October Print 2013 by The Gavel

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OCTOBER 2013 / VOLUME VI / ISSUE II

SPORTS

NEWS

04 06 08

The Progressive Pope Obamacare Begins: What You Need To Know Conflict in Syria

EDITORIAL BOARD

Getting Weird With WZBC

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 JAKE MILLEY/VIDEO PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 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

Dorm Recipe: No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

The Scariest Places on Campus Overheard at BC Eagle Eye Haiti’s Helping Hands

CULTURE

16 18 19 20

Romeo and Juliet: Reloaded

Singing with her Hands: Molly Maniatty

OPINIONS

22 2

BC Gavel

22 24 26

28 STAFF

FEATURES

10 12 13 14

28 30

Don’t Burst My BC Bubble (Please) Don’t Take College Rankings Too Seriously Private Prison System October 2013

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 ELLEN ZHANG

DESIGN STAFF ELENI VENETOS ALEX FLYNN ANNIE BELGRADE VALERIE LIANG GILLIAN BURKE VICKY SHEN ANDREAS WOLFE JULIANA SULLIVAN OLIVIA MORLEY GEORGE ACEVEDO

BC Uncovered: The Kings of Ultimate Rumblin’, Bumblin’, Stumblin’: Boston College Cheer Squad Captains of Morale

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, Thanks for picking up the October edition of the Gavel! For those of you who are new to Boston, I’m going to let you in on a secret. Between pumpkin ice cream from White Mountain, fall weather football games and endless Halloween celebrations, October is the best month to be on campus. This month’s edition signifies a new era for the Gavel, as we have a brand new design team responsible for our magazine layout. This was a much-needed transition for our section editors, who used to be charged with the task of designing the entire issue on top of writing and editing all of the articles. On behalf of our very relieved editorial board and the entire Gavel community, I want to thank our design team for all of the hard work that they put into this bangin’ new edition. Wishing you the spookiest of Octobers, Jenna

Published with support from Generation Progress / Center for American Progress (online at genprog.org).

THE PROGRESSIVE POPE By Benjamin Seo / Gavel Media Staff “What does the church need most at this historic moment? Do we need reforms? What are your wishes for the church in the coming years? What kind of church do you dream of?” These were the questions that reporter Antonio Spadaro, SJ, posed to Pope Francis in an interview released for America Magazine on Sept. 19. The response to these inquiries provides insight into Pope Francis’s defining vision of the future of the Catholic Church. Through this vision, he may just be the first truly progressive pope. Pope Francis has a clear plan in mind for the direction of the Catholic Church, and it involves unity through the repair of past inflictions. “I see clearly, that the thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity,” he said. “I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.” Fr. James Bretzke, SJ, a professor of moral theology in the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, helped break down the pope’s metaphor. “I think he is saying implicitly that there has been a bit too much cholesterol testing in the Church up to the present and that isn’t relevant to people.” Instead of getting caught up in dogmatic teachings, Pope Francis emphasizes the mercy and compassion found in the central tenet of the Church, the Gospel. “The Church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with

the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant,” the pope told American Magazine. A true leader, Pope Francis has done his best to live in tune with the values of the Gospel. Whether answering phone calls to comfort the distraught or washing the feet of prisoners, the pope has done his best to heal the wounds of those that have long been condemned by the Church: homosexuals, divorcees and atheists. Fr. Bretzke admits that many disapprove of the pope reaching out to these socially wounded groups. “[Pope Francis] acknowledges that people have reprimanded him and criticized him for this approach… for not speaking out explicitly about contraception, abortion and the rest of that stuff,” he said. “He acknowledges that he has heard these things and he is saying, ‘I’m not going to do it anyway.’ He says we need a balance and we need to be a church of mercy.” The mercy about which Pope Francis speaks has been obvious from the beginning. The night he was announced to be the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, he bowed before the masses and asked the world to pray to God on his behalf. It was at that moment that Pope Francis began the process of building the field hospital over St. Peter’s Basilica. With him comes the rebirth of a more relational church, a nod to the truth that human beings are social and a return to the Gospel full of truly unconditional mercy and compassion.

With him comes a rebirth of a more relational church, a nod to the truth that human beings are social and a return to the Gospel full of truly unconditional mercy and compassion.

Image via Wikipedia Commons

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October 2013

NEWS

obam

: S N I G E B e r a c a

w h a t y o u n e e d to k n o w By James Cody/Assoc. News Editor

credits will act as a discount of sorts; the less money that you are currently making, the greater the discount that you will receive when you purchase health insurance through the online exchanges. Although you shouldn’t wait to enroll if you currently do not receive health insurance from your parents, your employer or another provider such as Boston College, the old way of buying coverage will still exist.

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Health insurance brokers will still sell coverage, but people buying through these means will not be eligible for federal tax credits. The law also calls for the expansion of Medicaid to cover nearly 16 million uninsured senior citizens and lowincome citizens currently without the means to pay for health insurance themselves. eighty-two percent of uninsured younger citizens are expected to qualify for discounted or free coverage through Medicaid, or CHIP. Alongside the expansion to 16 million uninsured Americans and the various statewide exchanges, Obamacare forbids insurance companies from excluding anyone from purchasing their coverage based on a preexisting condition. Following this, you cannot be denied coverage based on health status and cannot be dropped from your insurance at any time because you suddenly became sick. The American Journal of Medicine estimated that each year 60 percent

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The way that you receive insurance will most likely not change until you are off of your parents’ plan.

n October 1, the Obamacare Health Insurance Exchanges (HIX) went online nationwide. With this date came one of the core components of the much-discussed health-care law that was signed by President Obama in 2010. Looking forward, here’s what college students need to know about Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act. Next year, everyone must have health insurance, one way or another. If not, you will be charged a fee on your year-end tax returns. Don’t worry; college kids can stay on their parents’ plan until they are 26 years old, a

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of all US bankruptcies are caused by medical bills. Obamacare seeks to lessen the strain that treatment places on individuals and families that are afflicted by an unexpected illness, helping people stay on their insurance when they otherwise would not be allowed. Women will not be charged a higher cost for insurance either, as Obamacare ends gender discrimination in the health insurance market. For plans to be sold through the HIXs, they must meet a variety of minimum services. Plans will be broken into bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels, with an ascending number of services and costs corresponding to each plan. Simply put, Obamacare will not end health insurance as you know it. Costs for most Americans will be lowered and citizens will be more protected than they were in the past. Don’t’ forget to sign up through the exchanges once the HIX in your state goes online if you are not currently covered!

