theGAVEL
THE ONLINE STUDENT
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SEPTEMBER 2013 / VOLUME VI / ISSUE I
NEWS
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The Online Student Politics Preview 2013 Ranking the Rankings
FEATURES
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Trailblazing Eagle: Brooke Loughrin
Student Group Granted First Wish Wine Review: Two Buck Chuck Overheard at BC Eagle Eye
OPINIONS
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What the Fac(ulty)? Future of the GOP Does College Change your Worldview? Care Package Manipulation
CULTURE
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Fantasy Films of the Fall Fall Concert Preview Netflix: Orange is the New Black Dorm Recipe: Nutella Espresso Mug Cake September 2013
SPORTS
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34 STAFF EDITORIAL BOARD JENNA LACONTE/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KATIE LEVINGSTON/MANAGING EDITOR EMILY AKIN/ONLINE MANAGER JILLIAN TIMKO/PRINT MANAGER GEENA DE ROSE/NEWS EDITOR KENNY ST. JOHN/OPINIONS EDITOR KATIE TOLKOWSKY/FEATURES EDITOR SAMEET DHILLON/CULTURE EDITOR TEDDY KOLVA/SPORTS EDITOR KATELYN CROWLEY/COPY EDITOR ALEX KROWIAK/PHOTO EDITOR DANEY RAMIREZ/DESIGN EDITOR ALISON RICCIATO/ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR JING XU/ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR JAMES CODY/ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR TIM COOGAN/ASSOC. OPINIONS EDITOR ITZEL AYALA/ASSOC. FEATURES EDITOR VICTORIA SOUTHWOOD/ASSOC. FEATURES EDITOR CHRISTIE MERINO/ASSOC. FEATURES EDITOR SAMANTHA CONSTANZA/ASSOC. CULTURE EDITOR RACHEL FORRAY/ASSOC. CULTURE EDITOR LESLEY WELLS/ASSOC. COPY EDITOR KELLY SLATER/ASSOC. COPY EDITOR MARY YUENGERT/ASSOC. COPY EDITOR OLIVIA VERA/ASSOC. DESIGN EDITOR TAYLOR GARRISON/ASSOC. DESIGN EDITOR LAUREN REVER/ASSOC. VIDEO MANAGER JAKE MILLER/VIDEO PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
BUSINESS & OPERATIONS
ARUEM SHIN/BUSINESS ADMIN. MAN. TAYLOR MCELDOWNEY/BUSINESS ADMIN. MAN. ANGELA SONG/FINANCE DIRECTOR LEAH HUANG/MARKETING DIRECTOR JEANNIE LEE/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ERIC KOPELSON/ASSIS. FINANCE DIRECTOR
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGERS TIM OH AJAY VELLORE ELYN ZHANG
That’s Dope: A BC Perspective The Dude Abides: A Look into the #BeADude Saga Play for Pay
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, Thanks for taking the time to check out the Gavel’s first print edition for the 2013-2014 school year. The Gavel was established as a newspaper in 2009, and it’s difficult to put into words just how much has changed over the past four years. As the progressive student voice of Boston College, we’re always searching for ways to move forward. The beauty of being involved with a relatively new student publication is that every single day brings its own slew of growth opportunities. From our ever-expanding staff to our bangin’ new website, it’s safe to say that the Gavel you’re reading today is better than the one you read yesterday and not as good as than the one you’ll read tomorrow. In addition to our monthly print issue, we publish exclusive online pieces daily with the hope of challenging the BC community and encouraging the BC community to challenge us. I hope you’ll check us out on Facebook and Twitter to see what we’re all about. Cheers to another great school year at BC, fellow Eagles! Much love, Jenna
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The
Online Student
By Geena De Rose / News Editor
L
ibraries have turned into shelters from dorm-room noise, places to print and lounges for awkward gaps between classes. Now that most research takes place online, the days of relying on library books are long gone. Here at Boston College, things are getting more and more digital.
ONLINE BOOK SALES
Although it once monopolized the process, the BC Bookstore faces in-
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Image courtesy of Alex Krowiak/Gavel Media
creasing competition from online sources in the textbook market. Between Amazon, Google, Chegg and other sites, it seems there are endless ways to search for textbooks in order to get the best price. Plus, with the added convenience of having your books delivered right to your dorm, the Internet has made the trek to the bookstore more of a burden than a blessing.
ONLINE COURSES
Although BC has yet to establish its
How the Internet is Shaping the College Experience at BC and Beyond
own official online textbook exchange, it is embracing technological innovation by offering online courses through the Semester Online program. In the program’s first year at BC, Semester Online will provide students with a variety of courses from different universities to attend exclusively online. While online courses may have a reputation for being easier than their in-person counterparts, the courses still feature “live class sessions with leading professors, self-paced course
September 2013
materials, and a strong social network that will allow students to collaborate and establish personal relationships with peers online and with the host institution’s teaching staff,” according to the official BC press release. For a university with little in the way of non-traditional courses, it provides students a way to shake up their schedule and see how it’s done on other campuses. For many students, the courses create much-needed flexibility and variety in their schedules. Olivia Packenham, A&S ’14, is taking Financial Accounting online, which is offered by UNC Chapel Hill. “I’m taking [Financial Accounting] as a life-skills course without the pressure of CSOM. Because I’m a history major, I need other courses to show my competence that would have been developed in CSOM core classes,” says Packenham. Especially with the prospect of the job search looming over many seniors’ heads, a greater variety of courses may enrich an otherwise one-track resumé.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The online aspect of being a college student extends well beyond the digital classroom. Social media, once an informal way to communicate and promote different groups on campus, has evolved into an official business at BC. The Boston College Social Media Council was established by the Office of News & Public Affairs in early 2012
to “strengthen the University’s overall social media presence.” As part of this effort, social media managers across campus can collaborate through the Boston College Social Media Blog. In addition, the council has established a set of guidelines which dictate how official groups representing BC must present themselves on social media. “Think before you post,” “don’t overdo it” and “be accurate” are some of these guidelines. BC is a front-runner in the growing collegiate social media world. According to a Nitrogram survey, the official Boston College Instagram account is the most popular of all American universities. The Social Media Council has also received praise from the Future Index for its innovative approach to social media collaboration. The drive to control and grow BC’s social media presence does not come without effort. Believe it or not, there is an official BC hashtag guide for students to promote their BC-related social media postings. In addition, this fall the Office of News & Public Affairs will be hosting two social media conferences. Both “Facebook for Business 101” and “Advanced Facebook” will be held in early October. Next time you stake out a spot in Bapst for an all-nighter, remember that the stacks that adorn the stately library once had a higher calling. Then, take a picture, Instagram it and don’t forget to tag #WeAreBC.
Don’t forget to follow the Gavel family on Twitter #Bang @bcgavel @bcgavelculture @bcgavelnews @bcgavelsports
@BC Hashtag Guide #BostonCollege #WeAreBC #BCeagles/#goBCeagles #BC150 #BChistory #BCmatch #BCreunion #BCsandwhich #Evertoexcel #Menandwomenforothers
Amazon and GoogleImage imagescourtesy via Balajimuthazhagan/Wikimedia of Alex Krowiak/GavelCommons. Media Chegg.com image via The Papercup & Sleeve/Wikimedia Commons.
NEWS
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POLITICS T
he greater Boston area is poised for a packed election season, with Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who has served for 20 years, choosing not to seek an unprecedented sixth term. Following the June victory of now Senator Ed-
ward Markey, BC Class of 1968, a special election date has been set to fill the rest of his term representing Massachusett’s fifth congressional district. Not to be outdone, New York City is also experiencing a contested mayoral race as well, with several
BOSTON
high profile candidates running to replace outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In a wide-open field, there are currently 12 candidates running to replace Mayor Menino. The preliminary election is scheduled for Sept. 24, after which the top two candidates will then move on to the general election on Nov. 5. Among the field of 12 are at-large City Councilors John R. Connolly and Felix G. Arroyo, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley, former state representative Charlotte Golar Richie and State Representative and Boston College graduate Marty J. Walsh.
John R. Connolly Image via John R. Connolly/Facebook
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Felix Arroyo Image via Personally/Wikimedia Commons
Recent polling, performed by political consulting firm Sage Systems, found that more than a third of Boston voters remain undecided. Only Councilor Connolly and Representative Walsh drew double-digit support, locked in a virtual tie at 12 and 11 percent, respectively. District Attorney Conley leads the pack with about $1.2 million in total fundraising, far ahead of Connolly, who is second with $730,000, as of August 22nd, according to WGBH.
