in the sense that they have driven through the state on the Turnpike, taken a trip down the Shore, or gone to see a Giants game in the Meadowlands,” he said. “People never veer into the heart of New Jersey, where they would find some really nice towns.”

Monahan shared the same sentiments about people’s unfamiliarity with New Jersey, mainly because of the way it is portrayed through the media.

“Maybe they could make a show about Bridgewater, New Jersey, and show how normal and boring most of New Jersey really is,” Monahan said.

In a statement, MTV defended the new series by emphasizing that the show only highlights a group.

“The show continues MTV’s history of documenting various subcultures, rites of passage of young people, and the ways they self-identify,” an MTV spokesperson said. “We understand that this show... depicts just one aspect of youth culture.”

Some would argue, however, that there is some truth to “reality” and regional stereotyping.

“Regional stereotyping isn’t fair to the people who live in those areas, but I think most people fall into it without even thinking,” May said. “You have to learn to laugh at your own region, and you can’t let the jokes bother you.”

Whether or not stereotypes are accurate based on one’s home area, it is an issue from which no one can totally escape. And the need for reality shows to be extreme — and far from reality — only furthers these narrow images.

With the buzz surrounding this series though, Jersey Shore is the big hit MTV has been needing.

Courtesy of tamaralacroix.ca

By Amy Walsh Features Editor Fairness, justice, and equality are inherent qualities that this Jesuit institution strongly promotes and strives to instill in its students, even in such a seemingly insignificant purchase like morning coffee.

As sleep-deprived college students, it is no surprise that the Boston College campus consumes thousands upon thousands of coffee every year. However, when one is standing in line at Hillside, groggy and dreading the busy day that lies ahead, fair trade is probably not on one’s mind. It is this lack of conscientious consumerism that may be hindering the fair trade movement.

Josh, a high school student from Institute for Leadership and Social Justice at Boston Trinity Academy, noted that one main problem for fair trade products is the lack of a consumer base to financially back the movement. Some people, however, see hope. ”Consumers are becoming increasingly ethically minded,” Charlie, another student from the Institute, says.

Compared to consumer awareness in the past, this is true.

Helen Wechsler, director of BC Dining, highlights the fact that 10 years ago, fair trade was something barely anyone knew about, in the world of campus dining programs.

Very few colleges or universities were purchasing fair trade coffee or even thinking about it. Wechsler proudly points out that throughout the eight and a half years that she has been with BC dining, they have always had fair trade coffee.

“If you’re committed to fair trade, you can find it anywhere on campus,” Wechsler explains.

The three coffee vendors that provide coffee on BC’s campus,

Starbucks, New England Coffee Roasters, and Peet’s all carry some form of fair trade coffee. Some, however, boast more fair trade blends than others.

According to the Organic Consumer Association, Starbucks plans to double its fair trade purchases to 40 million pounds by the end of 2009, making it the largest consumer of Fair Trade Certified Coffee in the world. Companies like Equal Exchange, however, have always been champions of fair trade. Equal Exchange was founded in 1986 to promote fair trade in a way that “empowers both farmers and consumers.”

The company forms relationships with co-operatives in countries throughout the world that are run and made up of small farmers from countries in Latin America, Africa, or Asia. Equal Exchange purchases the coffee directly from the farmers, eliminating the middleman and assuring the farmers that they will consistently have their coffee purchased at the same price, regardless of market price. “[Starbucks sees fair trade] as a market niche, like flavored, or organic [coffee], or some product line that they can develop,” Peter Buck, co-owner of Equal Exchange, says. “They’re not really mission driven.”

Equal Exchange states that it is primarily concerned about establishing relationships with their co-ops and the social justice those relationships encourage. However, some advocacy groups assert that other vendors like Starbucks are more concerned about the profitability of fair trade, rather than the ethical considerations.

“Recently, there’s been a great deal of focus on certification in the coffee world,” Peet’s Coffee and Tea says in their mission statement. “And while various certifications address various aspects of sustainable production, they cannot ensure both the quality and the sustainability of the coffee in your cup.”

Many of Peet’s products are labeled “fairly traded.” They are not officially certified, but the company strives to create relationships with farmers and perpetuate sustainability. The problem remains that without certification, there is no watchdog force.

“The real issue is that even though a lot of the coffee is labeled as ‘Fair Trade,’ some of

our coffee purveyors, Starbuck’s, Peet’s, Green Mountain, are large companies that make huge profits and market their Fair Trade certification as part of their public image instead of demonstrating true dedication to forming ethical business partnerships with coffee growers in other countries,” Sarah King, A&S ’10 and a co-leader of Real Food BC says.

Conscientious consumerism is not an easy thing. Of the 95 percent of fair trade or fairly traded coffee that BC boasts, how much is actually helping the communities in which fair trade revenue is sorely needed? This question involves heavy research and desire on the part of the consumer to want to know where the products are coming from.

Many students lack easy access to this information. If somone on campus is not aware of what truly fair traded coffee is, or where to find it on campus, then the fair trade movement has been lackluster in its mission, even if it is not a failure. But BC dining must abide by the financial bottom line.

“If you don’t buy it, I won’t sell it,” Wechsler says.

Students hold the power in demanding the products we want on campus. Occasionally fair trade can be two to three percent more expensive than generic blends, however, more often than not fair trade is of an equal or lesser price than its competitors.

In terms of price, Melissa Lin LSOE ’12 says, “I don’t think people are going to care about the slight increase in price. Guys may be upset by the increase just because their meal plans dwindle so rapidly, but if you didn’t tell them, no one would notice.”

Brianna Rivas, CSON ’12 and non-appreciator of coffee comically notes, “I don’t care if the coffee tastes bad, I just want to feel better about myself.”

Students hold the power to get what they want on campus.

Dining services will be sending out surveys second semester about fair trade coffee and whether or not the coffee has a consumer base. Regardless of opinions on fair trade, students’ choices in the dining hall go beyond the choice of Honey-Q vs. Buffalo Chicken—they impact the buying practices of BC Dining Services and so affect the lives of farmers and people continents away.

www.bcgavel.com

10

Top 5 Progressive Achi The Green Revolution A decade ago, our “green” consciousness was different, and for many, utterly nonexistent. The green revolution has accumulated followers over the years because there has been a trend toward responsibility. Responsibility to the environment is a relatively new concept that has resulted from consciousness-raising by individuals’ efforts. Endeavors to enlighten the American public about the damaging effects of our everyday practices have proven not only necessary, but heroic as well. Al Gore’s Oscarwinning documentary and accompanying book, An Inconvenient Truth, address myths that have become prevalent in our society about global warming and environmental issues in general.

An area that has been in dire need of improvement is mass transit; its interrelatedness with environmental solutions is undeniable and has been recognized by politicians and nonprofit organizations recently. Transportation has been invested in heavily in the past few years. Recently, the House and Senate have supplied $8 billion towards public transit. For every $1 billion spent on mass transit, 20,000 new jobs are created; therefore, the plan has a dual agenda that will not only improve people’s lives but also benefit the Earth for the future. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes $787 billion for programs that will stimulate the economy. The Act encourages clean energy initiatives, as $79 billion of it goes towards programs such as small business innovation projects, wind energy projects, geothermal technologies, renewal energy, transportation, energy-efficient appliance rebate incentives.

In reaction to the recession of 2009, tax credits are expected to be provided for those who invest in renewable energy facilities.

These will provide incentive, the current administration hopes, to be more “green conscious.” President Obama aims to frame green initiatives in a way to which the average American can relate. For example, by 2015, he plans to increase fuel efficiency to 35.5 miles per gallon. Raising car efficiency standards would drastically reduce carbon emissions. It has been a big step in the past decade to even recognize that problems in the environment are human-made. Over one-fifth of the entire world’s carbon dioxide emissions can be attributed to the United States alone. Over the last 150 years, carbon dioxide concentrations in the environment have risen from 280 to almost 380 parts per million. Many scientists argue that this increase is due to emanations from the Industrial Revolution. This past June, the House of Representatives passed a groundbreaking, bipartisan environmental bill that aims to complete the country’s transition to a clean energy and low-carbon economy.