Image via Flickr

significant aspect of the law that has already been implemented. Therefore, the way that you receive insurance will most likely not change until you are off of your parents’ plan. The requirement that everyone purchase insurance by March 31, 2014, known as the individual mandate, is designed to widen the “pool” of those buying health coverage. This way, the costs for the rest of those actually on insurance plans will gradually decrease, as the costs are partially shifted away from those constantly using their insurance and onto the previously uninsured, including college students. Effective in 2014, the fee for not purchasing health insurance is $95

per adult or one percent of a person’s income, whichever is higher. For a family, the maximum fine is $285. For those currently without insurance, there will be a new way to compare and shop prices for a private insurance plan. The HIXs will be the new marketplace to do so, and will open in October. All eligible Americans will be able to purchase federally regulated and subsidized health insurance from private providers on these sites, comparing benefit and cost calculations. For many Americans, Obamacare will provide tax credits to offset the cost of buying health insurance. If your income is less than four times the poverty line, or $45,950, then the tax

October 2013

Image via Flickr

Image via Wikimedia Commons

NEWS

LEADERSHIP

The ongoing bloody civil conflict in Syria is understandably too complex for the average American to grasp. Even leading experts on the situation cannot perfectly quantify figures or confirm each event that has been reported. This breakdown of some of the main points of the Syrian civil war can shed some light on the issues.

By Alison Ricciato / Assoc. News Editor

FEBRUARY 2012

The US vacated its Outbreaks of violence embassy in Syria and occurred when antiwithdrew all officials government protestors clashed with security amidst the government and rebel violence. crackdowns. Some small attempts to appease citizens were made, but Assad remained in power and the unrest continued.

ON THE MAP Syria, a country roughly the size of the state of Washington, borders Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Israel. The capital city of Syria is Damascus, which has holy ties to Islam.

NUMBERS

The United Nations estimates that as of August, the civil crisis has killed roughly

100,000 Syrians including

40,000 civilians Furthermore, the UN estimated in May that more than 1.5 million refugees had fled the country.

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INTERVENTION OPTIONS

REBELS

With the latest international condemnation of the government’s use of chemical weapons against civilians, the US has proposed military involvement in Syria. Thus far, only economic and non-lethal aid has been given. France is the only other country to support military action. One option is to train, advise and assist the rebel groups. This would come at great cost to the US and France and potentially aid Islamic extremist groups. Drone strikes could be a possibility, but also come at a great cost and may prove ineffective in toppling the regime. Another proposal is the creation of safe zones to help protect refugees but this would require money and troops and would possibly serve as a reason for government forces to target civilians. Some of the latest action suggested has been chemical weapon control, which was also met with opposition from other countries, as this would require money and troops. Domestically, many Americans do not wish to become involved in another long-winded and costly overseas conflict.

October 2013

3% DRUZE 10% CHRISTIAN 13% SHIA MUSLIM (including a small sect Alawites, considered an offshoot of Shia Islam)

75% SUNNI MUSLIM Syria shares a close relationship with Iran, with both countries supporting the armed Shia group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

TIMELINE OF CONFLICT MARCH 2011

Image via Tumblr

Bashar al-Assad has been president since July of 2000, succeeding his father Hafez alAssad. Bashar al-Assad received some of his education in London and married a Syrian woman born in Britain. The alAssad presidencies emphasize a rigid, centralized government. While this brought stability to a country prone to upheaval and multiple coup attempts, both presidents have led repressive, harsh regimes.

RELIGION

JANUARY 2013 JUNE 2013 AUGUST 2013 Assad announced that he would not step down and promised a new constitution, and denouncing the rebels as terrorists. The rebels continued to refuse to work with the Assad government.

The largest rebel group is the Free Syrian Army, which is largely secular. Other notable rebel factions include the Syrian Liberation Front, a relatively large group composed of moderate Islamists, and the smaller Syrian Islamic front whose members are Salafist Muslims. Lesser presences include Jabhat al-Nusra, associated with al-Qaeda, and Kurdish resistance (ethnic Kurds make up about 10% of the Syrian population, which is largely Arabic,).

The violence had escalated to the government’s alleged use of chemical weapons against citizens.

Doctors Without Borders confirmed over 3,000 Syrians affected by nerve gas, with about 1,500 deaths, including children.

ALLIES

Allies to the Assad regime include Russia and Iran, who supply weapons, Hezbollah and Iraq, and formerly Venezuela. North Korea is suspected of supplying the Assad government with weapons, and while China is neutral, it has vetoed many measures to aid rebels in the U.N., along with Russia. Allies to the rebels include the U.S., the U.K. and France, who have sent some non-lethal aid, and Gulf Arabic states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia who provide weapons to rebel groups. Turkey also aids the rebel forces, particularly since so many Syrian refugees have fled there.

GET INVOLVED AT BC

It may seem that the Syrian conflict is too large for one person to help, but many groups have formed across the country to send aid to the millions of refugees and displaced citizens in Syria. The BC Chapter of “Syria Deeply” is a student group dedicated to raising awareness about the civil war and raising money to help Syrian refugees as long as the conflict continues.

NEWS

1 Basements (Bapst & Cushing) 5The alley next to Conte

Photos Courtesy of Christie Merino / Gavel Media

Basements are not generally known for being welcoming places. The basement of Bapst is no exception. The stark white walls and harsh fluorescent lighting leave most feeling dazed and confused while trying to locate the bathroom, which is absolutely the only reason to ever enter the basement. Coming down the stairs, you notice a sitting area with some unsightly furniture and lockers lining the walls. If you can manage to look up without hurting your eyes, you might notice a small balcony that overlooks the basement. This is the Bapst Gallery, which is only open upon request by a librarian. If you’re ever looking to scare some people, this is the ideal situation to do so not just because the basement is frightening, but also because it gives you the ideal vantage point to watch your prey without being detected.

2 Carney

Infamous for its out-of-date nature, Carney is the most unsightly building on campus. Students have been known to avoid taking classes in this building and professors request room changes whenever possible. It may be haunted by the souls of tortured students, but that’s just a theory. The constant opening and closing of the door to my Calculus discussion by some unnatural force, however, is pure fact.