Charlotte Golar Richie Image via Charlotte Golar Richie/Facebook
Marty Walsh Image via Marty Walsh/Facebook
September 2013
PREVIEW By James Cody / Assoc. News Editor
Karen Spilka Image via Wikimedia Commons
Katherine Clark Image via Reading Public Libary/Flickr
Almost coinciding with Boston’s municipal elections, New Yorkers will also go to the polls to choose Michael Bloomberg’s successor. On Sept. 10, Democrat Bill de Blasio won just over 40 percent of the vote in the primary election, making him the Democratic nominee. De Blasio is a public advocate running against many of Bloomberg’s cornerstone pro-business, pro-police policies. Bill de Blasio Image via Bill de Blasio/Flickr
peting in the Democratic primary, scheduled for Oct. 15. State Senators Katherine Clark, William Brownsberger, and Karen Spilka, as well as State Representative Carl Sciortino and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian will all appear on the ballot this October.
Carl Sciortino Image via Carl Sciortino/Facebook
Peter Koutoujian Image via American Heritage Park/Flickr
The Republican nominee, former Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Joseph Lhota, will square off against de Blasio in the general election on Nov. 5. The race initially attracted several high profile candidates, including former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who remains embroiled in controversy over his habit of sending sexually explicit messages to women. Joe Lhota Image via Joe Lhota/Facebook
NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW YORK
Just northwest of Boston, voters in the fifth congressional district will have the chance to elect their next congressional representative, replacing Senator Ed Markey, who served the district for over 36 years. In the heavily Democratic district, there are seven candidates com-
NEWS
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Ranking the Rankings By Jing Xu / Assoc. News Editor
Tuition is on the rise, and there is no end in sight. This summer, President Obama introduced a new college ranking system with the goal of making college more affordable, but don’t throw out your ranking books just yet.
It costs more than $20,000 per semester to study at Boston College, one of the premium and most expensive universities in the United States. This fall, BC increased its tuition from $21,570 to $22,435, per semester, and it is not the only school that is raising the price of a college education. In the past 40 years, the tuitions of private, four-year institutions have increased about 280 percent while that of public institutions has jumped almost 390 percent, according to the College Board. Meanwhile, society has suffered stagnant incomes over the past 40 years. How is the middle class going to pay for their children’s higher education? To answer this question, President Obama started his two-day bus trip from New York to Pennsylvania on Aug. 22 to promote his college affordability plan. On the first day of his trip, he gave a speech to more than 7,200 students in the University of Waterloo’s auditorium. “Colleges are not going to just be able to keep on increasing tuition year after year and passing it on to
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students,” Obama said to a round of appleause. “We can’t price the middle class and everybody working to get into the middle class out of college.” Obama proposed a federal college rating system, which can make colleges and universities more affordable to students and their families. Unlike the
“We can’t price the middle class and everybody working to get into the middle class out of college.” -President Obama US News & World Report rating, which rewards spending of all types, the federal college rating system will reward schools that subsidize costs and provide students with financial aid. The US News & World Report rating gives credit to schools for the amount of money they spend, regardless of where it comes from and where it goes. In contrast, the new system will take the percentage of students who
receive financial aid, graduation rates and student debt burden into account. Critics of the old ratings say that the new system will urge colleges to be more serious about providing financial aid and decreasing their spending by 2015, when the new system will be established. On Aug. 23, Obama made a surprising stop at Tully Central High School and talked with the soccer players about their sports practice and plans for college. “I’m assuming everybody here is going to want to go to college,” he said. Obama deplored the soaring tuition, which he said makes students from middle class hover between heavy loan debt and giving up higher education altogether. He also promised the young players that Congress will come up with a new college rating system to shore up financial aid. Although Obama made clear throughout these visits that he may face strong opposition from the GOP, he believes that this is one bipartisan decision which will benefit the whole country.
September 2013
President Obama speaks to students at University of Buffalo. Image via Youtube
And the honor goes to...
Although BC is by no means the cheapest university out there, it is not in the top 10 highest tuitions in the US. For the academic year of 2013-2014, Business Insider named the most expensive colleges by comparing the total costs of tuition and board. BC is not far behind though, with a total cost of $58,506.
1. 6.
2. 7.
New York University // $61,997
Wesleyan University // $60,214
3. 8.
Harvey Mudd College // $61,760
Dartmouth College // $60,201
4. 9.
Bard College // $61760
Bard College at Simon’s Rock // $60,003
5. 10.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute // $60,779
University of Chicago // $60, 039
Sarah Lawrence College // $60,656 Trinity College // $59,860
dID yOU kNOW?
For the class of 2017, BC Admissions recieved nearly 25,000 applications for only 2,250 spots. NEWS
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Trailblazing Eagle:
Brooke Loughrin BC student becomes first-ever US Youth Observer to the United Nations By Victoria Southwood / Assoc. Features Editor
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B
rooke Loughrin may be a name that you have heard around campus from time to time. Not only is Brooke a member of this year’s graduating class, a double major in both Political Science and Islamic Civilizations and Societies, but she is also BC’s very own celebrity as the first-ever US Youth Observer to the United Nations, Out of 730 applicants nationwide, Brooke was selected for the position of US Youth Observer to the UN after an application process requiring a personal statement, a resume and multiple interviews. Ambassador Susan E. Rice chose Brooke due not only to her seemingly never-ending qualifications, but also her clear dedication to the progress of international cooperation through youth involvement in issues worldwide. The resume that Brooke submitted to the Youth Observer application process was rather impressive, listing all of the activities Brooke has dedicated her time to at BC. After joining Al-Noor: The Boston College Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Journal, Brooke worked her way up from the position of Managing Editor to Editor-in-Chief. All of these roles have given Brooke the opportunity to learn “so much about the Middle East,” according to a glowing article on Brooke found in The Boston Globe. But the list of credentials does not end there. In addition to all of this Brooke has worked as an Undergraduate Research Fellow for Professor Ali Banuazizi and has served as Vice President of the Boston College Iranian Culture Club. According to Brooke, the “club aims
to replace misunderstandings and stereotypes about Iranian peoples with genuine appreciation and understanding of Iranian culture.” Oh and did I forget to mention both the Advanced Study and Islamic Studies Travel and Research grants, which Brooke won her freshmen year. While Brooke’s resume is clearly nothing short of impressive there is a true commitment to making a difference that underlies all of her accomplishments. Though there were too many to list, Brooke states that one of the most valuable experiences she had as a Youth Observer has been “helping other students and young professionals achieve their aspirations and goals.” Her favorite thing about BC is “how genuinely committed students and faculty are to serving others...During my sophomore year, I interviewed members of the dining staff who are immigrants to the US
about their experiences working at BC, and many of them highlighted the kindness and generosity of students who had helped them with their English, computer skills, etc.” Despite seeming like she is on her way to solving the problems of the universe, when it comes down to it, Brooke is just another, albeit incredible, BC Eagle just like you and me. She still seeks guidance in her studies and career aspirations from her professors, especially some of her favorites like Professor Peter Krause, who taught her International Relations of the Middle East course, and Professor Kathleen Bailey, who not only taught her Rise and Rule of Islamic States class but also mentored her while she was in New York as a Youth Observer (The Boston Globe). Her favorite place to eat on campus is Addie’s and when asked where her favorite place to study is, she responds simply, “in my common room with my roommates and a cup of tea.” While it may seem as though what Brooke has already accomplished requires superhuman abilities, Brooke emphasizes that everything she has done is accessible to those who put their mind to their aspirations and studies as she has over the years. In addition to her innate drive, Brooke understands and appreciates the role that BC has played in her development and encourages other Eagles to reach for their goals as well. We can be confident that in the future Brooke will achieve the extraordinary, whether she finds her way in the career of international relations or development with a focus in language and crosscultural exchange. The possibilities for Brooke are endless.
FEATURES
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New Student Group Granted First Wish By Itzel Ayala / Assoc. Features Editor After two years of working for this wish to become a reality, Lauren Gray (A&S ’14) and Chelsea Healey (CSOM ’14) have succeeded in bringing Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island to Boston College. Having granted over 6,000 wishes in the course of its 26 year long history, the Make-A-Wish foundation’s presence on college campuses brings awareness to this organization and provides fundraising for local wishes. Make-A-Wish is a very well known organization that raises money and awareness to children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 with life-threatening medical conditions. They grant about one wish every 38 minutes on average, and play a critical role in the health and progress of many kids. According to wish.org, “A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. “ This semester, Wishmakers On Campus Boston College (Wishmakers) will debut as a new student organization as well as the first self-standing club on a college campus in Massachusetts through Make-A-Wish Massachusetts-Rhode Island. With a table at the Student Activities Fair, Wishmakers took any and all students who were interested in this cause.
