September Gavel 2011

Volume III, Issue 5

www.bcgavel.com

September 2011

Top 10 grocery items

Savvy secrets to cooking at home (p. 4)

Barmatch revolution BC Seniors pioneer social app (p. 5)

My Roman holiday

Studying in the Eternal City (p. 19)

GOP Primary heats up

Perry, Romney and Bachman spar (p. 13)

What’s the officer problem?

Is BC a drinking school? (p. 9)

BC Gets a Facelift For constant updates, go to bcgavel.com.

(p. 10)

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News

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President Obama calls for tax increases on millionaires

By Meghan Smith Managing Editor On Monday, September 19, President Obama unveiled a new tax plan that includes a measure to increase tax rates on Americans who make over $1 million a year. The plan, which was announced in a speech at the Rose Garden of the White House, also includes entitlement cuts and war savings in an attempt to reduce the federal deficit by more than $3 trillion over the next 10 years.

Obama threatened to veto any bill that does not include these measures: “I will not support any plan that puts all the burden for closing our deficit on ordinary Americans,” he said. “And I will veto any bill that changes benefits for those who rely on Medicare but does not raise serious revenues by asking the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share."

Part of the plan, which Obama called the "Buffett Rule," named after investor

Warren Buffett, will include a tax rate increase for wealthy millionaires. Buffett recently commented on how millionaires do not pay high enough taxes and said that the government should tax him more.

In an opinion piece in The New York Times called "Stop Coddling the Super-Rich, " Buffet said, "Most [wealthy Americans] wouldn’t mind being told to pay more in taxes as well, particularly when so many of their fellow citizens are truly suffering... My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice."

Obama is aiming for $1.5 trillion in tax increases, which would come through a combination of several tax plans. One is to let a series of the Bush-era tax cuts expire on wealthy citizens, which would also close corporate loopholes. It also includes adjustments of Medicare and Medicaid, which will total $580 billion. Relying on the fact that ending American combat mission in Iraq and

“I will veto any bill that changes benefits for those who rely on Medicare but does not raise serious revenues by asking the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share.”

withdrawing troops in Afghanistan, the White House is hoping to raise an estimated $1.1 trillion.

A senior administration member argued this is part of an effort for the administration to make the country more fiscally responsible, after a summerlong debate about the debt ceiling and deficit.

Initial responses from political leaders were mixed. Daniel Mintz, Campaign Director at MoveOn.org, said, “Today, we’re glad to see this message reach the White House. Americans need jobs not cuts, paid for by making millionaires and corporations pay their fair share.”

Republicans, however, who traditionally have always opposed tax increases on anyone, have already been vocal about their concerns with the plan. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying, “Veto threats, a massive tax hike, phantom

savings, and punting on entitlement reform is not a recipe for economic or job growth—or even meaningful deficit reduction,” he said.

House Budget Chair Representative Paul Ryan called Obama's plan to tax millionaires "class warfare", saying that it “may make for really good politics but it makes for rotten economics.”

According to The White House, the Buffet Rule will affect only 0.3% of American taxpayers, about 450,000 citizens. The specific rate or number was not included in the proposal; this will be left for Congress to decide as part of the rewriting of the tax code.

Easy ways to save yourself space in your dorm room

By Jasmine Uduma News Editor

you’ve been looking everywhere for. In your dorm however, under the bed can become a key asset in the fight to keep yourself organized. Tuck your drawers under the bed and if you have luggage, store seasonal clothing inside and stash them for easy access later.

Let’s face it, the most exciting thing about college move-in is buying all new stuff for your dorm room: fancy clip-on lamps for when ‘productively’ studying in bed, obnoxiously large desk calendars that give the appearance of organized forethought, twenty new posters from over-quoted movies (“The first rule of Fight Club is: you don’t talk about Fight Club.”), if you have a kitchen then clearly a full knife, spoon and grilling set that would make even Gordon Ramsey jealous, is necessary and a whole new bed set just because.