Human Trafficking Legislation About 20,000 victims of human trafficking are forcefully led into the United States each year. As the first federal law to defend the rights of trafficking victims, the Traffic Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) has pioneered trafficked persons’ protection in the United States. Educational programs to inform people about what human trafficking is, how to identify it, and what they can do to help has been absolutely crucial in efforts to reduce the astronomically high incidence of trafficking.

At Boston College, the group REACT (Rallying Efforts Against Contemporary Trafficking) plans events to inform students about the trafficking that happens right here in Boston. Recognizing that trafficking is not an issue secluded to other countries and that it affects those in our communities is the first step. TVPA aims to aid those who are affected by human trafficking internationally, bring traffickers to court and to help victims in the United States to heal and begin new lives. Before 2000, human trafficking was not an issue on the surface of American consciousness — it was a hidden problem that did not receive as much attention as it does today. As a result, victims were not provided with the tools necessary to combat their oppressors. TVPA instituted what is called the T visa, which prevents victims from being deported from the United States to their home countries. Providing this exception is fundamental to ensuring that people will not be deported as illegal aliens no matter their current legal residential status. $200 million was set aside in 2003 by the Bush administration for the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which aims to identify perpetrators of human trafficking and to assist those already victimized. Part of the money goes towards programs that empower identified victims to speak out about what has happened to them and also to take legal action against the criminals who robbed them of their freedom. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is an intergovernmental partnership working to address issues like arms control, election validity and human rights issues like human trafficking. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are still campaigning to increase pressure on officials to enact progressive legislation.

By Laurel Malow Copy Editor

Diverse Diplomats: Nancy Pelosi, and B

A major feat for progressives came in 2008 with adva women in higher government positions. Three of the mo President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy media covered Pelosi’s and Clinton’s gender and Obama are typically distinguished by their views. Although Clint office in the United States of America, she did win more feat was significant given the hostile climate that exists fo slowly gaining ground and reaching milestones, such as P of the House — making her the highest-ranked female i of succession to the president — they still have a long wa equality. Women’s issues are rarely on the forefront. Whe blatant and latent discrimination against women is still in minorities in a more politically correct manner. Neither Republicans and Democrats alike have attempted to rele whites who came to vote in 2008 in Pennsylvania, North that race was an “important factor” in their decision of w United States Senate and 15 percent of the House are fe Clinton was the first First Lady to run for governmen York’s seats in the U.S. Senate, Clinton won 53 percent o President Bush’s tax cuts, raised over $20 million for Wo the development of the Center for American Progress, sh ran against John Spencer in 2006. Clinton and other fem to their gender, such as when the mere shadow of Clinto campaign or when images of Sarah Palin’s beauty pagea monitors everywhere. Clinton’s contribution to feminism woman navigating a male arena, as all female politicians Against Women Act (IVAWA) in the last session of Cong to go before they are perceived as equal to men. We have legislation/sentiment is no longer necessary now that wo in traditionally male arenas) era, which may account for Barack Obama has had to face just as many obstacles counterparts. Just as Clinton owes a great deal to the wo he is today without dedicated activists of the civil rights m the last couple of generations are the first to grow up wit representation of blacks in government. Therefore, it is i Obama’s election. He has judiciously passed legislation t and recognizes the steps that still have to be made to bre political arena. Children are now able to see three peopl not white males, a great milestone of progressivism.

December 7, 2009

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ievements of 2000-2009

: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama

ancement in the representation of minorities and ost significant and visible wins have been those of Pelosi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The a’s race as major news, while white male politicians ton did not achieve her goal of occupying the highest e primaries than any other woman in U.S. history. Her or women in the political arena. Although women are Pelosi’s Jan. 2007 assumption of the role of Speaker in American political history and second in the line ay to go before reaching the elusive realm of political en women run for office, rich data surfaces that proves n full force. Some feel as though the media cover Obama nor Clinton nor Pelosi fit stereotypes, although egate them to their traditional roles. Sixteen percent of h Carolina, Indiana, Oregon, and Kentucky told ABC who to vote for. And still, a meager 14 percent of the emale. ntal office. Competing against Rick Lazio for one of New of the vote. After her first term in which she opposed orld Trade Center redevelopment and contributed to he was reelected with 67 percent of the vote when she male politicians have to face media criticisms unique on’s cleavage quickly made headlines during her ant days flashed before television screens and computer m in no way stops at the fact that she is a powerful s do; she was a sponsor of the International Violence gress, reminding us that women have a very long way e entered a post-feminist (the idea that women’s rights omen have the right to vote and can compete with men the lack of more female representation in government. s in order to arrive at the same level as his white omen’s movement, Obama would never be in the place movement. Obama is very aware of the fact that thout segregation or having experienced almost no important that race issues are not forgotten because of to examine and stop racial profiling in the United States eak down racial stereotypes and increase diversity in the le occupying the highest offices in the country that are

Social Media Around 2002, the blogosphere became mainstream. Although it had existed for years before, it was not a widely recognized concept or a source of trustworthy information. More recently, Americans have wanted to receive their news from an assortment of outlets. A Web log can range from an online diary to a comprehensive news source. Bloggers have been responsible for exposing inadequate reporting techniques, as in the case of Dan Rather’s 60 Minutes Killian documents scandal. Blogging has spurred grassroots campaigns that focus on the needs of communities. People can voice their opinions and sign petitions online. This swift relay of information was unimaginable to people of previous generations. Barack Obama quickly acknowledged and embraced the importance of social media in Americans’ lives and used it to his advantage. Two million people created profiles on my.barackobama.com, and Obama kept track of his presence on every mainstream social media and networking site. A song by will.i.am. was inspired by Barack Obama, and millions watched on YouTube.com.

Of course, not everyone uses social media on a political level. Facebook has over 350 million users throughout the world. It is used as a major way for friends and family to stay connected whether the other person is in the next room or on another continent. People can upload videos and pictures for personal or political reasons. About one-third of Americans age 18-29 “Tweet” about what they are doing, follow politicians, celebrities and friends on Twitter.com or receive quick summaries from newspapers about top stories when they may not have the paper in hand.

The line between public and private has become somewhat blurred. On one hand, people’s private lives are exposed, but on the other, social media outlets allow for more contact and creates a world in which networking is easier for the average person. One does not have to travel and spend exorbitant amounts of money to travel somewhere or leave work early to go to or watch a speech, because that person can simply watch it on that politician’s blog. Social media has created new expectations for people’s relationships; there is simply no excuse for not staying in touch with old friends or informing others about parties, events, documentaries and other gatherings.

Same-Sex Marriage In the past decade, five U.S. states have ratified same-sex marriage, meaning that gay and lesbian couples can enjoy the same legal benefits heterosexual couples do. As with many divisive political issues, the real question is not about whether something is right or wrong, but whether it should be legal or illegal. In the year 2000, Vermont was the first state to recognize same-sex unions and to coin the term “civil union.” Soon after, certain major cities across the country began being flooded with requests for marriage licenses. In the case of Goodridge v. Department of Health (2003), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court stated, “We declare that barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution.”

In May of 2004, the first legal same-sex marriages were performed in Massachusetts. The following year, Mayor Bloomberg of New York declared that same-sex marriages from other locations should be recognized for the couple in their home state. For example, a couple in New York who married in Massachusetts now had worker compensation rights and hospital visitation/ decision-making rights as much as a heterosexual couple who married in New York. The Massachusetts Supreme Court set a precedent for other U.S. states to follow. The New England area has been a bastion of progressive legislation for same-sex marriages. Gay marriage is now legal in New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. These laws for progressive change did not come without hardship, and ups and downs. Although the same-sex marriage bill was not passed in New York’s assembly last week, there is still hope. Twenty-four representatives voted in favor of gay marriage, and Senator Diane Savino delivered a speech questioning why she could marry someone she met on the street but her friends who have a stable relationship are not granted this privilege in the state of New York. Progressives across the nation have commended Savino’s speech on news programming as well as sites like YouTube. Work to overturn Proposition 8, a highly controversial constitutional change California that states that only heterosexual marriages are “valid or recognized” within the state, has been underway since voters passed it in Nov. 2008. It is going to be reevaluated Jan. 11 of 2010 — another attempt and, hopefully, a progressive step. The five states, which have already fulfilled and thus far maintained their legislative duties for the marginalized gay community, have set a positive example for other states to follow in coming years.