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Image via Facebook/WishmakersBC The club will consist of mainly fundraising evenrs as well as programs aimed at raising awareness of the club. They have set their annual fundraising goal to be $7,500 which is the average cost of a child’s wish. A child’s wish could be anything from a shopping
more awareness to the Make-A-Wish foundation as a whole. Charlotte Beattie, Chief Executive officer of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island said, “Wishmakers On Campus is an exciting way to engage young people like the students
“For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses.” WISH.ORG spree to meeting their favorite athlete or celebrity. Having personally seen the benefits of her friend receiving a wish in high school, Healey commented, “The key right now in our club’s early stages is visibility. We’ve had a lot of people asking how they could get involved when we told them about what we were doing, and I think that more BC students will react similarly.” Wishmakers is not new to college campuses, and it has had a history of success. Other universities have begun chapters on individual college campuses and found these to have positive results, encouraging students to volunteer and bringing
of BC to help make wishes come true for deserving children and families in our community. We hope that with the success of this club, Wishmakers On Campus BC will serve as a movement for students across more college campuses to join together to make a difference.” Considering the Jesuit Catholic tradition that strongly encourages volunteering and giving back to the community, this organization is expected to do very well. The general attitude towards volunteer work on campus will only contribute to this club’s growth and success.
Image via Flickr
Image via Flickr
Image via Facebook/WishmakersBC
FEATURES
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WINE REVIEW:
TWO BUCK CHUCK
By Jenna LaConte / Editor-In-Chief Oh, the wonders of Trader Joe’s. This beloved chain has revolutionized the organic food industry by making healthy alternatives accessible at a more reasonable cost than other retailers. From every freeze-dried fruit on the planet to knockoff Oreos, you can find just about everything on your grocery list at Trader Joe’s. For the 21+ crowd, the wine prices at Trader Joe’s are shockingly low and quite tempting. As a back-to-school treat, we decided to sample and rank all of the $2.99 Charles Shaw wines for the much-needed wine nights that occur as we reunite with our roommates. Of course, as a bunch of college students, our knowledge of the wine industry are limited at best — as much as we tried to test the oaky-ness and dryness of each bottle of Two Buck Chuck, comparisons to urine were bound to slip out. Midterms will be here before you know it, so take advantage of these low-key September evenings while you still can!
#1: White Zinfandel #2: Cabernet Sauvignon #3: Pinot Grigio Surprisingly, pink wine was the star of the evening. Whether this is a nod to Charles Shaw White Zin or a slap in the face to the rest of the brand’s wines is your call. While many compared it to fruit juice, the flavor was also described as tart and whimsical, perfect for someone who is in denial about summer ending and wants to imbibe in the style of a warm summer evening.
Quote of the night: “I may or may not be drinking a Shirley Temple right now.” Runner up: “It tastes pink.”
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Although everyone came into the wine tasting proclaiming a preference for white wine over red, the Cabernet Sauvignon fared well in our trials. If you are trying to appear classy — say, for a stay-at-home date or for when your family visits your dorm over Parents’ Weekend — this is the bottle for you. Be warned, this wine is very sharp and dry. If your mouth turns red when you drink red wine, don’t bother with lipstick while diving into this bottle.
Quote of the night: “This is definitely what my mom drinks.”
Warning: it pretty much all goes downhill from here. Even though Pinot won the bronze metal when pitted against the other Charles Shaw bottles, nobody was all that enthused by the flavor, which was essentially nonexistent. It was less dry than expected, and a comparison to (shudder) Franzia may or may not have been made.
Quote of the night: “This reminds me that I’m drinking Trader Joe’s wine.”
September 2013
Image via BlakJakDavy / Flickr
#4: Shiraz
The Shiraz got mixed reviews from the crowd. On the bright side, this was our first opportunity to use the word “oaky”— although everyone who made this assessment seemed slightly unsure. In the end, we settled for the description “maybe oaky.”
Quote of the night: “Does anyone else feel like they’re drinking plants?”
#5: Merlot
A-ha! This one was definitely oaky, whatever that means. The flavor was quite strong, to a point of discomfort for some. Some participants were complaining of the sensation that it stuck to their tongues.
Quote of the night: “It’s making my teeth squeaky.”
#6: Chardonnay
I warned you that urine references would make their way into this review. At one point, a kind soul offered to make a sink trip to dump the rest out for anyone who couldn’t bear to finish his or her tester glass.
Quote of the night: “This is what pee tastes like.”
#7: Sauvignon Blanc
Remember how we reacted to Chardonnay? This was worse.
Quote of the night: “Tastes like more subtle urine.” All participants in this month’s wine review were of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly!
FEATURES
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C B T A D R A E H R E
OV
“I’m sick of being a vagina, I want to be a person.” Off campus “I should also be a psychoanalyst. Just saying.” Hillside
“I think I’m going to bring MySpace back.” Lower “Ugh, I sent myself two bottles of wine and they spilled all over my cashmere sweaters!” Mailroom “Who do you know here?” Mods “I’m going to be a flip cup teacher for the rest of my life. I’m going to run a flip cup school.” Off campus “I literally just destroyed the Plex. Like I think they had to shut it down for the day because of me.” MOD LOT
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EAGLE EYE “To meet new friends.”
“We’re excited for our first game!”
‘Tis the season
“Tailgating.”
“We’re excited to have a good time.”
of BC face tattoos and Superfan yellow. After moving into your new place of residence and draining your bank account into the BC bookstore, it is time to celebrate new beginnings, old friends and another year of being an eagle. The tailgate at the football season opener is the prime place to mark the beginning of the 2013 fall semester and ask BC Eagles why they are excited to be back in Chestnut Hill.
“To see my best friend!” “To win some games!”
“We love the school spirit of it all.” FEATURES
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What The Fac (ulty) ? By Christine Zhao/Gavel Media Staff .
he elegance of Jesuit tradition, for all its educational perks, frequently collides with other aspects of modern politics and personal beliefs. While the level of democracy on campus is not as directly provocative as some other on-campus issues have been, the way that the Boston College administration makes decisions has recently come under scrutiny. BC does not have a faculty senate, which is an abnormal occurence for today’s American universities. Within BC’s constantly renovated halls, there exists a group of passionate professors determined to enact a major change. A number of them are members of the Boston College Association of University Professors. According to the American Association of University Professors’ website, there are currently chapters at over 450 campuses in the United States.
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Boston College’s chapter, the BCAAUP, was started in 2010 and is led by an executive board composed of professors from various departments. The organization’s purpose is to continuously work towards a more democratic campus. Giving the faculty a stronger voice can further empower students. Professor Susan Michalczyk of the Honors Program is at the helm of the organization as the president of the BCAAUP, as well as the vice president of the national AAUP. To make up for the lack of university wide faculty senate, the individual colleges have previously established faculty senates—the College of Arts and Sciences, for instance, has a faculty senate with a formal constitution which was established in the 1980s. The senate described its main purpose as “an instrument of the faculty, for the good of the faculty and of the University as a whole” in
a proposal written by Father Arthur Madigan, SJ on behalf of the senate committee to the administration at the time. As of 2013, this senate remains dormant, although the intention of the BCAAUP is to revitalize it and expand it into a university-wide faculty senate with a revised constitution and a faculty handbook. In 2012, a survey was proffered to gather opinions of faculty towards the climate at Boston College, particularly in regards to the relationship between the administration and the faculty. A series of questions regarding issues such as decision-making, revising and updating the faculty handbook and increasing respect for non-tenure track professors, who often face additional challenges because of their official status. In terms of decision-making, only 27 percent of respondents were satisfied
BCAAUP faculty surveys have consistently shown very low levels of faculty morale at BC, and I believe the lack of regard for our opinions on academic and other matters is a key cause. Professor Marilynn Johnson
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September 2013
with their role in department-related verdicts and a meager 19 percent were satisfied with their role in university level rulings. The survey’s other key component had results which demonstrated that only 44 percent of the respondents were familiar with the University bylaws and statutes, and 61 percent were unaware that the faculty rights and duties listed in the online faculty handbook have legal status. Additionally, 85 percent of the faculty who responded believed that an “elected faculty committee should explain, evaluate and publicize all proposed changes to the faculty handbook prior to posting” according to a survey. As a university, Boston College has financially supported conferences and technically recognizes BCAAUP, but until now, the administration has refrained from any further involvement, particularly in terms of the administration taking active roles in proposals. According to Professor Michalczyk, “[Under the current system] faculty feel like they are not being heard…But they are ready and willing to commit to more involvement because they care deeply about BC, the University, the students and higher education… If we don’t work together, what do we have?” Professor Marilynn Johnson of the history department agrees, saying “I think it’s vital for faculty to have their own representative body—as they do at nearly all other American universities… BCAAUP faculty surveys have consistently shown very low levels of faculty morale at BC, and I believe the lack of regard for our opinions on academic and other matters is a key cause.” Additionally, there is a lack of transparency and administrative accessibility. We all pay exorbitant amounts of money to attend this university, and mostly have no idea where that money goes. Administrators are often hard to reach, or reluctant to share information regarding the university’s decisions on matters that influence the campus and its members as a whole.