No matter how good the intentions, the cool stuff that you bought at the beginning of the year usually just becomes stuff to clutter your confined space by October when sudden reality hits and mid-terms are just around the corner. In the end, a cluttered space means a cluttered mind, so here are a few tips to help reclaim and maintain your sanity and your room.

1. UTILIZE THE SPACE UNDER YOUR BED.

At home, the space under your bed is predominantly reserved for random loose leafs dating back to middle school, your cat’s hairball collection and that hoodie

2. MAXIMIZE WHAT YOU CAN GET OUT OF OVERHEAD SHELVES.

A clear example of all the typical college kid “essentials.” But now that you have them all together in one place, how do you find space for it?

The easiest thing to do is toss whatever may be in our hands at the moment into a shelf, but that usually comes back to bite in an unforgiving way. Organize shelves by content (say medicines or school books), and KEEP them organized that way.

That way, you’ll always remember where things are and they don’t make your room look messy by being all over your desks and window sills. This goes for kitchens

too. Categorize all food items by shelf and make sure all utensils end up where they are supposed to so counter space is not overrun by cups (clean and dirty).

Try trading off with suitemates with loading and unloading the dishwasher.

3. DON’T LET YOUR CLOSET BECOME AN ABYSS!

If jackets always go on hangers, make sure that’s where they end up at the end of the day. Never just throw your clothes behind something and assume that because you can’t see it, means it passes as organized. Make sure placement of all clothing, school supplies and shoes is with a purpose and not liable to become troublesome for you in the future.

This message has been

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Palestine continues bid for statehood despite threats territories “share the blame with Mr. Obama and Arab leaders (we put the greater onus on Mr. Netanyahu, who has used any excuse to thwart peace efforts). But the best path to statehood remains negotiations.”

The promise by the U.S. to veto any resolution brought before the UN will only continue to isolate the Palestinians and Arab world leaders. In a speech to the U.N. Wednesday September 21, President Obama Addressed the general assembly, saying “Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians—not us—who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security, on refugees and JeruSecretary of State Hilary Clinton meets with Isreali Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. September 2010 salem.” Along with that threat, Congress has threatened to cut

By Jasmine Uduma statehood to avoid peace talks. The Israeli millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinian News Editor government, under U.S. pressure, declared Authority if it presses for a U.N. vote, rather As a long anticipated action comes closer to reality, Palestine is expected to formally place its bid for statehood to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, September 22nd. Currently, the Palestinian territories are recognized with observer status with the UN, which grants them audience with the assembly but not the right to vote.

Some see it as a long shot, but if Palestine is able to win the vote, it would mean that they have the international recognition needed to pursue legal action against Israel over border disputes.

“We want a seat at the United Nations, and we don’t want anything more,” said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Friday in a speech in Ramallah. If their attempt fails in the Security Council, Palestinians say they will ask the General Assembly for enhanced observer status as a nonmember state.

“We want a seat at the United Nations, and we don’t want anything more,” said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud This vote, which the Palestinians are sure to win, would grant them access to several UN bodies and conventions, further strengthening their ability to pursue cases against Israel at the International Criminal Court.

Key parties on both sides are against this.

Israelis have a clear opposition to the proposal. Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the Palestinian Authority is only seeking

a 10-month freeze on new construction in settlements – a sticking point for the Palestinians. The freeze ended in September of last year and Palestinians repeatedly requested the freeze continue as a condition for resumption of peace talks, but Israel refused.

In Gaza, Hamas, the Palestinian organization in control there, has warned Abbas not to seek the UN approval because it would show that the Palestinian people are willing to acknowledge Israel’s statehood. Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar said that any negotiation with Israelis would “deprive the Palestinian people from their right to come back to their homeland.” Al-Zahar continued, saying that Gaza has “warned” Abbas about the potential this decision could have in dividing the Palestinian people.