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Editorials

www.bcgavel.com

Contract compromise vital to community Another month of intense negotiations between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the administration brought much of the same, and yet another month-long contract extension. After over six months of deliberations, the two sides are no closer to resolving the campus labor dispute.

The primary reason for contention between the two sides is financial. Boston College, like many of the world’s educational institutions, is facing a budget crisis. In order to be more costeffective, the administration wishes

to bring in outside contractors for special events such as cleaning Alumni Stadium before and after games to reduce their reliance on overtime.

The University should be commended for making efforts to become more financially sound by looking at ways to save. Article 18 of the union’s contract, however, which prohibits the use of outside workers, was created for a reason.

The use of contracted workers undermines the work of the union.

It is not necessarily that the union fears the use of contracted workers for certain tasks — ­­according to a

union worker close to the situation, BC already uses contracted help.

Their fear is rather that the use of contracted workers will spread to other fields — replacing union workers — some of whom have been at BC for over 30 years.

The union believes that without Article 18, they will cease to exist, as subcontractors will be used for nearly every job on campus.

Notwithstanding, the union has shown a willingness to compromise.

In their last contract proposal, the union offered to remove Article 16, 4C, which spells out their “double time” privilege — a right to double

the amount of their normal pay on the seventh day of their work week.

The union also supports the use of “split workers” and BC students, which helps the University avoid paying overtime. The union should be commended for taking steps to find a compromise — steps the administration seems unwilling to make.

The importance of the union to the BC community can not be denied. Job security is essential to the well being of workers, and we implore the administration to resolve this issue soon, and in a manner that will maintain a

cohesive community.

The SEIU seems to understand that financial cutbacks are needed in this type of economic environment, and they have shown a willingness to make compromises. The administration needs to follow suit — although at this point, it seems they are only interested in removing Article 18.

A protracted labor dispute helps no one, and only further strains relationships. Both the union and the BC administration need to find common ground in order to sustain the well-being of the BC community.

Obama’s call to service must be answered Shortly after his victory in the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama, drawing on a common theme from his campaign, stated, “Loving your country must mean accepting your responsibility to do your part to change.” Supporters across the United States, young and old, planned to meet this call to service with excitement. It seems, however, that the initial enthusiasm for service that existed among young people following his inauguration has

dwindled.

Under the Obama-Biden Plan for Universal Voluntary Citizen Service, a $4000 tax credit for college students willing to devote 100 hours of public service a year, and the allocation of at least 25 percent of college workstudy funds toward the support of public service opportunities, are cited as crucial objectives. These stated initiatives must be followed through, and sustained by young Americans willing to better their

communities and engage in servicelearning. Learning extends beyond the classroom, and promoting the well-being of our nation is a key part of citizenship.

Here, we have a particularly strong sense of service founded in the Jesuit tradition and maintained by the zeal of students.

In 2008, about one-fifth of students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities opted to participate in a service trip instead of taking

a more “traditional” Spring Break ­— an opportunity offered here on campus by Appalachia Volunteers, a program that sent over 580 students last year to 36 communities around the United States. Many students also opt for 4Boston, a program that places students in community service opportunities for which the students commit to working for four hours per week. Opportunities to get involved on campus are seemingly endless.

Hopefully, this passion to serve

demonstrated by BC can extend beyond our nation’s campuses . The Obama administration needs only to capitalize on the enthusiasm and potential that already exists in our nation’s youth. As this generation graduates from college, many will be seeking volunteer and public service opportunities. Obama acknowledged the existence of pressing national challenges that would benefit from service programs — it is time to acknowledge the call.

Local businesses need university support To the chagrin of movie lovers all over campus, Circle Cinema closed last year, causing students to head to Fenway for their movie nights. Many were shocked to learn that both French Press and College Sub Shop also had closed their doors when they arrived on campus this past September. In order to support the independent enterprises that are frequented by its students, Boston College needs to further its promotion of local businesses.

The two new stores that did

open in Cleveland Circle this year — Chill, a frozen yogurt/ice cream shop, and Eagles Cuts and Nails, a new hair salon offering manicures and pedicures — are both new enterprises run by people who already own established businesses next door. These non-chain spots, which offer great deals and are student friendly, provide valuable services to the BC population.

For students, transportation is a major issue. Without cars or a truly efficient public transportation

system, heading outside the range of the BC bus can prove to be inconvenient at best, which makes nearby businesses all the more valuable. Late night showings at distant theaters inevitably end in a taxi ride home and make the loss of places like Circle Cinema more deeply felt.

While the Eagle-One card is accepted at nearby locations — Roggie’s, City Convenience, and Eagle’s Deli, to name a few — the Eagle Bucks program should be

expanded to include more local businesses. Doing so would save BC students the time and costs that come with venturing further into Boston for services and entertainment.

Boston is known for being a college town, and the local economy thrives on the influx of students that arrives each fall. By offering more options for Eagle-One spending, BC would not only encourage students to support neighborhood staples, but further a sense of community that extends beyond the campus

TUE TRAN, Co-Editor-in-Chief CHRISTINA DRAGO, Co-Editor-in-Chief LAUREL MANLOW, Copy Editor MAEVE GORMLY, Assoc. Copy Editor LAKE CORETH, News Editor IULIA PADEANU, News Editor CAROLINE MERCK, Opinions Editor AMY WALSH, Features Editor

walls.

It is therefore necessary that BC more ardently promotes the support of the small, independently-run businesses. This is vital to not only strengthen communal bonds, but to enrich the college experience in creating a welcoming environment that extends into the neighborhoods in which we live, work, and study.

These nearby establishments cater to us — their student patrons — and it’s time that we more adequately returned the favor.

ALISON ATHEY, Assoc. Features Editor MATTHEW GAVIN, Culture Editor DANIEL MONAN, Assoc. Culture Editor ANDREW SCHOFIELD, Editorial Assistant ANDREW SLADE, Editorial Assistant ERGY JEAN-BAPTISTE, Web Editor BRETT SIMON, Visibility Director SAGAR WADAGONKAR, Business Manager

Opinions December 7, 2009

13

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Caroline Merck Here in Massachusetts, 14 year-olds face imprisonment for the rest of their lives. According to current state law, adolescents as young as 14 can be saddled with what was previously an “adult” sentence: life in prison without the hope of parole. In light of what the scientific community knows about the adolescent brain and its development, this forgoing of all attempts at rehabilitation is an unconscionable practice.

By doling out these harsh sentences of life in prison without parole to those too young to sit on the juries that convict them, our system ignores the vast difference between an adolescent and an adult and tip-toes the lines of international law. Most importantly,

by imprisoning children, we throw away the potential that adolescents innately possess.

While the United States prison system is notorious for punishing rather than rehabilitating, its clear that Massachusetts has a particular problem with how it handles its youth offenders.

Spurred by a perceived laxness of laws pertaining to juveniles, the Massachusetts criminal justice system made a drastic move towards conservatism during the 1990s. People viewed the laws defining how juveniles are prosecuted as inadequate because of the propaganda and fear-mongering that circulated in the early 1990s. Following a rise in violent crime committed by adolescents, studies warned of a coming generation of particularly violent youth, supposed “super

predators.” This labeling of the troubled adolescents who commit these crimes as predatory and remorseless killers has had devastating effects.

Overly punitive practices today came into being as a reaction against the ineffective policies that characterized the 1980s.

Adolescents convicted of murder within the juvenile system faced incarceration only until their 21st birthday, allowing many who had committed serious crimes to leave unrepentant and un-rehabilitated.

Massachusetts criminal law in regards to juveniles has proven to be one of extremes. Once characterized by extreme leniency, it is now overly punitive--almost cruelly so. Clearly, our system needs to reach a more moderate middle ground ­­ — and fast. More than 50 people, who were convicted

before their 18th birthday are currently serving life sentences in this state, often despite not having committed a murder.

The U.S. government’s recognition of adolescents’ mental immaturity, and its corresponding effects on their decision making abilities, manifests itself in the prohibitive laws that exist for juveniles. It does not make sense that the state of Massachusetts ignores this within its justice system.

Minors are considered unfit to cast ballots and buy cigarettes, yet no special provisions are made for them when they commit crimes.