3 Stairwell classrooms in Gasson

the

SCARIEST By Christie Merino / Assoc. Features Editor

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Boston College is home to some of the premier gothic architecture in the Boston area. Main campus is listed on the National Register for Historic Places, and the number of #GassonGrams posted by students every day is indication enough that this campus is a beautiful place to call home. But every BC student knows that there are some areas of campus worth avoiding. Whether by human design or divine intervention, these are the top eight places to avoid on Halloween, the scariest night of the year. October 2013

During the day, these classrooms are completely normal. It’s great to have a class in Gasson, don’t get me wrong. But during study days and finals weeks, things get really weird in that building. On more than one occasion I decided to study in room 210, one of the classrooms with its entrance in the stairwell. Not only is the classroom large and echoey, but it is also connected to another classroom. Apparently it’s a thing for students to scream at random and open the connecting door in an attempt to scare other students. As if finals weren’t scary enough.

woods behind Newton’s 4 The soccer field

It defies the laws of physics that the stadium lights on the soccer field do not penetrate the woods surrounding the area. This alone should be enough to deter any sane person from exploring this path. Maybe running into the darkness with your friends to play manhunt was cool in high school, but this path is uneven and littered with exposed roots, rocks and ditches. If you are smart enough to heed this warning but your friends are not, give them a solid farewell because odds are they won’t be coming back.

I would rather walk up the Million Dollar Stairs thirteen times a day than walk down this sidewalk once. If your friends try to convince you to go this way because there are “less stairs,” run away because they’re clearly trying to kidnap you. The vents that line the walls of Conte will drown your screams out and trying to run up the rocky hill to Higgins is a lost cause. You’re done for.

Stokes classrooms past 10:30 p.m

Stokes is the ideal place for people to study that live on Upper or CoRo; easy access to your room and the dining hall. However, beware of the flickering lights after 10:30 every night. Depending on where you are in the building, this could go on for hours before they shut off for good. My advice? Just stop doing homework and return to your room. Your professors will understand.

7 O’Connell House

I’m not ashamed to admit that I lived on Upper as a freshman and only set foot in O’Connell House twice. That place is creepy. Unless you are attending a school-sanctioned event, there is no reason to be there. Playing the out-of-tune piano or using a room to study is not a valid excuse because that place is most definitely haunted. If you value your soul at all you will just study in the Chevy lounge or go to a practice room in Lyons.

8 The shortcut to CoRo

BC is quietly buying as many of the houses surrounding campus as possible. The first house on College Road next to Roncalli is completely empty and its only purpose seems to be the steps it provides for students walking up to Welch or Williams. If you’re using this path at night, walk fast. The bright light on the back of the house shines enough light to see where you are going, but it also casts eerie shadows in your peripheral vision which, if you’re anything like me, will make you paranoid and result in tripping on a rock.

There is no doubt that Boston College is home to some beautiful buildings, both inside and out. But all of this beauty had to come with a price, and to be quite honest, it is a meager price at that.

FEATURES

EAGLE EYE Photos Courtesy of Alex Krowiak / Gavel Media

C B T A HEARD

OVER

“On a scale of 1-10, how do I look? Like can I go hook up with someone?” –Off Campus “But what does a fox say? Does it bark? Does it roar?” –Lower

“Just wake me up when September ends.” –O’Neill “You can’t post that now, it’s past prime Instagram hours!” –Lower “I hate the T. F**k the T!” –Comm. Ave. “I don’t understand why all doors aren’t just push.” –Maloney Stairs “I just realized I haven’t brushed my teeth in two days.” –Off Campus

The jam-infused college band O.A.R.—a moniker for Of A Revolution—dropped by Conte Forum on September 20th** for UGBC’s annual fall concert, bringing with them their soulful, touching ballads and a steady stream of popular hits like “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker” and “Love and Memories.” The turnout was below average, but the enthusiasm of the few in attendance made for a fun time. Just feet away from the band, many likened the concert to having their own private performance. Concertgoers said it was intimate, and acoustically on-point—a refreshing way to spend a Friday night on campus.

Photos Courtesy of Gavel Media

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October 2013

FEATURES

HAITI’S By Katie Carsky / Gavel Media Staff

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Photos Courtesy of Katherine Carsky

For the past 12 years, Boston College nurses have gone on an annual service trip to Haiti. This January, a group of 11 undergraduates, four graduate students, some nursing alumni and Professor Donna Cullinan, FNP will be returning to Haiti to continue the tradition. Haiti is a beautiful Caribbean country on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. It is full of suffering, though, especially with the devastation left after the earthquake in January 2010. “After the earthquake there was unbelievable sorrow, but the people of Haiti are full of hope,” says Professor Cullinan. The service in Haiti was originally meant to relieve suffering, but the focus has shifted to include providing sustainable living conditions. According to Professor Cullinan, there’s still so much that needs to be done. She chooses to share a powerful Ghandi quote with the nurses: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” The aim of the trip is to provide nursing care to patients throughout the country. The trip is sure to be exhausting but well worth it, as the group has a packed itinerary to get as much done as they can in a short period of time. Upon arriving, the nurses will

October 2013

go to Leogane, a city in Haiti about 20 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. This city will become their home base for the week. On Sunday, they start by taking part in a walking tour of Leogane. Next, they visit an orphanage where they bring the children toys, play with them and feed babies. The day ends once they pack all the necessary supplies for the next day into 50 pound suitcases. Monday through Friday they are scheduled to travel to a different city each day to work all day from seven to five. In these cities, they set up triage, which is when the nurse asks about all of a patient’s health information at the doctor’s office. They also set up a pharmacy to treat patients throughout the day. They deal with a wide range of patients with unpredictable health concerns such as cholera, diabetes, high blood pressure and glaucoma. They also work with pregnant women and babies with a health issue known as “scabies,” an itchy infection caused by a parasite that lives under the skin. On Saturday, they are scheduled to visit a second orphanage and will return to Boston on Sunday. The Connell School of Nursing has given the group a grant to help pay for the trip, but they still need to raise a significant amount of money to provide supplies, equipment and other provisions for the Haitians that they are treating. Fundraising efforts have included selling hair ties, headbands and Vineyard Vines hats, but the fundraising continues. On Oct. 26, runners can participate in the BC Nurses Run for Haiti 5K. This exciting event is a great way to help the nurses make their trip a reality, and all runners will receive a t-shirt and can even win prizes. The nurses are keeping their focus on the individuals in need and their health while in Haiti. They are providing healthcare to over 1,000 Haitian adults and children, as about 300 to 400 patients are expected to come through the clinics each day. “I think the most important thing we are looking to gain from this experience is how to obtain perspective on what may seem little and insignificant to us. It is a life-changing experience for many who don’t have the resources that we are so fortunate to have in a first world country,” says one of the nurses. “As nurses, we strive to serve all those in need, especially the poor. I think it’s going to be a wonderful trip and I think that while we are there to teach them about medicine and healthcare, we will be the ones to come back with more knowledge about life and the wonderful people of Haiti.”