Via AAUP Facebook Page
Courtesy of Kara Weeks/Gavel Media
The vision is that in the near future, students and faculty will feel that they can truly invoke change. If enough voices come together, a difference can be made. The interim provost of Boston College, Joseph F. Quinn, may change the pace of the conversation. He has expressed interest in engaging with the BCAAUP and other faculty members to discuss what needs to be done to increase satisfaction amongst the faculty as well as students. In the upcoming year, the BCAAUP hopes to establish a plan for creating faculty governance
centered on the revitalization of a faculty senate and to engage administrators in the process of increasing transparency. Students of Boston College are privileged to attend this institution, but as our landscape proves, there’s always room for improvement. The potential that the BCAAUP has for creating a better campus overall cannot be reached without cooperation from the administration, and it would benefit everyone if the general population had a more valued opinion.
OPINIONS
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Future o f
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W
alk around almost any college campus today and you will find that most students self-identify politically as “liberal” or “libertarian.” Rarely will you find a young person who is “conservative,” both economically and socially. In fact, most young Republicans would say that they are socially liberal, but fiscally conservative and non-interventionist. This is a sign of the future of the Republican Party. Ever since Richard Nixon served as President, the GOP has been controlled by neo-conservatives. They promoted an aggressive foreign policy, pandered to the Religious Right, and racked up massive budget deficits while favoring big business and the military-industrial complex under the guise of supporting free enterprise. But neo-conservatism has proven over the past few years to be unpopular, even among Republicans. George W. Bush’s dismal approval ratings, primarily as a result of the utter failure that was the Iraq War, led to fellow neo-conservative John McCain getting resoundingly defeated in the 2008 presidential election by
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By Kenny St. John / Opinions Editor Barack Obama. More recently, we have seen a rebuke of neo-conservatism in last year’s Republican primaries. Although “empty suit” Mitt Romney eventually won the GOP nomination (because the party is so ideologically divided and he was able to satisfy all the competing factions), libertarians like Ron Paul and moderates like John Huntsman ran circles around the likes of Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry in the debates. And audiences for the most part saved their biggest applauses for Ron Paul over the other candidates. With Obama’s re-election, however, Republican presidential hopefuls have been looking forward to 2016, positioning themselves accordingly. Even though the next presidential election is three years away, being on the precipice of intervening in Syria has given the prospective contenders a platform to get national exposure, staking out their positions while attacking those in the party at odds with them. It has become clear that non-interventionists are winning the battle for the hearts and minds for both parties, as only nine percent of
Americans support military action in Syria. One common critique leveled at the so-called neo-conservative “establishment” Republicans by those on the libertarian side is the accusation of being “RINO’s,” or Republicans in Name Only. This mindset implies that the libertarians are the “true” Republicans, and that the neo-conservatives might as well be Democrats. But although I would argue that the neo-conservatives and the libertarians are becoming increasingly irreconcilable, it is a stretch to say the neo-conservatives should be part of the Democratic Party. The neo-cons have positions that are at odds with most Democrats, such as favoring the privatization of Social Security (or at the very least supporting the chained Consumer Price Index), cutting Medicare, putting intelligent design on equal footing with evolution for teaching in public schools, opposing embryonic stem cell research and advancing free trade. So now on one side of the GOP we have libertarians like Rand Paul and more of the traditional establishment Republican “RINOS” like Chris Chris-
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Image via Republican National Comittee Facebook Page
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For the Republican Party to survive, they will need to shed their social conservatism and court the younger, libertarian crowd.
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Image via James Manners/Flickr
tie and Marco Rubio, who are dubbed as being not “conservative” enough. I foresee that come primary season, the neo-conservatives will make their last stand, but will be defeated both at the debates and at the polls. Americans of all ages and political stripes are tired of endless wars and policing the world. While I personally think the economics of libertarianism are on shaky ground and would prove to be unpopular if put in place, the libertarian message of non-intervention and privacy in personal affairs is a good sell. The last two presidential elections have shown that the old Republican base is shrinking, and the current GOP message has had trouble attracting independents outside the party. For the Republican Party to survive, they will need to shed their social conservatism and court the younger libertarian crowd. The only reasonable candidates I see for the Republicans this far off without any significant flaws and the ability to attract independents are Rand Paul and John Huntsman, but time will tell if the Republicans continue on the path of self-destruction by continuing to embrace neo-conservatism or change course towards the future for the sake of self-preservation.
The Libertarian Party is the largest and fastest growing third party in America. OPINIONS
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Does College
Change
By Tim Coogan / Assoc. Opinions Editor
Your worldview?
I have transitioned from a fairly conservative to a substantially liberal individual. There is no doubt about it: A college experience changes perspective on the world. Considering the college environment is where we spend the majority of our time, it makes sense. Most of us live on campus, which starkly contrasts to our home environment. We no longer have our parents, guardians, or aunt and uncle – who took you in because the Dark Lord killed your parents – watching over and influencing our everyday decisions and opinions. Instead, there are 9,000 other college students about the same age as you impacting your current perceptions. Younger people, especially college students, tend to lean to the liberal side and all of that liberal energy can start to rub off on you. Despite the fact that people on a college campus mostly fall in the 18 to 22-year-old age range, college offers a lot more diversity than you might find in an average suburb. Sure, BC is a little homogeneous compared to other college campuses, but it’s important to consider that the students come from a wide range of financial and geographical locations. This diversity forces you to reflect upon where you come from, how that place has shaped you and how it contrasts to the current BC environment.
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I’m from a commuter town on Long Island and even though a lot of people from my area attend BC, I’ve definitely gained some insight on my homeland after a year away at school. First of all, not everyone feels the need to be harshly sarcastic. If you’ve ever been to the tri-state area, you know the sarcasm is a little too rampant. Being away from home has even allowed me to pick up on the accents of friends and family that I had never
Image via BC Confessions Facebook Page
noticed before. Over the summer I told my mom that her Long Island, or rather “Lawnguyland,” was showing when she began to talk fast or said certain words. Spending time with people from around the world at college also makes
your hometown seem smaller than it once was. College peers, coming from around the globe, encourage you to adopt a worldly view, to understand the conflicts and complexities of places like Syria and the poverty stricken areas of Boston. Last year, my Venezuelan roommate educated me on the turmoil of his country and the mass violence that was occurring there. The biggest problem my home was facing was whether or not to knock down an old building in my town. College can also make you more liberal if you come from a suburban environment that lacks exposure to real diversity. It’s easy to be close-minded about a minority group when you look at it as an entity. When you actually befriend and forms a relationship with someone different from you, it causes a change. You begin to understand that people are people, no matter what society classifies them as, and that everyone deserves equal rights. Many universities, especially BC, offer courses that challenge your worldview as you know it. Classes such as Courage to Know introduce concepts such as white privilege, which basically states that white people have a racial advantage in the United States over any other racial group. I was appalled. I felt that I had worked just as hard to get to BC as any other student, facing just as many obstacles. The truth
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Wrong. Here’s where I run into the problem about the changing worldview. College isn’t the real world. Sure, it’s easy for me to trash on a capitalist, pro-wealthy government in the classroom. It’s easy to say that corporate America is theoretically destructive to society and the poor. In reality, though, it is corporate America that is paying my hefty Boston College tuition.
“So College forever changes you into a worldy scholar, right? Wrong.” I’m also living in the BC Bubble. Unless I make efforts to really get off campus and see the world that I’ve developed such strong opinions about, my beliefs are ingenuine. How can I really talk about the injustices of poverty when I am surrounded by the decadence and beauty of the Boston College campus? It’s easy to say that injustice is rampant and detrimental to all in a classroom. To go out and do something about it after class is something different. In the real world I’ll have bills to pay. I will likely turn to corporate America and won’t have time to be some sort of activist. Life will set in and I may lose my ideals. I may end up moving back home and getting sucked into my old ways. The enlightened, objective viewpoint of home may slowly fade away. Suddenly my hometown may become my entire world again. Yes, college does change your world view. However, it changes it while you are living in the campus bubble. We can all maintain our idealistic and benevolent views. It just requires an active effort and passion. So does college forever change your worldview? It’s up to you.