Unlike in other states, in Massachusetts, little to no discretion is left up to prosecutors. Teens aged 14 to 16 charged with first or second degree murder are tried as adults, in adult court, where

their age, history or potential for rehabilitation cannot be considered. One might ask how this can be construed as justice.

The most dangerous part of this process, in light of the harsh mandatory minimum laws that exist, is the sentencing portion.

Judges have no choice but to give convicted minors the preapproved adult sentence for their crime, regardless of extenuating circumstances. If a minor, even a fourteen year-old, is convicted of commiting or acting as an accessory to murder in a Massachusetts adult court, he or she, without exception, faces life in prison without parole. By locking up minors and throwing away the key, our criminal justice system squanders the unmined potential of our next generation.

Let’s step up, not back: Sexual Assault at BC Kathryn Haroldson Rape happens, just not here at Boston College. At least, that’s what a large percentage of our student body seems to think.

I have been a Sexual Assault Network (SANet) advocate for the past year. Over the course of my time with this organization, I have been constantly surprised by the lack of knowledge about this subject, especially with regard to the BC campus. Is there some tacit complicity to ignore this issue, or does everyone just seem to turn a blind eye to it because it “taints” our school’s image? Regardless of its origins, the ignorance surrounding sexual assault on our campus needs to be rectified.

SANet is comprised of male and female advocates who provide support, information, and resources for any Boston College student affected by rape, sexual assault, relationship violence, and other related crimes. These services are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day. SANet is supported by the Office of the

Dean for Student Development and the Women’s Resource Center.

Yes, Newton is an incredibly safe town, and our campus has blue lights and its own police department, but assaults are not random men in ski masks chasing women into dark alleyways.

Ninety percent of college rape victims are acquainted with their attacker. This means that men and women are being assaulted in dorm rooms, at off campus houses, even at parties you’ve been to. Rape is the most underreported crime in the United States. Approximately 60 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police — understandably.

Even in a society in which women are hyper-sexualized, a girl wearing a low cut top and miniskirt is subject to being labeled as “asking for it” when she is assaulted. It would be difficult for anyone to acknowledge this sort of experience in a community as small as ours, especially given the persecution suffered by people that have spoken up in the past.

College-aged women are four

times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other age group. So why does sexual assault lie within a “no talk” zone?

Everyone is aware of the hookup culture, the binge drinking, and the “extremely fit” issues we have here on campus. The administration and student groups are making an effort to confront these particular issues and bring them out into the open for a full and frank dialogue. Why hasn’t this spotlighting trend breached the realm of sexual assault? Most people on campus are not even aware that SANet exists, even though it’s one of the phone numbers on the back of your Eagle ID. When sexual assault is addressed on this campus, an uncomfortable air settles over the conversation. While giving classroom presentations about SANet and the realities of sexual assault on campus, I’m constantly greeted with blank stares and disinterested faces. Is this a symptom of the “well, if it doesn’t affect me, I don’t really care” mindset? Does there need to be a greater effort to bting

discussions about sexual assault and rape here on campus to the mainstream? This attitude of apathy allows our community to brush this important issue under the rug. One in six women and one in eight men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. That is one girl out of every mod; one guy out of every eight-man in Vandy. No one is unaffected by sexual assault. Whether it is your roommate, your friend or someone on your floor, it can be found all around us. Perpetrators who are never caught usually go on to commit an average of six rapes without ever spending a day in jail. Is everyone really okay with that?

As uncomfortable as it is to acknowledge, people are raped and assaulted here at BC. The BC bubble is not impenetrable to this crime, and the best way to combat this issue is to address it. Get it out in the open and talk about it. Make it clear that the BC community cares and won’t look the other way. By keeping sexual assault hidden, by pretending it doesn’t really exist, we have enabled the

attackers to continue. We have also discouraged survivors from sharing their stories by creating an atmosphere of shame around these attacks. Rather, we must communicate to victims that their experiences are worth our time.

As a student here, it appears to me the only time these issues are publically discussed is one reserved day in the spring, “Take Back the Night.” Events like these promote awareness and reinforce to survivors that there is a community ready to receive them. However, one day of openness, discussion and concern is simply not enough. We have an obligation to our fellow students to acknowledge sexual assault on our own campus. We must make it clear that we find this behavior repugnant, and the perpetrators despicable. We also must make it clear to the victims that they have our support and our respect. It is about time we give this serious issue the attention it deserves.

We must ask ourselves: are we really comfortable being part of a community that sits back and refuses to take action?

14

www.bcgavel.com

The Naming of Things

President Obama and the United States’ dubious legacy in Latin America Edward Shore On April 18, 2009, fresh into his third month as the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama attended the Organization of American States-sponsored Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, meeting with the heads of every government across the Western Hemisphere (excluding, of course, Cuba, whose delegation was expelled in the early 1960s) to discuss the future of inter-American relations. Speaking from my own experience abroad at that time in Quito, Ecuador, onlookers throughout the region met Obama with unbridled enthusiasm. A frenzied Latin American media surrounded the “new kid on the block,” tagging along with Obama’s entourage and documenting his every move. And finally, the Latin American heads of state welcomed Obama with unprecedented cordiality, if not exuberance, while expressing optimism that the direction of U.S. policymaking would finally change; in short, they believed that Obama would be more attentive to the region and less arrogant than his predecessor, President George W. Bush.

So impressive was Obama, that then-President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras (since ousted in a right-wing military coup this past June, the coup regime’s “elections” have been recognized by the United States this past week) remarked at the time: “I’m pleased with Obama’s ‘listen and learn approach.’ The treatment that we’re receiving is totally different in terms of more openness, more dialogue, and more respect.”

But as he passed through the hotel conference rooms, a familiar regional adversary met Obama: President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Chavez shook Obama’s hand, exchanged brief pleasantries in broken English and Spanish, and passed along a most uncomfortable regional housewarming gift to

the new president: Eduardo Galeano’s 1971 classic critique of U.S. interventionism in Latin America, The Open Veins of Latin America. Make what you will of his Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, but Chavez made a powerful statement to the United States and indeed the world. All eyes are now on Obama to practice what he so el o q u en tl y preached on the campaign trail; a return to a more participatory cooperation with the international community.

Fast-forward eight months later to Dec. 2009, and Latin America is hardly a priority (remember that whole immigration reform ‘thing’?) and not even a peripheral concern, for the Obama administration. Sure, Obama has finally lifted the travel ban for Cuban Americans to visit their relatives living on the island, but it doesn’t exactly take a Harvard law degree to reach the conclusion that the embargo has failed to remove Fidel Castro (who has outfoxed ten U.S. presidents) from power, never mind the fact that such sanctions are criminal assaults on families and the Cuban poor. Rather, Obama has not only relied upon, but embraced the imperialist policies of his predecessor, el diablo, as he is affectionately known throughout the region, George W. Bush.

Yes, I said “imperialism,” and in October, President Obama made his first dent in joining the storied tradition of his predecessors in Latin America by signing an agreement with the Colombian government, granting the U.S. control of not one, not two, but seven new military bases throughout the country to “combat narcoterrorism.” Several of

them are situated along the Venezuelan border. Why is this significant? Aside from the fact that such a policy has failed almost humorously to contain narcotrafficking or the FARC, the U.S. has an almost fanatical obsession with removing the democratically-elected Chavez from power,

attempting to sabotage his 1998 presidential electoral campaign, and orchestrating a failed coup d’état in 2002. And how did that turn out? Well, to start, Mr. Chavez, the region, and the world don’t really like us. They not only revolted in the streets against right-wing corruption and the Washington Consensus in Latin America… but also voted against it. Nearly all Latin American countries, with the exception of Mexico, Colombia, Peru (those Latin American countries closest to Washington’s payroll), and now Honduras (if you want to

call their elections legitimate… and if you don’t, don’t worry, you’re not alone- only three OAS members states do), have elected center-left to leftwing presidents, their political consciousness’ shaped by U.S. Cold War policies, leaders who aren’t so eager to jump aboard the WTO bandwagon.

But let’s look beyond the Colombian bases.

Obama has continued playing that old, broken record of a “war on drugs” in Mexico, stepping up billions in military aid by backing the BushCalderón sponsored Plan Merida. And the result? Mexico, now the second largest employer of School of America graduates, has seen its murder rates skyrocket.