When Palestine Liberation Organization’s chief representative to the United States Maen Rashid Areikat was asked if anything could dissuade them from making the request, he responded that compromise could be made if “a viable alternative would be clear terms of reference to return to the [Israeli] negotiations, clear time frame and an end game. To the Palestinian, the end game is freedom, to be able to live free and for the Israeli military occupation to end.”

Former President Bill Clinton said in an interview on “Meet the Press” that the United States must contain any fallout from the UN bid, and that the “reality” won’t change the fact that they will still need to cooperate with their Israeli and Arab neighbors. The lack of cooperation is in direct correlation to the lack in communication between the three main parties involved; The U.S., Israel and the Palestinians. The last time all three were in direct talks with one another was in September 2010 for a brief two weeks.

In an op-ed piece from The New York Times September 11, it said Israel and Palestinian

Thomas Friedman, “Foreign Affairs” columnist for The New York Times and Pulitzer Prize recipient, wrote that the “crumbling of key pillars of Israel’s security – the peace with Egypt, the stability of Syria and the friendship of Turkey and Jordan – coupled with the most diplomatically inept and strategically incompetent government in Israel’s history have put Israel in a very dangerous situation.” Under these conditions, the U.S. is now, in Friedman’s opinion, being held hostage by the Israeli refusal to continue discussions with Abbas.

Sharply, Friedman says that Israel’s strategy is to play to its right wing base rather than its key interests. The U.S. is called to “help Israel out of every pickle, but make sure that President Obama can’t ask for anything in return – like halting Israeli settlements – by mobilizing Republicans in Congress to box in Obama and by encouraging Jewish leaders to suggest that Obama is hostile to Israel and is losing the Jewish vote.”

Aluf Benn, writer for Haazat, said that the Middle East and North Africa is trending towards rejecting any cooperation with the Jewish state, mostly as a result of Israel shutting itself off under a leadership that

The promise by the U.S. to veto any resolution brought before the U.N. will only continue to isolate the Palestinians and Arab world leaders. Along with that threat, Congress has threatened to cut millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinian Authority if it presses for a U.N. vote, rather than press Netanyahu to return to talks. than press Netanyahu to return to talks. Israel also threatened to cut millions of dollars in tax remittances to the authority. Many view these counterproductive moves as a potential catalyst for the overthrow of the moderate leadership in Palestine and the empowerment of Hamas and its terrorist organization.

refuses any reform. Friedman concluded, “Unfortunately, Israel today does not have a leader or a cabinet for such subtle diplomacy. One can only hope that the Israeli people will recognize this before this government plunges Israel into deeper global isolation and drags America along with it.”

A patrol from Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in the mountains east of the Jordan River

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Top ten food essentials for dorm-room cooking

By Meghan Smith Managing Editor Finally! You have a kitchen in your dorm or apartment. No more dining hall food and no more paying for ridiculously expensive mandatory meal plans.

But that also means venturing out into the real world and cooking for yourself; which also means the added chore of grocery shopping. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, this guide can help you transition from dining halldependent to real-world chef. Here are some essential food items to buy at the grocery store to help stock your kitchen.

1. Pasta Pasta is great for dorms because you can buy it in bulk and store it away until you need it. It doesn’t spoil and it’s easy and fast to cook; just add some pasta sauce and meatballs and you have a great meal for busy nights when you still want to have a hot meal.

3. Eggs

freezer, and it can be used in a variety of meals. You can make hamburgers, or if you want to be more creative you can add it to a pasta dish to make it more interesting. Want to eat healthier or avoid red meat? Go with ground turkey, it can be substituted for ground beef in any recipe.

Eggs are also very versatile: making scrambled eggs is quick and easy in the morning before class, or make them for dinner if you don’t feel like cooking a big meal. They are also necessary if you’re planning on doing any baking, which you should since you now have an oven.

9. Frozen vegetables

4. Chicken breasts Chicken is great to have because you can freeze it and store it for a long time Once you cook it, you can chop it up and save it to make chicken salad, use in a sandwich, or to put on a salad. Add a little seasoning or glaze and some vegetables and you have an easy, healthy dinner.