Image courtesy of Maria Pinho/Pintrest
Image courtesy of Angela Street/Pintrest
is though, I really hadn’t. I was never even subtly discriminated against for my race in life, although a lot of my black, Asian and Hispanic friends could not say the same. High school, on the other hand, rarely challenged my life perspectives. Teachers were forced to remain moderate and not state their political or social opinion. Although I learned a lot, my personal viewpoints were never questioned the way that college professors have questioned them. No one told me that maybe I was wrong and ignorant to think a certain way. No one opened my eyes to injustice. Another unique aspect about campus life that changes your perceptions is the abundant opportunity to get involved. You can join a group for any kind of political affiliation or cause. You can save the environment, campaign for a mayoral candidate, or be a gay rights activist because you have the time and resources to do it. At no other time in your life can you be something as demanding as a student and then also have free time to dedicate it to something else. So college forever changes you into a worldly scholar, right?
OPINIONS
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Care
Via Mean Girls Facebook Page
Package Manipulation “UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S AN EVEN BIGGER DEAL WHEN THEY DON’T GET ONE. NOBODY LIKES TO FEEL LEFT OUT. THEY REALLY DO NOTICE.”
By Angela Park / Gavel Media Staff
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our for you Glen Coco, you go, Glen Coco!... Cady, here you go, one for you. And none for Gretchen Wieners. Bye!” For those of you not familiar with this scene from the brilliant movie Mean Girls, one of the girls, Gretchen Wieners, finds out that she hasn’t received any candy grams. Not only does she look utterly shocked, but she is extremely upset. Her lack of candy grams leads to the destruction of her self-esteem and relationship with the queen bee, Regina George. Boston College, are you trying to destroy our self-esteem by offering care packages? Beginning in elementary school, much like in Mean Girls, it seemed that popularity was determined by the amount of candy grams or care packages you received. While the cutest boy and girl in the grade obviously got the most candy canes or bags of chocolate from their secret admirers, most of us normal folk received maybe one or two from our friends. I thought I had graduated this absurd marketing strategy when I got into college, where people don’t need to send candy grams to each other to confess their feelings or to make themselves feel better. However, with the recent letter sent out to parents about care packages, I started to think that maybe this popularity contest was not over. I would be lying to myself if I said that I don’t dance
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“No parent should feel like they are neglecting their child for the sole reason that they aren’t supporting their child with boxes of candy.” coerced into signing up for the BC service simply because they are led to believe that their children are “sad” or feeling “left out” by receiving a box from them. No parent should feel like they are neglecting their child for the simple reason that they aren’t supporting their child with boxes of candy. It is absurd that this care package company would think or suggest that we would have a mental breakdown like Gretchen Wieners if we found out that we didn’t receive the box of goods. I’m very curious as to where BC got the idea that we sat around our rooms, pointed fingers and laughed at the kids who didn’t get a care package. Since when was it a thing to bully the kid who didn’t get a box of candy? Since when was the number of Snickers bars received a way to determine whose parent was more loving than the other? Since when did residence hall
staff, while giving out care packages, look into the eyes of the kid who didn’t receive a package and say, “Oh, by the way, I’m sorry YOU didn’t get a BC care package?” My dearest Boston College, it hurts me to criticize you less than a week since I’ve been back on campus, but I can’t just stand by and watch this injustice play out, especially when Halloween is a month away. I know it’s not YOU who is being a manipulative puppet master, but rather the care package company. But it does disappoint me that you have agreed to let them use you like that. I hope you know that the students who don’t get BC care packages (including myself) are doing just fine without the box of candy. Just know that I’m not drowning in a pool of my own tears just because my roommate got five Snickers bars and I didn’t.
Image courtesy of Patricia Green/Flickr
with joy whenever I receive the package notification email. It feels great to get a package, whether it’s from my parents or it’s the shoes I ordered online last week. However, unlike what the letter assumes, I don’t wallow in self-pity when I don’t get a box full of candy for Halloween. Last year, only one of my roommates in my Walsh four-man received care packages through BC. While it was great to add to our common room candy bowl, my roommate admits that she thought the care packages were “impersonal” and she even asked her mom to stop sending them. These care packages are not as special as the occasional box that parents send with hand-picked gifts or homemade goodies and a handwritten letter. As a BC student with international parents who aren’t aware of this “care package” tradition, it baffles me that BC would insinuate that my parents don’t love me as much or that I would feel “left out” simply because I didn’t receive a box filled with lumps of sugar. My parents send me presents on my birthday and special occasions with letters and personalized gifts, which make me feel far more loved than if I received a poorly cut piece of paper with a pre-written letter saying “Love you –Mom.” I’m not implying that parents who signed up for the BC care packages are not as loving as those who send personal care packages. I understand that it may be cheaper to sign up for the BC care package service and that in some aspect, it’s much more convenient because the gifts are sent out speedily and on a schedule. Parents, however, should not feel
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Fa n ta s y F i l m s of T h e Fa l l By Samantha Costanza/Assoc. Culture Editor
This fall is all about the fantasy flicks. From comic book superheroes to hobbits and wizards, this upcoming movie season is filled with epic quests, uprisings and the occasional battle to the death. Take a look at some of the exhilarating and action-packed movies coming to theaters soon!
Ender’s Game — November 1 Based on the 1985 science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game is a story set in the future about Earth’s battle with an insect-like alien species. As Earth prepares for a third alien invasion, a school is set up to train the world’s most talented children for combat. The protagonist, Ender Wiggin, finds himself learning the art of war through a series of difficult games and challenges. Be on the lookout for the zero-gravity chamber fight scene — director Gavin Hood has reported in interviews that the special effects will be out of this world!
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Images via Tumblr
September 2013
Thor: The Dark World — November 8 Who doesn’t love a good comic book hero movie? After the first Thor movie in 2011 and his appearance in The Avengers, Chris Hemsworth has become a household name. The Australian heartthrob gears up to swing his hammer again in Thor: The Dark World. One year after the events of The Avengers, Thor must save the Nine Realms from an evil enemy race led by Malekith, who is out for revenge. In an interesting turn of events, Thor teams up with his former rival Loki, played by the incredibly captivating Tom Hiddleston. With the hero, the villain and the girl (Natalie Portman as Jane Foster) coming together to defend Asgard, Marvel’s latest action-packed movie will have superhero fans everywhere on the edge of their seats.
Images via Tumblr
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire — November 22
The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugDecember 13
After the massive success of the first motion picture installment of The Hunger Games, the hype for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is naturally through the roof. The story follows Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark after their shocking joint victory in the Hunger Games the previous year. The two become heroes throughout the districts, and Katniss soon discovers that she has inadvertently become a symbol of rebellion. This year is the Quarter Quell, with previous victors reentering the games. In other words, Katniss and Peeta are screwed and sent back in. Much of the movie is spent chronicling the training process and the relationships – good and bad – that form among the tributes. Fast-paced action, a gripping storyline and Hollywood’s hottest it-girl of the moment, Jennifer Lawrence, all set the sequel up to be one of the most highly anticipated films of the year.
Image via Tumblr
Adding to the list of sequels, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug picks up exactly where the previous film left off. Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins have journeyed halfway across Middle Earth in the company of 13 dwarves on an epic quest to reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor, in the Lonely Mountain, stolen by Smaug the dragon. As a prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit is the perfect fix for the original Frodo fans. Plus, The Desolation of Smaug has a stacked cast, including the incomparable Sir Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchet and Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch.
CULTURE
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RO C KIN ’ BOS T ON
By Meaghan Healy/Gavel Media Staff
CONCERTS IN THE HUB
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ne of the best parts about living in Boston is the abundance of places to see live music - all easily accesible by T. Check out this selection of venues and bands playing them to keep your fall interesting!
Brighton Music HaLL
is a simple, intimate place to see live music and comedy. It boasts multiple bars and a varied lineup. Check it out via the Harvard Ave. stop on the B line. • Surfer Blood is a psychedelic indie rock band that has been compared to Vampire Weekend and Weezer. October 7 • Au Revoir Simone is an electronic dream pop trio made up solely of females, all on keyboards. October 18 • Kevin Devine is an indie folk singer-songwriter who is also part of the band Bad Books, along with members of Manchester Orchestra. November 24
Great Scott
is a small venue that hosts indie and rock acts as well as dance nights with DJs. It has more underground and di-
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verse acts than, say, the big names you’ll find at House of Blues. You can find it at the Harvard Ave. stop on the B line. • Twin Peaks is a heavy pop band that has played with Beach Fossils and Deer Tick. October 3 • Islands is a quirky indie pop band from Canada that collaborated with Arcade Fire on its debut album. October 8 • Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is an indie pop band that has played with Tokyo Police Club and had a song featured on The OC. October 22
H.O.B. Boston
is the place to go for some bigger names. With six bars and three levels to sit or stand, HOB is easily the most well known venue around. Yet, it’s still easy to get to via the Kenmore St. stop on the D Line. • Portugal. The Man is an experimental indie rock band that has played with The Black Keys and has released an astounding eight studio albums and three EPs since 2005. September 29 • Atlas Genius is an alternative rock band whose song, “If so,” was featured in FIFA 13. Their hit single “Trojans” also peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Alternative chart. October 8
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One of the best parts about this city is the abundance of places to see live music all easily accesible by T.