Murders in Mexico doubled in 2008 compared to pre-Merida numbers (5,600 murders in 2008), while Ciudad Juarez sees 130 murders for every 10,000 inhabitants (over 2,000 murders in the city this year), making this border metropolis the most dangerous city in the world, located just a stone’s throw away from El Paso, Texas. Meanwhile, two weeks ago, President Obama renewed the embargo against Cuba. The only two countries in the world that back our embargo? Israel and Palau.

The top military commanders involved in the Honduran coup were trained at the SOA. And this past week, declassified files in Spain documenting the murders of the six Jesuits and their two housekeepers twenty years ago by SOA graduates reveal that the operation was not only planned by then President Cristiani and his military chief of staff, General Ponce, but was approved two days prior by the

CIA. Think of U.S. imperialism as the swine flu and the SOA as that miserable cough that keeps you up at night. Your doctor (the State Department and WTO) will tell you that your fever, chest pain, and horrendous cough is just a little bug--nothing that rest and cough syrup (in our case, a little dose of deregulated, free market capitalism, defended by an SOA death squad here and there to crush the angry Coca Cola factory workers) can’t cure. You see, the cough (the SOA), isn’t the root problem here. Rather, the swine flu, the social disease that would make such a school “necessary” is. It’s our “security” and “stability” fetishes, supported by our greed, consumerism, and armed foreign expeditionary kick, or what most objective observers might call “imperialism,” that are to blame.

The day the SOA really closed, if you want to believe the spokesmen of the sincerenamed WHINSEC (Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation) in 2001 was the day the State Department decided finally to “modernize” its exploitation of Latin America. That old name recalled painful memories of rape, slaughter, and forced disappearances. And how do you forget the past? You rip a page out of the Ronald Reagan playbook. You call the world’s most infamous terrorist, that elusive young guerrilla fighter in the Afghan mountains crusading against the Soviets by the name of Osama bin Laden a “freedom fighter.” You call the landless, starving Mayan campesina whose baby died from diarrhea a “subversive.” And you might even declare before the most catastrophic economic crisis of the modern era “that the fundamentals of the economy are strong.” But this time, myself and the 40 other BC students who protested the SOA in Ft. Benning, Georgia, were finally able to call “security cooperation” what it really is: imperialism.

December 7, 2009

15

You Be the Judge:

Stupak-Pitts: Should we fund abortion?

Emma Staffaroni It was time for discussions about healthcare that address the needs of all Americans — almost. Instead of being able to rejoice over our victory in the House of Representatives earlier this month, Democrats winced with disappointment and chagrin. On Nov. 7, the House passed the “Affordable Health Care for Americans Act,” and with it ushered in the bitter taste of sexism. An amendment with a ban on all abortion coverage under the federal plan was tacked onto the bill at the last minute.

This is an outrageous manipulation of the current state of abortion rights in the United States.

Feminists and pro-choice activists already live with the hovering dark cloud that is the Hyde Amendment, a policy that casts its shadow over the brighter world created by Roe v. Wade in the ‘70s. As long as this legislation and philosophy of reproductive rights exists in Washington, American women remain effectively confined to our biology.

Hyde states that no federal money

Kevin Stevenson As America enters into a revolutionary time period in health care reform, President Barack Obama, legislators and the public alike are quickly realizing that health care is not such a simple game. Aside from the implications of financing such an endeavor and what it means to the country’s economy, health care encompasses thousands of different services. In the private sector, it is up to individual health care companies to determine what is and what is not covered by insurance. As health insurance travels into the public sector, these decisions must be made by a country.

For better or worse, many health care decisions are made on a basis of profit and cost. Health care companies must compete with rival competitors and offer services to their clients comparable to the rest of the market.

At the same time, services that are too costly will not be offered without customers paying premiums on their coverage. The government, however, cannot make decisions based simply

from the Health and Human Services budget may be allocated for abortions.

In retaliation, 17 of our 50 states have passed laws or judicial rulings that utilize other funds to provide low-income and uninsured women with this fundamental health and safety provision. Of course, we are far from a nation where a woman’s choice is valued as much as a man’s, but it appeared that we were moving forward—albeit at a glacial pace.

Late into the discussion surrounding the health care bill, Stupak introduced his amendment as a way to appease anti-choice Democrats. According to Stupak, it was these Democrats who put the health care bill “over the top.” If anything is over the top, it is the number of elected anti-choice Democrats. Many of them were only placed in leadership positions in the House to combat the stereotypes that Democrats are antireligion and lacking “values.”

Values and religion do most of the talking when it comes to women’s bodies.

When I see a photo of Obama shaking hands with a cardinal, I remember that

I live in a nation married to the Catholic Church. While Obama may have been speaking in a strictly Hydean manner when he said that under the new plan “no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions,” he sounded more like he was preaching the “moral choice.”

“Look,” Stupak explained to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. “We‘ve been consistent. No federal funds for abortion, keep the current law, and let’s do talk about health care, and let’s not have an abortion debate. The sad part about this whole debate is we never talk about the good things that’s in the health care bill. We’re all hung up on this abortion issue.”

Is it semantics, or sexism? It appears that Stupak would like to have an erudite discussion about affordable health care, not one about the individuals that will partake of in it.

Politicians are using wordplay, trying to mask the explicitly antichoice philosophy that informed the amendment. It is the defensive wordplay of a politician who knows he is not representing his party’s commitment to

women’s choice and privacy.

There is wordplay, and there is lying.

Stupak is not keeping with “current law” at all. The bill does not stay within the confines of the Hyde Amendment; it takes it further by prohibiting women who subscribe to the proposed public option from obtaining services from another private insurance provider.

Of course, the individuals who would benefit most from the public option will not have a private option anyway.

But hey, that’s why we’ve got the black market, right?

Since Stupak’s audacious move, NARAL Pro-Choice America and other rights activists across the nation have mobilized to convince Senator Harry Reid of Nevada to act against this ban.

Reid has been working to establish a compromise in the language of the bill.

The senator released a revision of the bill that upholds Hyde restrictions while removing the ban on supplementary sources of reproductive health coverage.

It is an improvement; we can only hope it is enough to appease legislators who still fear a woman’s sexuality and right to control her own body.

on these factors. Unlike health care companies, the government does not operate solely on the basis of profits and losses. Actions taken by the government must be consistent with the morals and principles that we want to see pervade our entire culture.

Much controversy has surrounded the amendment surrounding abortion within the “Affordable Health Care for Americans Act.” An extremely crucial step towards the heralded Obama-care, many Democrats have been disappointed about abortion coverage being stripped from the plan. This amendment isn’t a matter of whether abortion is right or wrong; it is a matter of what implications government-funded abortions carry.

Such an amendment is not an attack on women’s rights. Compromises such as this occur on a daily basis in our Congress, and the fact that such a concession was made to pass such a revolutionary act is not surprising. Many would argue that it was a relatively small concession, especially since there are ways around the Hyde Amendment and with the scope and cost of “Obama-

care” so large, one could argue the Democrats emerged victorious. While important issues should not be used as political bargaining chips, no act of such magnitude will ever make it out of Congress without various concessions being made. This is an indication that people in Congress have contrasting beliefs (just like the people they govern) on how things should work in this country.

The social implications that government-funded abortions would carry are not to be ignored. Allowing abortions to anyone with the public option of health care eliminates many reasons for people to be sexually responsible.

It is using taxpayers dollars to clean up the messes of people who are sexually irresponsible. Are there exceptions to this? Certainly. Does this mean that men will bear this burden as equally as women? Not whatsoever. Are there instances when abortions are required for reasons other than irresponsibility?

Absolutely, and stipulations should be made for those unfortunate instances.

However, such funding does send the

message from the government that people can behave in any manner they want, and the government will pay to clean up their mess. There must be a line where people take responsibility for their actions and don’t rely on the government to bail them out.