5. Granola bars These are great to grab in the morning if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to make breakfast. Handy when you want to bring a snack to the library.

Look for granola bars with nuts them;

2. Peanut butter Peanut butter is very versatile and it gives you protein, which helps keep you feeling fuller longer. It’s great in the morning on toast, a sandwich for lunch, or a late night study break snack.

It’s a great way to also get your daily amount of fruit. It’s perfect for bananas and apples. For an update on the classic peanut butter sandwich, try it with honey, Nutella, or the equally classic jelly.

Photo by Gillian Freedman/Gavel Media

these will help keep you full longer.

6. Cereal Cereal is a wonderful invention for college students. Now, with healthy cereals you are able to get whole grain, protein, and dairy all in a simple bowl of cereal.

And no one says it has to be for just breakfast. It’s great for dinner also if you don’t have time to cook or are in a rush.

7. Fresh fruit Although a tad expensive, and having the ability to go bad quickly, fresh fruit is beneficial to keep in your dorm room. Instead of snacking on salty crackers or chips while studying, grab a fresh apple, orange, or banana. Your body will thank you. Or, eat your fruit with the aforementioned peanut butter, or my personal favorite, Nutella.

8. Ground beef or ground turkey Photo by Gillian Freedman/Gavel Media

Inexpensive and easy to store in your freezer for long periods of time, frozen vegetables are perfect to use as sides for your basic meals. They are easy to prepare and can come in assorted packs that make it easy to whip up a balanced meal or add to a salad.

Again, ground beef is a great staple to have because you can put it away in your

Photo by Gillian Freedman/Gavel Media

10. Frozen casseroles from Mom Hopefully at least one of your roommates lives close enough that their loving mother will be able to drop off a delicious pasta dish that you can keep in your freezer. It’s the closest you’ll get to having a homecooked meal (at least one you don’t have to cook yourself), so enjoy it while it lasts!

GOP seeking support in election amongst key youth vote

By Jasmine Uduma News Editor With the President Obama’s job approval rating dipping down as low as 40 percent among the sampled electorate, there is flurried discussion about his reelection chances within both the Democratic and Republican parties. The president has slipped at least five points in every demographic, some in the double digits, and Republican Party leaders see Obama’s waning support as an opportunity to capitalize on by drumming up support from sectors of the population that were before considered unreachable.

The College Republican National Committee aired a recent ad addressing the perceived fears of future employment opportunities for young adults. In a generation with college costs constantly seeing annual increases and loan debts reaching unprecedented heights, the message strikes a chord. The average debt for college graduates at $24,000 according to a report last year from the Project on Student Debt, leaves a reasonable concern over the stagnant economy and the chances of finding a place in this finicky job market.

The ad aired during sportscasts, reality TV shows and late-night comedy programs

with the specific aim of catching the attention and possible support from the county’s youngest voting bloc. The Likelihood that young voters in the 2008 election will vote for someone other than Obama are not currently high, but the potential of siphoning some of the President’s support may make all the difference.

The Republican strategy has been to pick up enough people from Democrat’s and Obama’s key demographics and shift the balance of power in their direction. Political scientist and Boston College faculty member David Hopkins – an expert on American political parties, elections, the U.S. Congress, voting behavior, public opinion, and research methods – said that these elections are not won solely by persuasive ad campaigns.

“Formation of political values does not happen over an election period. They are political alignments that occur over a period of time, usually solidified after the age of 30.” Political orientation, Hopkins said, can begin as early as childhood In comparison to election results com-

piled over the last 40 years, the last election was an anomoly in comparison to past youth participation, in and out of the voting booth. Then candidate Obama received a 2-1 margin among voters under 35 (conversely he lost the senior vote by about the same margin) and the agegap in voter participation was cut smaller.