STAY UPDATED

You can follow the nurses’ progress before and during their trip through their blog

http://csoninhaiti.blogspot.com

FEATURES

Romeo & juliet

reloaded By Valerie Cherbero/ Gavel Media Staff

“t

wo households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” Sound familiar? If you’ve ever been in a high school English class or had an unhealthy obsession with Leonardo DiCaprio, you’ll recognize those lines as the fateful opening to Romeo and Juliet—a tale of family feuds, young love and untimely deaths. This classic Shakespearean play has inspired countless adaptations, including the upcoming remake starring Academy Award nominee Hailee Steinfeld and relative newcomer Douglas Booth. With its traditional setting and Shakespearean language, as well as a star-studded cast (Gossip Girl fans will be thrilled to see Ed Westwick playing Juliet’s villainous cousin Tybalt), this adaptation promises to satisfy any fan of Shakespeare, romance or men in tights. In light of the October 11 premiere, let’s take

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Image via Tumblr.com

a look back at some of the more famous attempts to recreate Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Released in 1968, Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet is perhaps one of the most renowned recreations. This film adaptation uses classic Shakespearean language, costuming and setting to transport the audience back to 16th century Italy. Zeffirelli’s decision to cast Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey as the title characters differentiated his adaptation from those of his predecessors. These two teenaged actors were much closer in age to the original Romeo and Juliet. Although seeing a 13-year-old and 15-year-old fall deeply in love, get married and eventually commit suicide together might be off-putting to some viewers, it does reinforce the innocence of their love, and reaffirm Zeffirelli’s commitment to creating a true Shakespearean experience. In complete contrast to Zeffirelli’s traditional recreation, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet is one of the most innovative and shocking Shakespearean adaptations.

October 2013

“and if all that didn’t convince you to watch the film, remember that a young Leonardo Dicaprio plays Romeo. Convinced now? Good.”

Set in modern-day Verona Beach, this film features contemporary costuming and some slight plot changes, such as using guns instead of swords and portraying the Montagues and Capulets as rival business moguls instead of feuding families. However, to avoid being too modern, Luhrmann retained the original language of the play. This juxtaposition of traditional Shakespearean language and modern setting sets Luhrmann apart from most other adaptive directors. And if all that didn’t convince you to watch the film, remember that a young Leonardo Dicaprio plays Romeo. Convinced now? Good. Another less direct, though arguably more famous adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is West Side Story, a classic Sondheim musical set in 1950s New York City. West Side Story differs significantly from the original story in both characters and setting. Replacing the feuding Montague and Capulet families are the Jets and the Sharks, two rival gangs who battle on the streets and also occasionally break out in dance (as all great gangs do). The two main characters, Tony and Maria, come from rival gangs and aren’t separated by familial obligations but rather by both social and racial constraints. Another crucial departure from the original Romeo and Juliet is the musical setting, which led to such hits as “America,” “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty” (Anger Management, anyone?). One final adaptation worth mentioning is Gnomeo and Juliet, a modern classic that defies cinematic standards and reaches a level of genius probably not seen since the original production of Romeo and Juliet… Just kidding. You don’t need to see Gnomeo and Juliet. In fact, you probably don’t need to see any movies involving gnomes. Instead, just go see Romeo and Juliet, which hits theaters on October 11!

CULTURE

Dorm recipe

getting pumpkinpie no-bake weird with

Each month The Gavel will bring you an exclusive interview with a WZBC DJ. Check out what they’re playing and get a glimpse of life behind that black door in McElroy. WZBC has been a fixture on campus for 40 years, yet many students don’t tune into the station when they’re in need of new music. Or old music. Or any music at all really. So who is listening to 90.3 FM if it isn’t students here at Boston College? “Well, there’s this guy named Rick. I like to picture him as an old, bald billionaire. He spends most of his time in the bathtub, and WZBC is the only thing that makes his life worth living.” This was how Lev Omelchenko, the pajama-pant wearing Publicity Director of WZBC, introduced me to Rick, the faithful WZBC listener who regularly calls the station for a chat. “WZBC keeps him going,” hypothesizes Omelchenko. “No one knows anything about this guy. I like to think we’re all he has.” Another member of WZBC later told me that this fantasy was unfortunately not the case. “Rick? Rick lives in Quincy. We know exactly who Rick is.” It’s a long-standing joke at the sta-

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By Emily Akin / Online Manager

tion that very, very few of their listeners come from BC. In reality, this has had little to no impact on the station’s success. WZBC was nominated for “Best College Radio 2012” and attracts a national audience. Rick and other faithful listeners across the country tune in daily online or to 90.3 for a good dose of modern rock. The genre “modern rock” seems excessively vague and all-encompassing. So what can BC students expect when tuning in to WZBC? Omelchenko told me that the station has aimed to play “good” music for the past four decades. When asked to expand on that equally general adjective, Omelchenko explains, “Well, there’s music that resonates in your skin, you know? And then there’s music that resonates in your muscles. But the best, the best is when it resonates in your bones.” Omelchenko, along with fellow DJ Rebecca Grant, runs his own bone-resonating show, enigmatically named “The Cambrian Explosion.” He aims to create a smooth playlist in which he can “showcase the evolution of music.” “It should be fluid like a good album,” says Omelchenko, glancing down at his rainbow-colored pajama pants, check-

ered with images of mustaches and skulls. “I try to feed off of the last song played, keeping a generally similar vibe.” The real question emerges: For Omelchenko, what came first, WZBC or the mustache pajama pants? Omelchenko aptly observes, “The station has expanded my mind. I’ve started to appreciate really different stuff.” I suppose it’s a bit of a chicken or the egg situation. If you appreciate different stuff too, tune in to WZBC Fridays between 1-3 p.m. to catch Omelchenko on “The Cambrian Explosion.”

This recipe serves 8.

Autumn is officially in the air. Leaves are falling, sweaters and boots are being taken out of storage and girls everywhere are Instagramming their pumpkin spiced lattes. Close your eyes and imagine what autumn tastes like. Sweet pumpkin, spicy nutmeg and warm cinnamon immediately come to mind. These flavors are what makes fall one of my absolute favorite times of year. Since October is a month filled with fall flavors and Jack-O-Lanterns, this month’s recipe is an easy dorm-friendly twist on a classic — pumpkin pie. Grab some friends, a cup of warm apple cider and dig in!

ingredients & procedure 2 packages instant vanilla pudding mix (33/4 oz each) 1/2 cup milk 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix!) 11/4 teaspoons cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 pre-made pie crust

Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk until thick and creamy. Step 2: Stir in pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Step 3: Spread evenly onto the pie crust and refrigerate overnight.

Serve and enjoy! Tip: You can replace the large pie crust with individual crusts for tiny personal pies!

lev’s spinle tab dj Spiritualized

Courtesy of Samantha Costanza/ Gavel Media

Courtesy of Alex Krowiak / Gavel Media

wzbc

By Samantha Costanza/ Assoc. Culture Editor

Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space “The first album I fell in love with at WZBC.”