People do have a right to receive health care, but morally they do not have a right to have an abortion. The amendment was a necessary concession, something that happens every day in Congress in order for progress to be made. The government sponsoring abortions removes the responsibility involved with people having sex, something that could bode terribly for American society. Are abortions cheaper than caring for a child through birth and their upbringing? Absolutely — and I would be the first to desire this health care bill to be as cheap as possible. Yet such funding would show that the government is willing to bail any and everyone out for being irresponsible — and that is an attitude that cannot be pervasive throughout American society be, it on Wall Street or in the bedroom.

VS.

Weigh in at www.bcgavel.com

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Plummeting Why isn’t there room for poll numbers Good Samaritans at BC? not a concern Nick Schaufelberger

Andrew Schofield President Barack Obama returned this past week from a ten-day trip to Asia to find that his approval ratings had plummeted to all-time lows. Two polls released recently, a Gallup Poll and a Quinnipiac Poll, found that Obama’s job approval rating had slipped below 50 percent for the first time in his presidency at 49 percent and 48 percent respectively.

It is not a surprising fall for Obama given the political climate today. The honeymoon during the first 100 days of his presidency when he enjoyed approval ratings in the high 60s is over. The unemployment rate has hit double digits. The conflict in Afghanistan seems to worsen each month as some of the bloodiest months have occurred recently. Unpopular bitter partisanship, that Obama promised to end, dominates Capitol Hill, as the fight for the passage of the health care bill gets messier by the day.

Obama and his aides will argue that the polls mean nothing at this time, and all that matters is the job at hand dealing with health care reform, Afghanistan, and the tumbling economy.

As David Axelrod, a senior advisor to the president, told The New York Times, “I think the history of these things is that Washington becomes absorbed with them. But not every day is Election Day. There’s not all that much relationship about what these things mean and what’s going to happen in an election a year — or three years — in advance.”

Axelrod is right. At this point, Obama has little to worry about concerning the new poll numbers. He has three years to turn his approval ratings back up. And if health care reform, one of Obama’s major campaign promises, is passed, his ratings should get a large boost.

Also, the fact that Americans

have shown that they have a much higher opinion of Obama as a person than they do of his handling of particular issues should allay some fears and instill confidence that he can easily turn his approval ratings around.

History is on Obama’s side.

In 1994, after Bill Clinton’s health care reform collapsed, Republicans made sweeping gains in the midterm elections.

But just two years later, Clinton rebuilt his image and won reelection.

Early in Ronald Regan’s first term, he had a lowly approval rating of 42 percent, yet he recovered in time to crush Walter Mondale for reelection.

So this early in his term, Obama has no reason to fret.

His approval ratings, however, are not completely meaningless.

Democratic congressmen up for reelection, not Obama, should be the ones worrying if Obama’s approval rating remains below 50 percent. For the past 50 years, the controlling party, on nearly every occasion, has lost seats if the President had an approval rating of less than 50 percent.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is even taking notice of the trend. According to The New York Times, it has distributed a slide-show presentation to supporters, charting the correlation between a president’s job approval rating and his party’s performance in midterm Congressional elections.

Although Obama has little reason to worry at this point, he has no grounds to completely dismiss the polls either. The message to the president in the declining approval ratings is simple: America expects better results. The current economic condition will not be acceptable when Obama is up for reelection, nor will the situation in Afghanistan. Luckily, Obama has plenty of time to turn his presidency around. However, his fellow Democrats in the Congress might not be as fortunate.

Picture this: you’re enjoying a beer with some friends in your dorm room while celebrating after the Eagles beat the Fighting Irish in overtime. But one of your friends drank before he arrived and is now quite intoxicated. He slips, bumps his head on the wall, and ends up with an unsightly gash that starts bleeding profusely. You are worried that he could be seriously hurt and want him to get medical attention, but if you call an ambulance, you will get in trouble for drinking. What do you do?

This is not an implausible scenario; obviously, a large number of students at Boston College drink, and some get sick. This situation comes up at BC all the time. A friend of mine found herself in a very similar situation when an acquaintance hurt his head while drinking. She did seek help, but got in trouble for it.

If it were to happen again, she would “do things differently” because she has been “deferred from doing the right thing.”

The debate over whether to call an ambulance when a drunk friend is sick or injured

is made all the more difficult by the fact that students will think twice before calling; they know they will get in trouble once the ambulance arrives. This is especially important when it comes to alcohol poisoning because, in these cases, it is very difficult to tell whether a person is actually seriously sick or not. If a student is showing signs of alcohol poisoning, it is all too easy for his or her friend to simply dismiss it and hope that they can sleep it off, because they do not want to get in trouble themselves.

This is not the case nationwide, however. Most major colleges and universities have amnesty policies, which exempt “whistle blowing” students from punishment.

The idea behind this is that it will encourage students to call for help when it is needed, and thus reduce alcohol-related deaths. This has already shown to be true: a 2006 Cornell study showed that the number of calls for alcohol related assistance more than doubled in a twoyear period. Opponents to an amnesty policy claim that it will “encourage drinking in dorms.”

This assertion is absurd, and it is not a reason to go without an amnesty policy here at BC.

If an amnesty policy would encourage drinking, wouldn’t “How to Identify Alcohol Poisoning” flyers be promoting alcohol abuse as well? Yet, these posters are taped onto or shoved under almost every dorm room door on campus. Tools given to students to help them deal with potentially life-threatening situations, like an informative flyer with instructions to follow or an emergency number to call, are not what drive students into these situations. Administrators should realize that when students decide to drink, they don’t plan on having to go to the hospital or give a friend CPR. These are accidents. All that not having an amnesty policy does is discourage the calling of help once a student has had too much to drink, effectively making drinking situations all the more dangerous.

In the United States, there exist Good Samaritan laws, which exempt people who aid the injured from being sued.

Does this make people behave more dangerously? Of course not. BC, if it truly care about student safety, should take a hint from the U.S. government as well as its peers in the world of higher education and adopt an amnesty policy.

Charles Long / Gavel Illustration

December 7, 2009

Culture

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Local film industry optimistic for future

By Matthew Gavin Culture Editor

In recent months, Massachusetts has been host to a slew of film production activity — Tom Cruise was in town shooting for his new thriller, Knight and Day, and Ben Affleck has been filming scenes for his second directorial endeavor, The Town.

Since 2005, the state has been a major draw for filmmakers seeking to benefit from a tax incentive bill signed by former governor Mitt Romney.

“Here in Massachusetts, the main attraction is the stability of our credit,” Nicholas Paleologos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Film Office, said in an e-mail. “We are perceived as a safe, economical, and filmfriendly place to do business.”

According to “A Report on the Massachusetts Film Industry Tax Incentives,” distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in July 2009, the initial incentives provided production companies that incurred at least $250,000 of qualified expenses during a twelve-month period with a 20 percent payroll tax credit, and companies that either exceeded 50 percent of their total production expenses or filmed at least half of their projects in Massachusetts with a 25 percent credit for their production expenses.

The report further outlines modifications made to the incentives in July 2007.

Expenditure limits for a twelvemonth period were reduced to $50,000, and the payroll credit was increased to 25 percent.

Monetary limits on the amount of credits for any one motion picture were also done away with, and the initial sunset date for the incentives was extended from 2013 to 2023. Additionally, the definition of a “motion picture” was extended to include a “digital media project,” and production companies were granted the option to be refunded 90 percent of any payroll and production expense credits that were not

used during the year claimed.

Since the enactment of these incentives, the number of major motion pictures filmed in Massachusetts has significantly increased. Last year, 11 major films were shot in-state, including Martin Scorcese’s upcoming thriller, Shutter Island, and Edge of Darkness, starring Mel Gibson — a stark contrast compared to 2005, which saw the production of just one major film.

“In just three years, we’ve gone from one major production per year, to an average of one a month,” Paleologos said. “That’s tremendous growth in a short period of time, but our existing labor force and infrastructure impose invisible limits — we can only handle so many pictures at a time.”

Paleologos said that while a deep crew base and diversity of locations have certainly made Massachusetts a favorable place for production, further development could prove a major benefit.

“Thus far, we have experienced steady, solid growth without any new sound stages — but state-ofthe-art infrastructure could make us viable for production all-yearround,” he said.

In the midst of Massachusetts’ budding film industry, David Kirkpatrick, former President of Paramount Pictures, assembled a team of executives and proposed the development of a film and television studio complex in Plymouth in early 2008. The project, entitled Plymouth Rock Studios, was overwhelmingly endorsed by Plymouth voters in May of last year, and slated to open in 2010 as a major production facility.