The political association has been shown to become concrete and reliably consistent after 30, leaving the 20-something generation open to persuasive argument. Hopkins cited the New Deal generation. Those who were in their 20s during Frankln Delano Roosevelt’s terms in office were more likely to be Democrats in their senior years. The challenge that both political parties have now is not simply winning the next election, but winning future voting trends.

Hopkins adds that though many people are disillusioned with the Obama administration, there is still an entire election cycle that has yet to begin. “There was a personal support of Obama himself. Once the election starts, people are likely to remember that he

is someone they like.” As for the likelihood of what will happen Election Day, that is still hard to tell but “One thing political scientists can agree on is that there are people who are voters and people who aren’t.” it is a habit formed over the years and if someone is not in the habit of voting, they simply won’t.”

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Features

December 7, 2009

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BC seniors pioneer social media app to connect five created Barmatch. It’s a new iPhone application that works much like a mobile version of an ice-breaker come to life.”

Miguel, Harrison and Brian got the idea after leaving Mary Ann’s after the popular Wednesday Summer Trivia. “Everyone goes to MAs to meet people but you usually just end up sticking with your friends. After leaving and heading to Fin’s we discussed how we wished there was an app that could be used as an ice breaker to help everyone meet new people.” That night they decided to pursue the idea. With some help from CJR Business Solutions, a technology start-up also run by BC students, they were able to gather together the Photo credit Barmatchapp.com/beta necessary programmers, advisors, and

By Cal Greene III lawyers and within a short period of time Features Editor a Beta, or test, version of the app was born.

Like all social media platforms, Barmatch A team of BC seniors has come together works as a means to connect users to each to create a new social media iPhone ap- other at social venues that normally would plication (app) that seeks to take the guess not mix or are to shy to mix with each other. work out of meeting people in your favorite Miguel said the app “helps you meet peobar. According to co-founder, senior Miguel ple. When you go to a bar you are always Galvez, “Barmatch brings individuals clos- trying to meet new people but it’s easier er together by using social networking and said then done. It by passes the normal hinlocation-based technologies to spark face- drances that most people experience at bars to-face interaction at social venues.” such as, crowds, difficulty taking the plunge Miguel, senior Brian Sachetta, and Uni- living on a prayer, and normal shyness.” versity of Pennsylvania senior Harrison The app works by using a person’s current Garfinkle first envisioned the idea for Barmatch over the summer and have since worked to build a team, build the app platform to a working model and take their idea to the next level.

Co-founder, senior Brian Sachetta, put it like this, “Ever feel like the scene at a bar feels like a middle school dance, girls one side, guys on the other with only friends talking to each other? Well that’s why we

location to generate an accurate list of attendees at a particular venue, a bar or club for instance, and after registering you can check in and browse who else is there. After registering, the app will prompt the user to upload a photo of themselves for the list so they can see who is there. The app only allows for a person to pick a handful of people in a night to keep users from tagging everyone in the bar. The app will then only send a notification if there is a match, which then prompts users to message each other.

The key to the Barmatch platform is that it requires a mutual acknowledgment of attraction for a notification to be sent, which is the fail safe from the app being used for purposes not originally envisioned by the inventors. They believe the app will revolutionize social interaction by making users feel more confident when approaching the person. The ultimate goal of the new social media app is to “connect people that might not have done so otherwise” according to co-founder Miguel.

They believe the app will allow users to feel more comfortable approaching another person in a social setting because of the prior knowledge the other user has the desire to talk to them since an initial level of interest has been established.

“It’s an ice breaker app plain and simple.

And its for everyone, not just for the person who’s shy, if you have the app it increases the chances of meeting someone because it takes out a lot of the guess work,” said Miguel.

They see Barmatch as a truly social app because it actively encourages social interaction away from a thirteen-inch screen.