Speedy Ortiz

Major Arcana “Great album— they’re playing the WZBC 40th Anniversary Show at the Great Scott on Nov. 7th.”

julianna barwick

“Her music moves into you slowly. It’s hauntingly beautiful.”

October 2013

CULTURE

Holly maniatty

A m e r i ca n S i g n

Language interpreter Holly Maniatty is dressed in all black. She stands on a raised platform in front of the crowd, yet below the main stage, at the Boston Calling Music Festival. Her hands fly through the air, shaping the smooth lyrics into symbols; a language only 12 or 13 people in the crowd can understand. She wordlessly mouths the lyrics to the song, slightly exaggerating the formation for hearing-impaired members of the audience who seek to pull meaning from her lips. Her movement and signing come together in one fluid performance as she gracefully translates the music into a physical art form. She dances, clearly enjoying the relatively mellow beat, subconsciously tucking a strand of straightened brown hair back into a headband. Seamlessly, she moves on

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with the lyrics: “A dollar might just f*ck your main b*tch that’s just how I feel…” The contrast between the biting lyrics of Kendrick Lamar’s “Money Trees” and Maniatty’s prim physical appearance presents a powerful image. According to all rules of the universe, the two should be at odds with each other. And yet, despite her delicate stature and smooth hair, in the moment, Maniatty embodies the swagger of Kendrick Lamar. She might as well have grown up next door to him in Compton. The Maine-born ASL performance interpreter began her career by signing for Marilyn Manson approximately 10 years ago. In 2009, she found her niche in hip-hop interpretation for patrons with hearing impairments when she interpreted the Beastie Boys’ final set together at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Since then the market

for ASL interpretation has expanded— “I’ve done lots of interpreting all over the world,” says Maniatty—and hiphop performance interpretation has specifically begun to gain attention from the musical community. But what attracts Maniatty to hiphop specifically? It is not an easy job, especially when considering that ASL performance interpretation is not just rote translation. The rhythm must be maintained, the rhyme scheme preserved. Maniatty spends anywhere from 50 to 80 hours preparing for any one 90-minute set: “Hip-hop and rap take a bit more time . . . simply because of the sheer volume of lyrics that [are] in just one song, many of the lyrics include spicy word play and rhyming themes that all have to be worked into an interpretation while preserving the integrity of ASL.” Maintaining this

October 2013

authenticity helps Maniatty connect with a hearing-impaired concertgoer just as Kendrick Lamar would connect with any other audience member. This conveyance of emotion is the main motivation behind Maniatty’s work. As she explains via e-mail, “Songs tell a story and often take a person on a journey as they are being sung. So when an interpreter is working with music, the same journey has to be offered through ASL to the D/deaf patrons.” The resulting performance is beautiful to watch, even for concertgoers who are not fluent in ASL. Maniatty’s attention to detail is astounding. She mimics the mannerisms of the artists she interprets—her Eminem is starkly different from her Jay-Z. Even during non-lyrical lulls in the song, Maniatty often steals the show from the musician: She can usually be found belly dancing in time to the beat. While she is primarily interested in rap and hip-hop music due to personal preference, Maniatty has signed for all types of bands in varying genres at the music festivals where she works. In regards to the specific lineup at Boston Calling, Maniatty explained that the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) focus of the festival forced her to rely on body movement more than any other festival she had previously interpreted. “ASL is a vibrant language that has an amazing capacity to relay sounds and emotion through the manner in which it is signed and poetic techniques,” she said. “When there is a group like Passion Pit that has lots of emotive music as the backdrop to

the lyrics, that is relayed through body movement.” Of course, when pressed, Maniatty admitted that her favorite act at Boston Calling was Kendrick. “He was really into connecting with the crowd—so that was fun.” After all, it’s the crowd interaction that makes ASL performance interpretation a dream job for Maniatty: “That is the best thing about

live music—with an interpreter and performers—a D/deaf patron can have an equally awesome experience as a hearing patron. A concert is an experience and many things go into it.” This emerging field of ASL hip-hop and rap performance interpretation will likely continue to expand the concert-going experience, especially as talented interpreters such as Maniatty bring their own artistry to the stage.

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By Emily Akin / Online Manager

“

The Maine-born ASL performance interpretor began her career by signing for Marilyn Manson approximately ten years ago.

“

Singingwith her hands:

CULTURE

Don’t Burst My BC Bubble (Please)

There are so many things that contribute to the plush fantasy-land that is living on a college campus. The first two years are especially magical, because for the first time we are truly living on our own, without parents and other family members clouding what we want to do. There is so much potential in those first few days of college that the possibilities seem endless. That starry-eyed wonder with college quickly diminishes, as so many upperclassmen know, but let’s think about this situation in context. Although college does suck at times and is stressful, although class schedules never seem to be as perfect as we expect them to be, although it is inevitable that you will run into housing drama, we still attend one of the best educational institutions in the country and have so many resources just steps from our beds. It’s all right here. As much as we try to burst the BC bubble and escape campus life at BC, there is a piece of it wherever we go. We are always surrounded by our peers, people our own age that we identify with the most. The very fact that we live in the best college town contributes to that 18-to 22-year-old

focused environment. So this begs the question: Are we going to be able to interact with the real, outside, adult world? The amount of times I think about whether I will be able to “make it” in the real world after I graduate is appalling, and I have barely begun my junior year. But maybe we have it a little too good. When I finally sat down to write out my thoughts, a new one crossed my

that for the rest of our lives. Why should we worry about all the postgrad stuff when we can be enjoying the company of our friends and peers while we still can? This wonderful time will be over before we know it. I’m not saying to completely throw postgrad woes out the window, but thinking about the future shouldn’t ruin your present. I have heard this so many times and believe it to be true: College is the last time you can be absolutely selfish without many consequences. So take advantage of it and relish in campus life. With all that being said, the inevitability of the world after graduation is very real, so keep that in mind and know that there is a world outside of BC’s campus to take advantage of! Boston is a beautiful city to explore, especially as young adults. I know that personally if I don’t get off campus and into Boston at least twice a month I go stir crazy. It’s all about finding your own happy medium. I’m fine with taking a peek into what my adult life will be like every once in a while, but for now I’m going to live my happy-go-lucky BC Bubble life.