• The Naked and Famous is an electronic indie bandble to Grouplove, Passion Pit, M83, The Temper Trap, and Walk the Moon. October 12 • Ra Ra Riot is an indie rock band similar in sound to Tokyo Police Club and Matt & Kim. October 13 • Janelle Monae is an R&B/soul artist that has received several Grammy nominations and is featured on Fun’s “We Are Young.” October 16 • Toro y Moi is the stage name of chillwave connoisseur Chazwick Bundick, whose influences include Daft Punk and Animal Collective. October 25
Paradise Rock Club is a small, intimate site
that boasts a balcony and a small bar. Its small size makes it a great place to see a band up close and personal. Fun fact: It was the first U.S. venue that hosted U2. The best part is that it’s just a short trip on the B Line – get off at Pleasant St. • Volcano Choir, a project of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, is an experimental band that has just released its second studio album. September 11 • The Dodos is an indie folk band from San Francisco similar to Grizzly Bear and Dr. Dog. September 27 • The Neighbourhood is an alternative rock band whose song “Sweater Weather” reached #1 on Billboard’s Alternative chart and broke the top ten on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. October 14 • Frightened Rabbit is an indie rock band that has played with Death Cab for Cutie and has participated in multiple fundraisers with Invisible Children.October 21
• Minus the Bear is an indie rock band from Seattle bearing similarity to Circa Survive. October 24
The Sinclar
is a fairly new venue in Cambridge with an attached restaurant. It offers a wraparound balcony and two bars. It’s within walking distance of the Harvard Square stop on the Red Line. • Youth Lagoon is the stage name of dreamy pop musician Trevor Powers, who blends metaphysical ideas into his music. September 17 • Wavves is the noise pop project of Nathan Williams, who calls his most popular album (and himself) King of the Beach. October 1 • Delorean is an alternative dance band from Spain whose namesake is the time machine in Back to the Future. October 19 • Holy Ghost! is an electronic pop duo consisting of Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel, who were once part of a hip hop group called Automato. October 30
Royale Boston
is a funky nightclub that doubles as a live music scene. The ballroom look of Royale, with its giant grand staircase and fancy furniture, makes it loads of fun. It’s accessible by the Boylston stop on the Green Line. • Deerhunter is an ambient punk band that has played with Spoon and is similar to Animal Collective. September 16 • Blitzen Trapper is an experimental folk band similar to Deer Tick and Dr. Dog whose album received a #13 ranking in Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2008. September 29 • Daughter is an indie folk band whose songs have been featured on Skins UK, The Vampire Diaries, and Teen Wolf. October 4
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Image via Tumblr
NETFLIX: orange is the new black By Jenna LaConte/Editor-In-Chief
For broke college students like myself, owning a Netflix account is nothing short of a luxury. But, with great sadness, I resigned to the fact that I couldn’t justify spending $8 per month to be a couch potato anymore and deleted my Netflix account this summer.
After attempting to delete my account in one dramatic gesture, I found that Netflix won’t actually allow you to get rid of your account until your current billing period has ended. I took the bait and kept using Netflix for the in-between days. And then Orange Is the New Black happened. As fate would have it, it takes about three minutes to get hooked onto OITNB. Within these first three minutes of the series premiere, the main character appears naked
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in the shower with another female, naked in the tub with a male and naked in the shower at a women’s prison. Just as viewers begin to feel thoroughly confused and a teensy bit uncomfortable, it plays. Written and performed by the ever-sultry Regina Spektor, “You’ve Got Time” is catchy enough to make up for the fact that the theme song plays for a good minute and a half — about one minute and 20 seconds longer than any theme song should last. Still, the quality of the song combined with the clips of women’s mouths, eyes and scenes from a prison make up for its length. (Side note: Prepare to sing “You’ve Got Time” in your head for several days after an OITNB binge). As the 13-episode first season progresses, it becomes clear that OITNB is more than just occasional nudity and a spectacular theme song. The series follows Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a character loosely based off of the
September 2013
Screenshots by Sam Costanza real-life Piper Kerman, author of the memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison. As a young wasp-y type with blonde hair, a puppy-like fiancé named Larry (Jason Biggs) and a budding career in the scented soap industry, Piper might as well hang a Boston College diploma over her mantle. As one of my OITNB-enthused friends pointed out, “It’s like watching any girl you know go to prison.” The series opens with Piper voluntarily surrendering herself to a 15-month stay in prison for involving her association with an international drug ring 10 years prior. Her role in the drug trade was minimal, as she carried a single suitcase across the border to help out her then-girlfriend Alex (Laura Prepon), who happened to be a lesbian druglord. Even though Piper has pulled a complete 360 since her days with Alex — including becoming engaged to the most cookie-cutter “nice guy” possible — she is forced to relive the glory days when her arrest sheds light on the past she so desperately tried to put behind her. Piper’s scandalous double life is just the tipping point of OITNB’s addictiveness. The concept of duality is the backbone to the entire series, which spotlights a different inmate’s past in each episode. These sporadic flashbacks start early for many of the women, looking back upon troubled childhoods, patterns of abuse and moments of weakness that would permanently stain their lives with an
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OITNB is dark, yet it sheds light on the myth that everything is black and white, or for these women, orange.
orange jumpsuit. Through Piper’s eyes, her fellow prisoners are cruel, spiteful and dangerous; through a viewer’s eyes, these women are sympathetic, unlucky and occasionally even heroes. Slowly, Piper picks up on the same lesson as the audience, proclaiming herself to be no different from the women who surround her. The concepts of sanity, sexuality, morality, family and wealth are put on a scale, and even the most “normal” seeming characters struggle to find their place. OITNB is dark, yet it sheds light on the myth that everything is black and white, or for these women, orange.
“There’s always hope tomorrow will be taco night.” Nicky Nichols CULTURE
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Dorm Recipe:
No Oven, no stove, no problem By R achel Forray/Assoc. Culture Editor
Photo by Rachel Forray/Gavel Media
Nutella Espresso Mug Cake As the semester begins, this Nutella espresso mug cake is the perfect treat for late night studying. It is rich, filled with caffeine and absolutely delicious. Not to mention, any recipe that incorporates Nutella is bound to be a hit. Focused on health? The sugar can be replaced with a natural no-calorie sweetener such as Truvia for baking. On the other hand, this cake can be taken to the next level with the addition of frozen yogurt, whipped cream, ice cream or fruit on top.
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Ingredients & steps
4 Tbs. flour 3 Tbs. sugar 1 Tsp. espresso powder 1 egg 3 Tbs. cocoa powder 3 Tbs. Nutella 3 Tbs. milk 2 Tbs. vegetable oil Pinch of salt
Optional:
Frozen yogurt, Whipped cream, Ice cream Fresh fruit 1. Whisk egg in 10oz mug. 2. Next, add milk, salt, espresso powder, sugar, and cocoa powder. Mix thoroughly. 3. Add Nutella and mix. 4. Add flower by folding. Don’t over-mix the batter. 5. Microwave for 3 minutes. 6. Add toppings and enjoy!