Unlike Facebook, which has been described as an anti-social platform where users sit at home projecting who they want to be, Barmatch is a simple platform that connects people and then discussion continues based on who they are. By increasing face-to-face interaction the application seeks to allow people to meet new and interesting people Photo credit Barmatchapp.com/beta

Inside Features pg 6 - 10 ways to trick yourself into going to the plex

pg. 7 - Top tweets of the week

pg. 8 - Overheard at BC

pg. 7 - Stuff BC likes: The Mods

pg. 9 - A drinking School with a Jesuit Problem?

pg. 6 - Life Chat pg. 8 - Peer health Exchange

in person.

Barmatch is going to be free for all users and the planned launch is set for mid-October. Cityside Bar and Grill in Cleveland circle will be the first live test of the app and the co-founders are hoping for a big success. The team is also having a live test in Philadelphia, PA at Smokey Joe’s later in October as well. Until then you can follow Barmatch on twitter and receive updates about the progress of the venture at @ barmatch and “like” them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/barmatch.

This BC team hopefully will join a long list of technology start-ups that has become successful. In a year Barmatch could join other companies such as WePay.com, CJR Business Solutions.

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Ten easy ways to trick yourself into going to the BC Rec

Photo credit Cal Greene III/Gavel Media

By Ailis Peplau Gavel Media Contributor It’s a new achool year and you have made your pact to go to the Plex at least three times a week, but have you been able to keep up with this so far? It is especially important to stick to your decision to workout frequently before classes get busy and midterms weigh down on your schedule. Then, as the semester rushes on, you will already have a reliable workout schedule to fall back on. To help you start off on the right foot, here are 10 ways to “trick” yourself into getting to the gym and motivating yourself to have a productive workout.

1. Get Dressed! Once you are in your gym clothes (or at least dressed with your bag packed for the gym), why not go? The secret

is to make yourself get ready and out the door so that the question of going is no longer a factor.

2. Take a Class. The Plex has a ton of fitness classes running every day such as zumba, spin, pilates, conditioning, yoga, kickboxing... the list goes on. There is always something to fit your interests and fitness level that will keep you entertained. If you decide to take a class, you know you will have fun and get a great workout. An added bonus for freshmen: it’s a great way to meet people around campus!

3. Play games on aerobic machines. If you find yourself unmotivated to workout, even after having completed Trick 1, one solution is to create challenges for yourself on the cardio machines. For example, while on the treadmill or bike, see how many tenths of a mile you can cover (or how many

calories I can burn) before the minute is up.

A consequence of this tends to be that you go harder and faster towards the end of the workout to reach a higher goal for miles or calories.

4. Do a mini triathlon. If you can not think of a workout, pick three machines (bike, treadmill, and stairs, for example) and do 15-20 minutes on each one - no pausing in-between. The other option is to complete a certain distance on each machine (2km rowing, 3mi run, and 5mi bike, for example).

Either way, try to go hard on each machine to cover the most distance in the least time.

The triathlon not only provides an excellent, well-rounded workout, but it also keeps you entertained by switching machines before you get bored.

5. After class, point your feet in the direction of the Plex. Once you are headed in that direction, it is easier to keep going. If you go to your room first, you can easily be distracted by roommates and never make it back out. Similar to the first trick, once you are headed to the Plex, there is no question about whether or not to go.

6. Meet up with a friend. It is a well known fact that having a gym buddy increases your chances of exercising consistently. That is because you have an obligation to go, otherwise you would be letting someone else down. Meet up with your roommate or a new friend and head to the Plex and encourage each other.

7. Set Concete Goals. Think of a challenge for yourself and try to reach the goal. For example, finish 2 miles on the treadmill or 3 miles on the bike in under a set amount of time. This helps you get a harder workout

to strive to meet that goal. You can also repeat this exercise periodically to track your progress.

8. Workout first thing in the morning.

This does not sound too fun, especially when you have a 9am class, but working out in the morning is a great way to boost your metabolism and to stay energized throughout the day.

According to the Livestrong Foundation, “working out...will speed up your metabolism, and it will stay elevated for a while after you stop exercising,” so why not get the full effect of this elevated metabolism?

Not to mention, you will have your whole day free without needing to remind yourself to go workout.