“So this begs the question: Are we going to be able to interact with the real, outside, adult world?” mind: When else will I be living in an environment surrounded by only people my age, all focusing on the same general goals? Never. After we all graduate we are going to be forced to have significantly greater interactions with people older than us, people we don’t want to deal with. Think college life is stressful? I am dreading the day that I actually have to wear professional clothing every day and have a hundred times as many responsibilities as I do now. And we’re probably going to have to deal with

By Bernadette Deron/ Gavel Media Staff We’ve all heard the term “The BC Bubble” before, and it is almost always attached with a negative connotation. For some reason or another, the Eagles of Chestnut Hill and Newton are stuck in the vortex that is the Boston College campus. We are on a perpetual cycle between class, work, the library, the Plex and our dorms. The Gavel even has a culture segment dedicated to motivate students to get off campus: “Burst the BC Bubble.” Now I’m not saying that every BC student just sits on campus all day and never even thinks about venturing into Boston. But I do recognize that living at a college campus in a suburban area keeps students more centralized. If there is ever a place I frequent more than Lower and Main Campus, it’s probably Cleveland Circle, and then maybe Harvard Ave. And if I am venturing off campus, I’m going to be with my BC friends or run into friends from campus (it’s scary how often that happens). I’m sure a good amount of you can relate. Image courtesy of Alex Krowiak / Gavel Media

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October 2013

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OPINIONS

By Michael Natalie / Gavel Media Staff

transfer to somewhere “more prestigious.” Now, freshman year is an awkward phase for nearly everyone. And my fellow Bethpage-ians had no right to tell me what my priorities should be, at least not where my college choices were concerned. That said, I can’t place full blame on them—most of it falls on myself for internalizing all of this elitism and negativity. I also, on some level, blame society at large. Collectively, we’ve all set too much store by the U.S. News and World Report’s

“

Who’s to say they’re giving the most weight to the most important criterion?

a glance at the rankings US News “Best National Universities” 2013

1 2 3 4 5 24

Princeton University Harvard University Yale University Columbia University Stanford University

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6 7 8 9 10

University of Chicago Duke University MIT UPenn

“

I’ll admit it: I was one of the top students at Bethpage High School, and everyone—from my parents, to my teachers, to my friends, to yours truly— was disappointed when I matriculated here at Boston College, which “only” ranks 31st in the U.S. News and World Report rankings. I had turned down several schools which ranked higher, but were inconvenient for various other reasons—distance, finance, lack of serious commitment to my personal interests, etc.—but no argument I made in defense of my decision appeased the critics. When I asked why, they’d usually say something to the effect of “it’s on the low end of what you qualify for,” and when pressed further, they referred me to the List. This constant feeling of inadequacy inhibited my ability to bond with my fellow Eagles freshman year, strained my relations with my professors and ultimately motivated me to attempt to

college rankings. Before going any further, I should note that U.S. News itself warns students to use the List only as a guide, not as a Bible. This is not a condemnation of their service as much as an expansion on their warning. BC’s rank has not changed in the most recent edition of the List. I remember hoping, after my transfer attempt fell through, that BC would climb in the ranks, perhaps because of my contributions. Judging from my conversations with fellow students, many were hoping for the same thing; it seems to me that nobody is particularly happy with this alleged “stagnation.” My editor asked me, when proposing this piece, “What should be done to improve our ranking?” to which I responded, “That’s the wrong question.” Sure, there’s a pragmatic reason for wanting to scale the list. Prestige, like all forms of power, lies where people think it lies. Climbing these rankings

agree with them on their criterion, there are many ways in which the variables they measure can interact—who’s to say they’re giving the most weight to the most important criterion? For instance, substantial weight is given to who we are as freshmen, before the university itself even has an opportunity to educate us. In theory, shouldn’t they care more about who we are post-undergraduate education? Speaking as a top student at my former high school, I can honestly say I do not consider academic achievement at that level to be any real reflection on your character. It’s no guarantee of intelligence, work ethic or integrity. At age 18, we’re mostly raw material for the sculpting; much intellectual development has not yet taken place. More significant criterion should include post-graduate financial success, employer reviews of alums from a given university, student satisfaction

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Don’t Take College Rankings

could theoretically boost the value of a BC degree, something none of us object to. However, U.S. News and World Report only discusses its methodology in fairly general terms. According to their website, the List considers the “strength” of the faculty, the relative academic achievement of incoming freshmen, the selectivity of the school, its retention and graduation rates, its financial capabilities, alumni donations, and in certain cases, the opinions of high school guidance counselors. Perhaps most interestingly, the school’s academic reputation, or how well deans, provosts and the like regard the school is also assessed. Phew. Nobody can say they haven’t considered a multitude of factors, and to their credit, one can go to their website and see the percentage weight they give to each criterion. That said, are these the only—or even the best— indicators? And, even if we were to

Forbes “America’s Top Colleges” 2013

1 2 3 4 5

Stanford University Pomona College Princeton University Yale University Columbia University

6 7 8 9 10

Swarthmore College U.S. Military Academy Harvard University Williams College MIT

CalTech

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October 2013

with their educational experiences—the list goes on. I must admit my definition of “success” makes certain assumptions I’m not happy with, but I still think these measures of post-graduate “success” are more meaningful than high-school achievement. I’m not saying assessing classes doesn’t matter; I only mean to suggest that other factors may matter more. Furthermore, the school’s preexisting reputation has significant bearing on its rank and this rank in turn influences the school’s reputation. Sure, they’re drawing not from general opinion but from the views of qualified educators, but I can’t help but suspect the ranks are on some level self-perpetuating; thus accounting for their general lack of variation year-to-year. Again, I don’t mean to attack the List. It’s not a bad list; I can understand why they use the criterion they do, even though I don’t necessarily agree. I’m only suggesting that the rankings are compiled by researchers who, by their own admission, rely on a variety of qualitative factors we may dispute. To appropriate their criterion in an effort to boost our rank is foolish. The educators responsible for our well-being—from professors to deans to other administrators—should theoretically know their trade better than these researchers could ever hope to, and that tailoring their service to the U.S. News’ criterion would most likely work to the university’s detriment. Now, returning to us, the students. U.S. News itself admits that you should go where you’re happy—it is four years of your life, after all. They do not condone making decisions based on lay prestige when a variety of more important, more individualized factors may come into play. So why should we? Maybe Boston College isn’t the place for you. I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I wouldn’t argue that BC is perfect. But if your ‘‘only” reservation is that we’re “only” 31st in the nation, you seriously need to readjust your priorities.