In addition to 14 soundstages and 10-acres of exterior sets, the complex planned to include production offices, postproduction facilities, a theater, hotel, and an amenity village. It was promoted as the world’s first LEED-certified, environmentally friendly studio, and heralded its initiative to create thousands of job opportunities for

Courtesy of plymouthrockstudios.com Massachusetts residents.

A few months ago, everything seemed to be in order in terms of its development. In September, the studio announced a $550 million construction loan with lender company, Prosperity International LLC., and also received a certificate on its Single Environmental Impact Report from the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs in October.

The project suddenly came to a standstill in November, when the studio severed ties with its lender company for its alleged failure to meet a milestone, and its funding simultaneously collapsed. In the wake of these financial troubles, some questions have been raised concerning the state’s investment in the entertainment industry.

“I hope that this causes lawmakers on Beacon Hill to take a second look at the film production credits,” Representative Steven D’Amico, D-Seekonk, said in a phone conversation.

“We have more important uses for this money,” D’Amico said.

We need the money to educate our kids. We need the money for police and fire. We need the money for public transportation.

“We need the money to shore up the infrastructure on which our economy is based. You need a high quality of life — and all of these things are being underfunded right now.”

According to D’Amico, the film industry is unsustainable.

“Plymouth Rock was a Trojan horse,” D’Amico said. “It was

a Trojan horse that would have backed us up unwillingly into a permanent entitlement program for a profitable industry.”

“If these production studios get built, all the high-paying jobs are going to people that we’re displacing with our tax dollars — people from New York and California that have experience in the industry,” he said. “Massachusetts residents are going to get the second tier jobs.”

According to the July 2009 Department of Revenue report, Massachusetts residents held about 41 percent of fulltime equivalent (FTE) jobs on Massachusetts feature films and earned approximately 16 percent of total wages under $1 million, while non-resident employees held approximately 59 percent of FTE jobs and earned about 39 percent of total wages. These FTE jobs consequently end with the productions they’re attached to, and the report says that film tax incentives need to be renewed to sustain employment at the estimated levels. Disparate percentages between the earnings of residents and nonresidents were also addressed in the report.

“It is not surprising that a high percentage of wages and salaries for Massachusetts film productions are currently paid to non-residents,” the report reads.

“Until recently, few films were shot in Massachusetts and the skilled labor for those productions resided in states — particularly California — where films were

most likely to be made.”

The report goes on to assert that these numbers would most likely change with further local development.

“To the extent that the film industry builds up a more extensive production infrastructure in Massachusetts, the non-resident proportion of wage and salary payments should decrease, though at this point it is difficult to predict by how much,” the report reads.

Efforts to build up such an infrastructure appear that they will continue. In a video recently posted on Plymouth Rock Studios’ social networking site, HollywoodEastTV.com, Bill Wynne, Executive Vice President of Planning and Development, stated that the studio will carry on with its development despite financial setbacks.

“It’s not the end of the road, it’s a bump in the road,” Wynne said. “And as we move forward, we believe we’re going to be successful in locating alternative financing sources that are reliable and can meet the needs of the project.”

Notwithstanding, proponents of the film industry remain optimistic that the industry can persist without the immediate construction of a major studio complex. Paleologos said that future activity is contingent on the tax incentives.

“Absent new sound stages, we should probably expect to see eight to twelve major productions shooting here per year — provided that the film tax credit remains substantially intact.”

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Beyond BC’s walls, students find hidden gems

By Leah Freeman Contributing writer Most Boston College students can agree: during our years here, we don’t spend enough time exploring the world beyond the Heights. We live on the brink of one of the most cultured and interesting cities in the world, yet most students seem to spend more time exploring the crevices of Bapst than venturing into the cultural nooks of Boston.

Just a short trip from campus are two of the most fantastic resources the city has to offer, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and the Isabella Gardner Museum.

The MFA is easily accessible via the T. The most convenient route is taking any green line train to Arlington, and taking the outbound E line train until the Museum of Fine Arts stop. The MFA does not charge admission for students at universities in the Boston area, and also opens its doors to the community for free one day every month. The museum offers free guided tours every Monday through Friday every half hour from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., which leave from the visitor’s center and include Introduction to Museum Collections, Art of Asia,

Art of Europe, Three Masterpieces in Thirty Minutes, Art of the Americas, and Art of Egypt and the Classical World.

Once a year, the MFA hosts a college night for students in the area to showcase all that the museum has to offer. It is free with a college ID and includes food, music and art. Although this year’s college night has already passed, be on the lookout for next year’s event.

For art enthusiasts, the museum is offering a lecture series called “Evenings with Creative Minds: Shapiro Lectures.”

The next speaker, Thelma Golden, the Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, is scheduled for Feb. 3 and 4.

The MFA also offers a series of three courses called “Picturing Music” given by James H. Johnson, Associate Professor of History at Boston University, and William Stover, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art. The first course already passed, but “Music as Abstraction” will be given Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 10:30 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. “Music as Presentation” will be offered on Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the same

times.

The MFA is currently featuring an exciting exhibit entitled, The Secrets of Tomb 10A until May 16, 2010, which is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in history, ancient Egypt, or anthropology.

What makes the exhibit unique is that it is an assemblage of artifacts discovered by a joint Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts archaeological expedition in 1915.

The exhibit spans about four rooms in the museum, and includes model boats, painted coffins and a mummified head. The collection provides a truly fascinating history lesson of rulers, Gods and superstitions.

A short walk from the MFA is The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Built in 1903, the museum maintains the original vision of its founder and namesake with its galleries filled with paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts from different cultures across 30 centuries. The museum is different from the MFA in that it feels more intimate and has no rotating collections; save for several exhibits, the museum is always the same, yet something different can be taken away with

Courtesy of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum every visit.

The Gardner museum hosts a variety of events, including classical music performances every Sunday and the third Thursday of every month when the museum hosts Gardner After Hours, nights of live music, art, conversation, cocktails and more in an inviting atmosphere. Admission is $5 for students, and the next one is on Dec 17. It will feature a talk by artist Taro Shinoda, discussions about John S. Sargent’s portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, and a jazz performance by “The Annette Phillip Quintet.”

A current exhibit of interest at the Gardner museum is Taro Shinoda: Lunar Reflections, on view through Jan. 31st. His art engages

themes of science, philosophy and our desire to investigate our place in the universe. The exhibition uses film shots taken of the moon from four cities around the world to show how we are all united under one night sky.

The MFA and the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum are just a glimpse of the many exciting things that students can see and do in Boston. There is also the Museum of Science, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Paul Revere’s house, the Historic New England Museum, the MIT Museum, and of course, the New England Aquarium. A journey down the green line is all it takes to discover some of the cultural attractions that Boston has to offer.

Hot reads to catch up on this Winter Break

By Matthew Gavin Have a Little Faith Mitch Albom

Culture Editor

What the Dog Saw Malcom Gladwell Following up on the success he’s had with his previous three works — The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers — Gladwell compiles the best of his writing from The New Yorker in What the Dog Saw. Addressing such topics as why ketchup has stayed the same when mustard comes in dozens of varieties and what pit bulls can teach us about crime, Gladwell continues to provide readers with his unique insight and commentary on American culture.

Under the Dome Stephen King A small town in Maine is suddenly enclosed by an invisible force field in King’s latest supernatural thriller. Cut off from the outside world, tensions arise as power factions form within the town between politicians and residents, leading to violent consequences.

Under the Dome is the finished product of a novel King tried to write twice before, and it’s surely worth the wait.

In his first nonfiction book since Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom returns with a poignant story of two men — one an elderly, suburban rabbi; the other a young, inner-city pastor — whose different faiths unite them in the search for life’s great meaning.

Like Albom’s previous work, Have a Little Faith will no doubt serve as a reminder to savor life’s every moment after a busy semester.

True Compass: A Memoir

Ford Country John Grisham In his foray into short fiction, John Grisham returns to the rural Mississippi haunts that were the setting for his first novel, A Time to Kill. Featuring such stories as a harddrinking divorce lawyer’s chance to reinvigorate his career with a classaction lawsuit, readers of Grisham’s previous work will find familiar legal undertones in this collection of character-driven tales.