September 2013
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THAT’S DOPE A BC Perspective
By Frankie Bernard / Gavel Media Staff As I stood and watched our Boston College Eagles football team defeat Villanova 24-14, a cold chill went up my spine. No, not the ice-cold rain or the chills you get when “Alma Mater” plays, but the cold chill of uncertainty. Just as students departed in May, a loud storm echoed in the sports world. With the cloud of Biogensis looming over Major League Baseball, most of the summer was devoted to the coverage of the scandal. Over the course of these dark days, the sports world learned that all-stars are liars, subpar talent are taking steroids and the baseball world wants Alex Rodriguez’s head on a silver platter. But there is one thing many people, including myself, have forgotten. Steroid use has always run rampant in sports. We are just learning about it today because of the investigative ingenuity of the media and because some
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professional athletes decide they must go public with the information either for publishing compensation or because they actually possess some integrity of the game. What’s even scarier is that the fear is not just in professional sports. Almost one year ago, the Associated Press wrote a report based on steroids in college football. The report depicts the NCAA’s random drug testing as nothing more than a formality. Don Catlin, who conducted the NCAA lab tests at UCLA, said the collegiate system is not designed to catch people who use steroids. While hardly any positive tests were found, the report discovered thousands of players who put on significant weight without explanation. This is alarming, considering the fact that we hear college football players getting suspended for usage of street
drugs, but not performance enhancing drugs. And what is worse for these athletes is that when they aren’t caught for the drug in college, they fail a test at the professional level. Do you think it’s high time we ceased turning a blind eye to this subject? At Boston College, we pride ourselves on integrity. Even our Superfan shirts carry the mantras “Ignite the Heights with Spirit and Truth,” “Building Character…Becoming Champions,” “Many Hearts, One Tradition,” and “Carry the Torch, Light the Way.” These slogans aren’t just some quirky words on the back of a t-shirt, but symbols of what this university stands for: integrity, truth, character, and unity. It is no secret college football is a huge moneymaker for Division I schools. The NCAA made that pretty clear in their handling of the Johnny Manziel autograph scandal where they
September 2013
suspended Manziel for monetizing on his name, while the NCAA advertises his jersey on their fan shop. As a result, the NCAA fan shop no longer exists. Coincidence? What about the money athletics make for a Division I school? For the fiscal year of 2011-2012, BC athletics’ total revenue was $66,197,029. This number pales in comparison to the University of Alabama, whose total athletic revenue was $124.1 million, almost twice the amount of revenue brought in by BC. Yeah, that’s a lot of moolah. Could these athletes be taking performance enhancing drugs? Maybe, but maybe not. That’s the game we are playing right now. A simple game of blackjack where we aren’t sure if the guy next to us drinking a tonic and lime is being lucky or counting cards. But nevertheless, there is hope.
This new generation of athletes has witnessed the destruction of integrity in the game and they won’t stand by anymore to watch sports become clouded with scandal. During the “Summer of Steroids,” many baseball players were in approval of the suspensions of the 14 players who participated in the Biogenesis scandal. As BC begins its athletic seasons, we look to begin a new era of football, we hope for another National Championship in hockey, and all while enjoying another amazing year at this prestigious university. But we reflect, we take the lessons learned from this summer and we hope that collegiate athletes have learned the dangers of taking such a risk with few benefits and many more major consequences at the end of the day. We hope.
SPORTS
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THE
DUDEABIDES A look into the #BeADude Saga
Emotions were plentiful when thousands of Boston College Superfans flocked to Alumni Stadium to watch BC football play on its turf for the first time in nine months. Villanova is no Florida State, but change has that uncanny ability to draw back interest—to seize the lifeless aura of a team and restore it back to its original prominence. There was no need for a marquee opponent to gather the masses. The student section was virtually full for the majority of the game, even after numerous seniors showed up late to the contest after an adventurous round of Mod tailgating. Villanova didn’t drag in the crowd of bandwagoners—those that come out of the woodwork when BC plays Duke in basketball or Notre Dame in football— but none of that baggage was necessary. The attendance was respectable. BC-Villanova brought the alumni and BC faithful together that needed a reason to believe: those that needed a rational solution to the utter madness that had ensued in the past season. People just wanted to see the beginning of what would be a revival of the good times. The 2007 and 2008 seasons that saw BC lose only a handful of games brought more pleasure to BC fans than any other stretch of brilliance in the program’s history, but getting back to those times is not easy and far from a guarantee. The administrators at BC knew that getting towards the return to the Matt Ryan era would take an overhaul of image and culture—a facelift to a pro-
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gram that had sagged so deeply into FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) averageness that a 2-0 start in 2010 against Weber State and Kent State was dubbed okay. Picking up wins from these programs brought little pride, and then things got even worse with the downward-spiral that was Frank Spaziani’s last two years. Failure was nearing natural at BC when the 2012 season concluded. At the end of Spaziani’s tenure, the Eagles had racked up a disappointing 22-29 record in four years, and much
“Villanova is no Florida State, but change has that uncanny ability to draw back interest—to seize the lifeless aura of a team and restore it back to its original prominence.” of the program’s gusto and spirit had found itself being rewritten by a man who seemed content with halfhearted recruiting and—to put bluntly—mediocrity on the football field. Now, BC football is finding itself on an upswing. And for a moment, the Villanova game served as a reminder that excellence is accomplishable in Alumni Stadium on fall Saturdays. That feeling of accomplishment, though, fades when the prospect of losing the next game comes to mind. In the realm of college football, complacency sets in after a quarterback dwells on his perfect passing game a
By Teddy Kolva / Sports Editor
little too much, or a linebacker flaunts his mind-bending sack. Head Coach Steve Addazio knows that complacency is the enemy in a 12 game season. In his final season at Temple, Addazio coincidentally knocked off Villanova in the opener, only to fall to Maryland and Penn State in the following weeks. He can attest to the dangers of overconfidence, and that’s just one of many characteristics of his all-important mantra: “Be A Dude.” Started by defensive coordinator Don Brown, the philosophy behind “being a dude” rests central to everything BC football does. From practice to team dinners to Friday night primetime games, the concept of being a dude, which entails a strong-minded, gutsy mentality, reverberates throughout the Yawkey Athletic Center and Alumni Stadium. In a June interview with ESPN’s Jack McCluskey, Addazio noted the inherent qualities of a “dude.” And, surprisingly, Addazio was far from complicated in his description: “Be great. Be a baller. Be great at what you are. Just don’t be average.” Addazio and Brown’s message has resonated into sectors of the Boston College athletic department that aren’t constantly thinking about football, too. BC Athletic Director Brad Bates, who took the helm last year, has initiated sweeping changes in game day and customer service improvements—all initiatives that match the above-and-beyond quality of “being a dude.” Game day experience tents were placed in locations around campus for
September 2013
#BeADude Graphi via hashtagify.me
Number of Times
Trending:
Weeks Ago
Time for us to be dudes // A Superfan’s CALL FOr better fanhood By: Resident Superfan Connor Eckholdt
Throughout
the
“Spaz
era,”
we,
observers on Saturday afternoons.
as
a
school,
became
passive,
third
party
We were in the stands, we wore SuperFan
yellow, but we weren’t totally present; we didn’t believe in our players with the passion that they deserved and, as a result, we got what we expected. It’s time we changed those expectations and got behind our team.
When a fan base
demands more of its team, those players feel a sense of obligation to rise and
meet
those
expectations. Our
football
team
blame does not completely lie with them.
has
indeed
struggled;
however,
the
Part of that blame belongs with us.
Our program now has a chance to rise once again. We have a new coach. Sure, it’s the same old ‘stache, but he brings a completely new philosophy to the field. Addazio radiates
intensity
but has a good heart beneath his tough exterior, all
the while demanding accountability; this is his philosophy of being a
“dude.”
He
has come in and not only demanded more from his players, but also more from
We are all accountable now. It is time for us all to become dudes. So
#
BeADude
supporters unable to access Shea Field or other traditional tailgating options. A new “Eagle Walk” was instituted, replacing the previous tradition that received a little less exposure for its use of Campanella Way to Alumni Stadium. Now, football players attend mass in coat and tie at Gasson Hall and are promptly escorted by the BC Marching Band and the cheerleading squad after the service concludes. Cutting through the heart of campus, the new walk is symbolic of the team’s significance to the university. A procession that garners the attention of all who witness it, it’s not hard to realize that the team is run by a bunch of dudes—those that will never settle for mediocrity on or off the field.
his school.
I propose a new motto for all fans, in the words of Ed from Goodburger: ”I’m a dude,
he’s
a
dude,
she’s
a
dude,
we’re
all
dudes…
HEY!”
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PLAY FOR PAY A leading scholar in the fields of sports business and law, Associate CSOM Dean Warren Zola chimes in on the prospect of student-athlete compensation in the NCAA.