OPINIONS

by Ricardo A. Sánchez/Gavel Media Staff

Imagine a world in which societies guarantee to fill their prisons, or in which decreases in crime rates cost taxpayers more money. Unfortunately, this world does not have to be imagined—it’s real, and we live in it. Among the most puzzling controversies in the United States is the debate over private prisons. In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, state governments often sign contracts with private companies to confine their prison inmates. This practice has increased in recent years. As noted by Suzy Khimm of Mother Jones, between 2000 and 2007, inmates in private prisons rose from 6 percent of the total U.S. population to 9 percent, but is this a good thing? The common argument made in favor of this practice is that for-profit owners, unlike government bureaucrats, have the incentive to seek efficiencies that would save taxpayers money. This

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sounds reasonable in theory, until we take a look at how it works in practice. In 2012, the largest for-profit private prison company in the US, the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), wrote a letter to 48 state governors offering to buy and operate their public prison facilities. This proposal included a provision that would require states that signed on to maintain a 90 percent prison occupancy rate over 20 years. While such a proposal was too controversial for any of the 48 governors to accept, many have continued to sign contracts with for-profit prison companies with similar occupancy provisions. A report published by In the Public Interest (ITPI), titled “Criminal: How Lockup Quotas and ‘Low-Crime Taxes’ Guarantee Profits for Private Prison Corporations,” analyzes the contracts signed between private prison companies and state and local governments across the country. The report shows

that many states have been striking deals with private companies that require governments to either guarantee prison occupancy rates (often as high as 90 or even 100 percent) or pay for the empty beds in the event of a decrease in crime. These provisions are alarming for a number of reasons. First, as the title of the report suggests, the guarantee of prison occupancy rates amounts to nothing less than a lockup quota. Second, if a decrease in crime leads to more empty beds in these private prisons, taxpayers are left to foot the bill, which is essentially a “low-crime tax” that maintains a certain level of profit for these private prison companies. This begs the question: Why are taxpayers being forced to pay more even when less people are being sent to jail? Is this really the sort of policy our state governments should pursue? This practice of contracting out “in-

October 2013

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ing out incarceration ‘services’ is that private firms may well turn out to be even more efficient and effective than unions in lobbying for policies that would increase prison populations.” Efficiency, in this case, is not something to be welcomed. The ugly truth here is that these private prisons can only do well if people are being sent to prison. The private prison corporations are well within their rights to lobby for their own interests, but their interests are simply not good for the public. Signing contracts with private firms who have an economic interest in maintaining high prison occupancy rates is simply bad policy, and in many cases does not save the government any money at all. Cost-saving estimates by private prisons are often misleading, as the majority of private prisons only accept low-cost inmates. Furthermore, a study by the US Bureau of Justice Statistics found that the cost-savings assured by private prisons “have simply not materialized,” and that for-profit prisons cost more than public ones. One would expect that in a time of budget constraints, governments would be trying to save money by putting less people into prison—unfortunately, they have been doing the exact opposite. Our government should be focused on creating a justice system that protects the interests of the public, not the interests and profits of private corporations. What kind of society pro-

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motes incarceration and allows people to lobby for harsher prison sentences? The public would undoubtedly benefit more from policies promoting rehabilitation, community building, crime reduction and sentences that put more emphasis on parole and probation and less on incarceration. As the report by ITPI notes, contracts with lockup quotas only promote criminalization while “running counter to many states’ public policy goals of reducing the prison population and increasing efforts for inmate rehabilitation.” The fact that some state governments are guaranteeing to fill prisons as much as possible in order to protect the profits of private corporations speaks volumes about the society we live in. These policies essentially treat human prisoners as mere profit incentives, and impact people who have no way of changing them (in many states, prisoners are disenfranchised). The practice of contracting out “incarceration services” to private corporations – especially those with lockup quotas – is not only immoral, but also inexcusable, “unjust” and should be done away with completely.

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States on average spend four times more per capita on “ incarcerating prisoners than educating students.

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Private Prison System

carceration services” is simply wrong and could even be described as dangerous for society. It may be true that privately run prisons are more efficient than state-run ones, but is this sort of efficiency something we should welcome? Economically speaking, we can assume that these private prison companies will seek profits by maximizing the difference between how much they bill the government and how much it actually costs them to deliver the “service.” They have the incentive to provide less value for money, and will certainly do so given the opportunity. Keeping costs down may be good policy for the company running the prisons, but that often comes at the expense of security of the prisons. As was the case in Arizona, after three murderers escaped from a private prison, it was found that poor patrols, a “lax culture” and inconsistent screening procedures were to blame. There is also the problem of lobbying. It is true that public prison labor unions often lobby the government for harsher sentencing policies to benefit themselves. Harsher prison sentences mean more people are thrown in prison for longer periods of time, increasing the need for more prisons and more employees. This is certainly not in the public interest. However, turning public prisons into private ones can have an even worse effect. As written in The Economist, “the great hazard of contract-

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OPINIONS

ty a worthy commitment. “We are always trying to find good competition and stay competitive throughout our season,” Marr said. “We travel all across the country and play the best teams we can possibly fit into our schedule, constantly mixing up our opponents through USA Ultimate, the governing body for the sport.” Playing other New England schools like Harvard, Tufts and UVM on an annual basis presents a hefty challenge, and the team is exposed to even more talent down South. “Every year, we go to an ACC tournament and play schools like UNC, Wake Forest, Duke, NC State and others. It’s great to at least feel like we have inter-conference rivalries, even through we aren’t really in an official conference,” said Marr. With a schedule loaded with talented ACC and New England squads, BC Ultimate rarely has an effortless victory, and the rules of the game make it far from an easy workout. “Ultimate Frisbee involves a lot of running and stopping and going. But it really gets tough when games are longer than they should be,” Marr, an ex-

Uncovered: The Kings of Ultimate

By Teddy Kolva/Sports Editor

nless you’re a Division I athlete, college brings on a new era for the athletes in all of us. Those bus rides and team dinners—nostalgic times of high school that would seemingly never end—are replaced with trips to the library and watching reruns of Game of Thrones on Netflix. The days of frequenting that musty locker room, tying up those dirty cleats and springing into one-onone tackling drills in the heat of summer are gone. And, as the bitter reality of growing up has it, those days aren’t coming back. But that doesn’t mean the competitive spirit that proliferated in our hearts during those high school years is dead. It can still be harnessed, and as the Boston College Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team can attest, there’s even room for that spirit to grow. Devoid of the glamour and stardom of a Division I program, BC Ultimate Frisbee won’t sport its matching Under Armour cleats to practice, a collection of sweatbands embroidered with their initials, or even a support staff of trainers, ball (or rather, Frisbee) boys and equipment managers. They don’t carry branded backpacks with tags indicating their name and position. They don’t have a structured nutrition plan. And they most definitely do not have to worry about “sanction this” or “compliance that.” What they do have, though, is that same passion and desire to play on a competitive level as their varsity-level classmates. That feeling has never waned for any of the members of the BC Ultimate team, and it shows in their dedication to the sport. Connor Marr, a senior captain on the team, said that the group’s competitive energy makes the activi-