Edward M. Kennedy

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope William Kamkwamba As a youth in southern Africa, William Kamkwamba dreamed about building a windmill to provide his family with electricity and running water. His inspirational journey to make his vision a reality with scrap materials — including clothesline and tractor parts — is especially telling for those with an interest in sustainable energy.

The Lost Symbol Dan Brown Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is once again caught up in this complex tale of secret societies, sacred artifacts, and unexpected twists when a mysterious object appears in the Capitol building.

Fans of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons won’t want to pass up Brown’s latest thriller.

Published just a month after his death, Kennedy’s memoir reveals the man behind the political legacy.

True Compass presents a moving, intimate portrait of the late “Liberal Lion” through Kennedy’s reflections on the deaths of his brothers, his diagnosis with a malignant brain tumor, and his lifelong commitment to social justice.

December 7, 2009

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Lack of plot leads to success for Hollywood

By Dan Monan Assoc. Culture Editor Financial and critical success have always had a somewhat tenuous relationship in Hollywood, yet in recent years, this gap has only grown wider.

Director Michael Bay (Transformers, Transformers II) recently released an interview in which he discussed his approach to directing. According to Bay, films such as Transformers II do not necessarily require a script before planning begins. Instead, concept art and action scenes are drawn up, and months later, a script is strung together from the pieces.

While this would seem to account for the almost universally negative critical reviews Transformers II received, it hardly explains the over $400,000,000 in box office profits it garnered.

The question must be asked, why is it that each year millions of Americans clamor to see spectacle films, only to pause midway through, still uncertain of the main characters’ names?

An expanding disconnect exists between Hollywood films’ apparent quality — as determined by professional critics — and monetary earnings. As movie budgets spiral into the hundreds of millions of dollars, directors appear content with relying on special effects and other filler to distract audiences from the void left by the absence of plot and character. Many of the most successful releases of the last few years exhausted their budgets on massive destruction and computer generated effects — the plot forsaken in favor of a fireworks display of flashing lights — apparently satisfying some innate human urge to watch the

world end. A new genre has arisen, humorously christened “destruction porn” by TV host Stephan Colbert, a name that appears to be sticking.

2012, the recent release by director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) follows this trend; boldly pushing the boundaries of just how far plot and character can be ignored in favor of scenes of apocalyptic destruction. Fearlessly making use of every tired action trope and cliché Hollywood has to offer, 2012 is little more than a two-hour kaleidoscope of fire and brimstone. If box office attendance is taken as a sign of success, 2012 is certainly that.

Grossing over $450,000,000 worldwide already, the people appear to have spoken — yet critically, the film was denounced for its weak script and clichéd themes. Are movie audiences becoming less picky, or are critics simply missing the point?

“If you really want to see stuff blown up without any specific plot or semblance of acting, these movies are great. They hit the ‘So bad it’s good’ category,” says Staff Sheehan, A&S ’11.

This sentiment seems to be shared by many BC students and the American population in general, and might go a long way towards explaining recent trends in movie attendance. It seems many moviegoers are fully aware of the faults in the movies they watch, and embrace them despite and even because of those problems.

Viewed from this perspective, the overinflated productions of Hollywood suddenly take on an almost humorous tone. Flying in the face of economic downturn and global insecurity, the profits of these epics of destruction

Courtesy of allmoviephotos.com For movies like 2012, the plots are thin, but they make Hollywood pockets thick. continue to rise.

Despite the humor some seem to find in these movies — regardless of any shortcomings in their construction — a dark undertone exists behind this recent obsession. The entertainment industry has always been a reflection of the psyche of the people, with a film’s success often dictated as much by the current attitudes of the population as the objective quality of the film itself. Movies have always largely been about escapism, and it now seems that America’s audiences are craving stories of chaos and destruction that can be easily disregarded, even mocked.

Juxtaposed with the national and international developments of the past decade, it is possible that a war-weary and financially stressed audience is looking for images of destruction that do not immediately provoke disgust and outrage. Each day, the news brings more ill tidings and foreboding commentary from places both far off — such

as Iraq, Iran, and North Korea — and along the proverbial “main street” of America. With closing businesses and lost jobs coupled with environmental threats such as global warming and the diminishing oil supply, at times it seems the world is ending.

It is understandable that people might react by searching for an apocalypse at which they can laugh.

Mirroring this trend is the recent success of the new superhero genre. Superhero comics originally rose to prominence during the Second World War — with one prewar comic featuring Superman flying to Germany, grabbing Hitler, and carrying him away. It seems that once again, people are looking for superhuman figures who can singlehandedly solve immense problems.

The classic Hollywood theme of averting destruction with only seconds to spare has been replaced with a survivor’s tale of flight from inescapable disaster.

A definite shift occurred at the beginning of the decade: films such as the first two Terminator movies from the late ’80s and early ’90s held out a semblance of hope, while the two recent sequels embraced the end. The list of recent films which follow this theme is almost too long to list, and not all of these films can be so easily treated as humorous escapism. Another selection of films, such as the adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, offer bleak glimpses into a destroyed world, from which little hope or humor can be extracted.

Hollywood is first and foremost a business, and it will continue to cater to the desires of the audiences. Whatever the reason behind the recent deluge of disaster flicks, the one thing that critics cannot deny is these movies’ financial success.

If nothing else, it is certain that more of these can be expected in the future, until the tastes of theater-goers change.

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Holiday hub: Boston winter events

By Rebeca Cardoso Contributing writer Boston is an exciting place to spend the holiday season. Whether you’re looking for a good place to watch traditional performances, get in touch with the religious aspects of the holidays, shop, or just get out and about, the city is bound to have something to satisfy your needs.

Holiday Pops: Dec. 9-27 Where: Symphony Hall Price: $33-$122 Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops will begin the 2009 Boston Pops Holiday Series on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The season will run through Sunday, Dec. 27, and include 35 pre- and post-Christmas concerts.

Tru Grace: Holiday Memoirs: Dec. 4-27 Where: Central Square Theater Price: $17.50-$35 Two heartwarming stories about kids in the 1930s during the holiday season come together in one performance. In the first, A Christmas Memory, a young boy named Truman Capote remembers a friendship with his cousin, an eccentric social outcast, and the spirit for life that he had. The second, Grace Paley’s The Loudest Voice, takes the audience to a Russian-Jewish immigrant school where the teacher annually stages the Nativity. The event incorporates a diverse cast, puppetry, first-class music, and — of course — fruitcake.

Mayor’s Holiday Special: Dec. 9 - Jan. 18 Where: Prudential Center Price: It’s up to you!

A Christmas Carol: Dec. 6-27 Where: New Repertory Theatre Price: $20-$43 Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge will come to life once again this holiday season. This is the fifth year which the New Repertory Theatre (in partnership with Watertown Children’s Theatre and arsenalArts) will be reenacting this classic story of a stingy man who, in his old age, finally rediscovers the joy of the holidays. The fee is reasonable, taking into account that this performance is the winner of Edge Boston’s “Best of New England Theater 2008.”

The Prudential Center boasts over 75 shops and restaurants along with one of the largest garages for parking in the city of Boston. Performances, store and restaurant deals, hotel discounts, as well as 8,000 half-priced tickets can be available by printing out a voucher (or several!) from www. bostix.org/mhs/mhsVoucher.html.

A Civil War Christmas: Dec. 1-13 Where: Huntington Theatre Company Price: $26-$50 For the more history-oriented audience comes the story of a president, a rebel soldier, a blacksmith and a fugitive slave who, despite their different circumstances, come to realize that the greatest gift is the “gladness of one’s heart.” Local choirs carol prior to each show, and the performance is laced with the music of the holidays.

Cultural Survival Bazaars: Dec. 4-20 Where: Harvard University Center for Government and International Studies (Dec. 12-13), and The Prudential Center (Dec. 19-20) Price: Whatever you make it out to be!

Instead of buying your mom those same old candles or your dad yet another tie, how about buying handmade crafts from cultures around the world while supporting indigenous communities?

The bazaars feature jewelry, carpets, masks, and instruments as well as musical performances, films, cultural presentations by indigenous artists, as well as how-to demonstrations.