9. People-watch for workout ideas. I have to say that I learn a lot from doing this. When you are plugged in to your music, instead of looking at the machine’s screen, watch what others are doing on the mats and with free-weights to learn new exercises. I can guarantee that you will get several good ideas each time you go.

10. If all else fails....go for a walk! Pop in your headphones or go with a friend for a brief tour of campus or down Comm Ave for the fresh air and let your mind wander from classes and work to simply enjoy the outdoors.

Even though you will not get as intense a workout as at the gym, you will have kept your body active and invigorated instead of sitting in your room or elsewhere.

It is important to set your workout schedule first thing in the year so that you stay on track for the rest of the semester. I cannot stress this enough, and these tricks should help you get into the good habit of consistently working out.

Life Chat: Overcoming tough dating situations with ease because she wants to stay together, and I do really like her. But I do not want to deal with our roller coaster relationship. How should I go about making this break up last without succumbing to the ex-effect?

Photo courtesy of Tue Tran

By: Tue Tran Gavel Media Columnist Question 1: I just broke up with my ex after dating off and on for a year and a half. We got into a huge fight yesterday

Tue: I think you have to be honest with her and say that you both aren’t really good for each other. If your relationship has been up and down all the time, you two need to resolve whatever problems there are immediately or move on. And it sounds as though you recognize this and are ready to do the latter.

Love, like a great friendship, is ultimately based on stability. Roller coasters are fun hearts are racing, twists and turns, a lot of laughs and screams. But sometimes people end up vomiting, and there are always annoying kids around you. So be careful while you are enjoying the ride, please do not go on it if you have a heart condition.

If you are worried about wanting to go back to your ex later on, it does not sound as though you care about her all that much. In fact, from your language, it sounds like you see her as bit parasitic. Once you are honest with her and tell her you don’t see a future with her, hopefully she will know what is best

for her and move on, as well.

I think you have to end this quickly and as clean as possible. In other words, you cannot be friends. If she is still around you, she may still hold onto hope that you will fall in love with her again. It is best for the both of you to just cut off ties.

If things get worse after you tell her, then obviously you are toxic for each other. At that point, you may want to consider things like deadbolts and restraining orders.

Question 2: I keep running to this guy at Mary Ann’s but I don’t think he knows I exist. I’ve tried flicking my hair and being flirty but I don’t think he notices me. How can get this guys attention without looking creepy?

Tue: I am wondering whether he truly does not know you exist or he is just ignoring you.

Chances are it is the latter and he and his friends probably have a mean nickname for you.

You are probably selling yourself short by being obsessed. While the idea of unrequited love may seem cute, it really is not. In fact, it

is more unflattering than horizontal stripes.

You are probably a romantic, right? Well, it is hard for a romantic to change her horizontal stripes, but you might want to reassess what you think love and relationships should be like.

Desperation stinks (referring to the hair flicking and flirting), and he can probably smell you a mile away.

It is time to stop, drop it and roll over to a guy who is as in love with you as you are with him - it can happen. There are plenty of bros in the sea.

I will allow you tonight to go home and pine over this guy one last time. Play Taylor Swift’s “Teardrops On My Guitar,” and sing as loud as you can, replacing “Drew” with his name, of course. Tomorrow, wake up, dress up a bit so you walk with swagger, and you will have admirers in no time.

Also, while MA’s can be a place for a good time, you definitely should consider a new place to meet someone.

I am not sure what type of relationship you are looking for with this guy. So if you go against my advice and still want to get with him, I do not really know what else you can do. I mean, other than go up to him and strike up a conversation. But that’s so 2009.

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Top tweets of the month

Stuff BC Likes: The Mods

BorowitzReport - Sept 13 Based on their applause for abolishing healthcare and ordering executions, Tea Party voters are solidly pro-dying.