perienced ‘frisbeer,’ explained. “Games are played to 21, and one point scored could be likened to a touchdown in football. The problem is, it’s not always fast and games can go on forever.” The game requires the team to be in good physical condition; the idea that ultimate can be played in a casual manner is shared only by those who have never played the official game before. Driven by an intense competitive spirit, most of the players on the team find themselves covering a field endto-end for up to two hours. Despite the long, often arduous tournaments and practices, a lot of what keeps the team motivated is their goal of making Nationals, the pinnacle achievement for many club ultimate teams across the United States. For a sport that is unfortunately stereotyped as beer-league-worthy, making Nationals is not an easy task. You have to work for greatness. “This is no Sunday league—no Sunday brunch,” Marr quipped. “We work hard when it is our time to work hard, and always keep in the back of our heads what our main goal is, which is Nationals.” BC Ultimate has a tall order ahead of them this year, as the farthest the team has ever gone is regional semi-finals. The champions of each regional bracket get to advance to the USA Frisbee Nationals—usually held in a U.S. city in late May. “Our main goal is to make Nationals, and when we are all committed to

being a team and winning, everything will fall into place, even if we don’t end up making it that far,” said Dylan Wolff, another team captain and member of the USA Ultimate National Team that won a world championship last year. Overall, the team finds satisfaction in being a unit and maintaining that fiery desire for competition. A place at nationals would mean a lot for the organization, but a season without nationals wouldn’t define the year as a failure. Being content with not going to nationals is not a signal of mediocrity, either. The players are satisfied reliving the days of high school competition and camaraderie, and anything more is just a welcomed bonus. “We were varsity athletes all throughout high school, and for me personally, I was looking for a way to stay competitive,” said Marr. “Although frisbee is relaxed and not a varsity sport, it’s a good way to be competitive, and more importantly, it keeps that sense of being a part of something together. We never lost it after high school because of ultimate.” The team has fun. How many places can say that exists in a college sports setting? They cherish the opportunity to relive the days of after-school practices and quiet postgame bus rides after a loss, at least in the emotional sense. That’s something we all wish we could have back.

Photos Courtesy of Alex Krowiak / Gavel Media

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October 2013

SPORTS

Frankie: Give me a quick overview of the Boston College cheer squad— what function do you guys serve as a critical part of this school’s spirit and camaraderie? Lamont: We are a part of the spirit program at Boston College, which consists of Pom Squad, Baldwin and us. John Gilbert is our head coach and is very knowledgeable on routines and stunts. As a cheer squad, we do tumbling and stunts. Tumbling is the stuff you see us do standing up, such as flips and Arabians. Stunting is the partner work we do when the guys are paired with the girls. We attend every football game and every home basketball game.

Rumblin’,

Bumblin’,

Stumblin’

Boston College Cheer Squad, Captains of Morale By Frankie Bernard/Gavel Media Staff

Photos courtesy of Anthony Golden/ Gavel Media

hris

Berman

recites

those

three

words—“rumblin’, bumblin’ and stum-

You can also find them under the basket in Conte Fo-

blin’”—to describe a football player,

rum, cheering on the Boston College men’s basketball team.

usually 200-plus pounds, who runs for

During timeouts, they break out their stunts in a controlled

positive yards in a highlight-reel manner. But, as some would

manner, wooing the crowd as the team talks strategy on the

attest, this famous phrase describes the Boston College

sidelines.

cheer squad, too.

ment that carries throughout the competition.

Here’s the bottom line: The cheer squad is at the fore-

You see them waving to the crowd at Alumni Stadium,

front of BC’s school spirit. They spend hours fine-tuning

sometimes on the ground or 12 feet in the air before fall-

their craft, practicing in the steamy Plex in late August and

ing gracefully into the arms of their spotters. But they are

refining their routines into the icy New England winter.

also the first individuals running from the “Eagles Nest”—the

But what else is there to the Boston College cheer squad?

alcove in one corner of Alumni Stadium—hoisting the BC

I sat down with Lamont Gross, a junior on the squad, to get

maroon and gold all the way to the student section. They are

some inside information on Boston College’s most spirited

crucial to the stadium’s atmosphere, setting a tone of excite-

students.

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October 2013

FB: Take me through the game day experience of a cheerleader. LG: For football, we arrive two hours before kickoff and participate in the Eagle Walk. We lead the football team during the walk and lead the crowd in singing “For Boston.” Afterwards, we go to Fanfest in the Plex and put up a pyramid and do things with the fans there. Pre-game, we do a routine at the 50-yard line then lead the team out of the Eagles Nest. Then during the game we perform over 50 specific cheers on the sidelines. You have to know your stuff well because since we have so many cheers, it’s unpredictable what we might do. For basketball, it’s more controlled since we sit down at the sidelines and perform during media timeouts. And then we have Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida, every April where we do a two-and-a-half minute routine nonstop. We had some injuries last year, but I’m excited for this season. FB: You have a lot to prepare for in order to be flawless, not just on game day, but also for Nationals. What’s the preparation like? LG: Well, preparation for Nationals

starts now! While we do practice for football and basketball, some practices right now will be devoted to our routine at Nationals so we will work on specific stunts that wouldn’t be used during games. As far as practice is concerned, we do a long stretch warm-up along with calisthenics and the practices usually depend on the emphasis of the day. During preseason, we have six-hour practices to prepare for the season. I actually got part of my skin ripped off because of the workouts. Every day we have bloody noses and sprained ankles so there has to be a tough mentality heading in. FB: Given the amount of stunts you do, there have to be huge safety implications. LG: Safety is huge. There is a huge responsibility to save that person when we do stunts. Even when everyone is at their best, there will always be bumps and bruises. FB: There has to be a certain trust built amongst the team during stunts. How do you build such trust? LG: Repetition helps. You start with spots to help reassure everything will be all right, but repetition and communication are the keys to building that trust.

FB: What’s the best part about being on the cheer squad? LG: The people in the program. It’s fun learning and doing what we do, but the pain wouldn’t be worth it if it weren’t for the people involved in it. You know, I would do anything for them and they would do anything for me and I think everyone at BC comes in looking for that. FB: What’s the best memory you have from being a part of the cheer squad? LG: USC. One of the best things about traveling is that people on the team usually know some people at the visiting university, so I knew some people at USC and Friday we actually took a limo into downtown Los Angeles and had a blast. Friday, we were able to go to the beach and then had practice at the Griffiths Observatory, which was awesome because it has such a nice view. FB: Anything else you’d like to add about the cheer squad? LG: We’re always looking for more people. If you think you can do it, we can work with you. We are not an exclusive group. We are open to anyone who is willing to try out.

SPORTS

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Welcomes its new banginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; staff writers

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October 2013