O
By Bill Stoll / Assoc. Sports Editor
ver the last several years one of the most pressing and controversial issues in college athletics is the notion of “pay-for-play” with regards to NCAA athletes. This concept is more easily explained as this: there are many who believe that Division I NCAA athletes, particularly those who play in revenue generating sports such as football and men’s basketball, should receive monetary compensation for their services. However, this concept is highly divisive as many argue that athletes already receive thousands of dollars in compensation in the form of tuition, room and board, health services and more. While there is much debate about whether or not to pay college athletes in the first place, there is also much
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controversy about how exactly to pay these athletes. The ideas are varied and wide-ranging, with some thinking that college athletes should be paid according to their free-market value, and others holding the idea that a modest stipend should suffice. Still others are less concerned with the colleges themselves paying their athletes directly, believing instead that athletes should receive monetary compensation for the use of their likeness in things such as video games, jersey sales, and autographs. To delve into this issue, I enlisted in the help of an expert on the subject. I sat down with Professor Warren Zola, the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Professor Zola has written extensively on the concept
of student-athlete compensation, and his articles can be found in media outlets such as the Huffington Post or the Sports Law Blog. For the purposes of this article, hereafter my questions will be noted with the prefix “BS” and Professor Zola’s answers will be noted with a “WZ.” Also, please note that anything in a question inside parenthesis has been added to the article after the interview was taken for the convenience of the reader. BS: First question is an easy one, do you support the concept of paying student-athletes for their participation in college athletics? WZ: Well I’m not sure if it’s an easy question. It depends upon how you define pay. There’s a variety of ways
September 2013
to pay athletes for compensation, and, a lot of debate about what that amount should be. I would argue that they are already paid with tuition, room and board, and a bunch of other items as well. But I’ve got a different level at which I think they should be compensated, if that makes sense. BS: Alright, in an ideal sort of scenario, what would be your perfect system for athlete compensation? WZ: I think that there should be some recognition of the revenue that the players, and primarily football and men’s basketball are generating, and thus I believe that they should be compensated to a degree greater than they already are, which would be full athletic scholarship. I think that the way to do so would be to close the gap between full cost of attendance and the athletic scholarship to compensate those athletes. I also think that we should follow the Olympic model where college athletes retain the rights of publicity and their ability to market themselves. I also think that they should get full medical insurance, disability insurance etc. among other things. But primarily closing that gap between full athletic scholarship and cost of attendance seems to be a minimum standard to provide them. BS: So for example there’s the case in the courts now about someone who is suing because the EA sports video games use the players’ likeness but they don’t receive any compensation for that, so do you think that would be a good way to compensate the players? WZ: I think that that is clearly one mechanism in which college athletes should be compensated. I also fully anticipate that the courts over time will support that claim. I think it will be successful or at least there will be a settlement, closing the case. Because
there is no legal avenue that I’ve seen that supports the NCAA’s position or EA Sports position that they can’t compensate those players. BS: (In December 2011 and January 2012, the NCAA governing board considered a proposal which would have granted a $2,000 stipend to those who were receiving full athletic scholarships. While the proposal had some support, it ultimately was rejected.) What is your opinion on the idea to give students a $2,000 stipend, the concept that was floated around in 2011? WZ: Well I think the reason that they came up with the $2000 stipend was that was a ballpark amount that would close the gap between full athletic scholarship and cost of attendance. It’s probably close to $3,500, but the intent was to allow colleges to provide enough money to college athletes that allows those players to do things that all the other college students could do. So if, for example, there is a student who receives a drama scholarship or a full academic scholarship, not only do they get tuition and board, but they get additional money to cover all the other expenses that occur and for whatever reason, the NCAA has defined that amount to be a violation of their policies, and the $2,000 stipend was intended to close that gap.
And so I certainly supported it, the NCAA membership voted it down, and that’s part of the legal case is whether or not (they) have a right to cap that moving forward. BS: You’ve previously stated that schools with big football and basketball revenue receiving programs are profiting off their players freely without compensation. What do you say to those who argue the players receiving thousands of dollars in compensation through the form of free tuition, room and board, and advantages over the average student such as special facilities, tutors, preferred academic advantages, etc.? WZ: Clearly college athletes are receiving some compensation. I was a Division III athlete, and a poor one at that, and I would have loved to have received tuition or admission among other benefits. That being said, why athletes could receive less than other scholar students on campus is something I don’t understand. All of these restrictions on their ability to generate revenue are unique to athletes. So if a student decides to have a music career they can get a music scholarship from a university, get a full cost of attendance, perform on the weekends at a night club, get paid to do that, sell their music, print out a CD, and no one thinks of them any less of
Boston College: Pro Model Breakdown Football
$21,674,975 46.5% $10,078,863 85 $118,575 $55,528 $63,047
in revenue
Basketball
share to players for athletes players on team per athlete value of scholarship shortfall
$4,997,434 50% $2,498,717 13 $192,209 $55,528 $136,681
Information Courtesy of Time / Drexel University Sports Management Dept.
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a student, they’re just capitalizing upon their talents and that’s what this economy is based on. For some reason, a nineteen-year-old athlete who can play football or shoot a 3-pointer is restricted from doing that, and I don’t think that’s fair. BS: You have said in the past that you think the NCAA doesn’t compensate players based on their free market value. Would you advocate for sort of a free-market system? WZ: No, I mean I think that there is a variety of ways at which you can compensate college athletes and at one end of the spectrum is doing absolutely nothing or maybe the existing model that we have, and the other end of the spectrum would be entire free market competition. So if you’re a 6’7” left tackle coming out of high school, All-American kid, then let the bidding begin and you may get some crazy salary. I’m not a fan of that system, that’s why I like the proposed system that I’ve got, the full cost of attendance. There are some people out there that talk about free market, there’s others that talk about free market with salary caps at conference or school levels, but I think it’s clear we need to do more than we’re currently doing.
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But I’m opposed to free markets, I think we need to retain college athletes as students, and I think that this is a model that I’ve proposed that makes some sense without an entire free market system. BS: Really when we talk about payfor-play athletes, the conversation is geared more towards football and men’s basketball. Do you think that the stipend should be more focused towards those students that generate the most revenue, or should it be applied to all Division I scholarship-receiving athletes? WZ: I think that that’s something up for debate. I think that clearly those are the two sports that generate significant revenue for college athletics. There are other sports at specific schools that do that as well, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, women’s basketball at some schools, and I think there can be a sliding scale about how we allocate these dollars, but there is no doubt that Title IX will play a role and if schools have to provide this additional stipend or close the cost of attendance gap for all athletes who receive a full scholarship, I’m okay with that. There’s nothing wrong with all men’s and women’s basketball players receiving a full athletic scholarship to get that
stipend. I think schools can afford it. And some schools may decide not to compete at that level and revert back to a Division III model or offer less sports, than that should be their prerogative as well, but just because it’s difficult to implement doesn’t make the moral arguments or the legal arguments any less compelling. BS: One of the problems that I personally see with schools providing an additional stipend to Division I players is that I could see a scenario in which schools with larger endowments, schools with more funds would gain a much larger advantage in recruiting over smaller schools that couldn’t afford to pay. The NCAA said that only 57% of FBS schools generate enough revenue to cover expenses, so they wouldn’t be able to pay such a stipend or any additional costs. WZ: Well, number one, I don’t believe those numbers, I think there are a variety of ways for schools that are set up as non-profit organizations who can’t show a profit, so if a school decides to pay its coach $4 million a year to coach their football program and then say “geez we’re not making money’ well you can shift money from a coach to the players generating the revenue. But I also think that we already have
September 2013
Warren K. Zola, Associate Dean of CSOM M.B.A., Boston College J.D., Tulane University B.A., Hobart & William Smith Colleges Member of the Massachusetts Bar
these varying levels of competition for high school recruits. If you look at facilities, if you look at investment by various schools or conferences of particular programs, we already have variance, and just because some schools may not be able to afford to do it doesn’t make it any less of a moral imperative or legal requirement. And I think there probably are more schools competing at the upper echelon that probably shouldn’t be or may not be able to financially. If we have fewer schools at that level, I’m comfortable with that as a byproduct of actually compensating those who are generating that revenue. BS: Alright, so one last question. The NHL and Major League Baseball, they have a system where players are drafted at a younger age and then they have a farm system or they can participate in college athletics if they choose to do that instead. Could you see
maybe a system like that working for the NFL or the NBA? Is that something you would support? WZ: Yeah absolutely, I think those models make a lot of sense. I don’t think the way those leagues are constructed it will happen. Certainly not in football, but I think basketball, in the past it has been argued for a system like baseball or like in hockey where you are drafted out of high school and you can decide to go pro or not, if you don’t the team retains your rights and you can do whatever you want. I think that system is fairest to the athletes. The problem is that we have collective bargaining in professional athletics, and not every union cares as much about their future members, so when they come down to negotiate over rights and dollar allocations, they often will think about current members over their future members, which is their prerogative.
As Chief Operating Officer, Zola is charged with “providing strategic direction and integration of non-academic and operational functions for the graduate management programs, including the financial management of all budgets and a staff of 24.” A frequent contributor to the Huffington Post, the Sports Law Blog, and the Harvard Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law Information Courtesy of bc.edu
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I’m a BC student.
theGAVEL is my magazine.
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September 2013 www.bcgavel.com