FirstWorldPains -Sept 12 I had my hands under the faucet for 5 seconds before realizing it wasn’t motion activated. #firstworldpains FirstWorldLife - Sept 13 I didn’t get Vick in my draft, and now “Vick in a Box” as my team name doesn’t make sense. #FirstWorldProblems YesImWaspy - Aug 25th For some reason the maids think Labor Day is a weekend we all have off. “Labor” in my book usually means double shift time... #YesImWaspy BC Interruption - Sept13 Boston College Daily Links: 99 Problems Edition #BCEagles sbn.to/rgtjZm Daddywarrbuckks - Aug 29 liking on facebook just means im too uncreative to think of something to say

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By Cal Greene III Features Editor Welcome back to the first installment of “Stuff BC Likes” for the 2011-2012 school year. In the past, to jog your memory, “Stuff BC Likes” has covered all the greatest aspects of life at BC. This time will not disappoint- detailing something so near and dear to the alumni and students of BC that about 30 years after their “temporary” construction they are still around. Yes, “Stuff BC Likes” is referring to the Mods.

The Mods, or Modular Housing Units, are the center point of on-campus life.

They are the center of tailgating during football season, highly sought after by underclassmen, a major point of contention for seniors not lucky enough in the housing lottery, and focal point of memories of Alumni.

Much like Mary Ann’s, to any other person, the Mods are a conundrum. The bedrooms are small, cramped and only come with one desk. The walls are paper thin, though that’s not a completely unique trait to the Mods. They are drafty in the winter, lack dishwashers, do not have garbage disposals and are the only senior dorms where residents have to trek outside of their building to do laundry. One mother, when observing her daughter’s new residence on move-in day this year, said to her, “You wanted to live here? What about that nice dorm you were in for orientation?” Despite, the ignored negative aspects of the Mods, every year a new batch of seniors cross their fingers in hopes of getting a favorable pick time.

Senior Michael Littera commented saying, “I love my mod. Yeah, I’ve been sick for the past two weeks since I’ve been back because of the build up of trash, but the last few games tailgating have been a blast. It is awesome having my friends over for a little game day grill session as well.” Many seniors and alumnus have similar sentiments.

The grills and backyards of the mods are such an integral part of the tailgating experience BC would not be the same without it.

The social aspect of the Mods is its biggest draw. It is the only place on BC’s campus large enough to have parties, grilling and tailgating. “Having a back yard makes all the difference in the world. You can’t play Frisbee in Voute, or ladder ball in Ignacio, and you can’t lay out after class in the fall on your lawn chairs in any other place but the mods” commented Senior Josh Wilbur.

“Its just a great social space, in the center of campus, where you and your friends can come over and chill, play a little Call of Duty, or throw around a football.”

The Mods are well known for their backyrad games and are equiped with a picnic table and fairly large grill perfect for games such as “Kan Jam”, “ladder ball” and “corn hole”. Having a backyard was the biggest reason Senior Daniel Sologuern wanted a Mod. He commented, “Having a back yard is sweet. Its so great being able to set-up Kan Jam and chillout for an afternoon.”

The best part of the Mods according to most seniors though is the sense of comradery. The Mods represent a milestone in the BC expericence. After three seasons of watching the upperclassmen tailgate during football games it is a space that is finally theirs. Because entry into the Mods is so strict, it is such a relief senior year to go in, see your entire class and have a good time before the games.

Junior Maura Donely said, “ I’m looking forward to next year when I get my turn. I like the sense of community in the Mods, It is just a really great atmosphere where everyone is enjoying BC together and making the most of their last year.” Senior Riley Sullivan commented, “the best part of having a mod is tailgating on game day with all of your friends and the sense of community amoung the senior class.”

The Mods will always have a special place in the hearts of BC students. As in previous years the class of 2012 has taken ownership of the Mods and made the space their own. So far the Mods have remained the one of the centers of student life at BC. Hopefully it continues that way with every new class.

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Spotlight on Student Clubs: Peer Health Exchange PHE Volunteers will develop their teaching and leadership skills in a classroom, and learn to interact on a personal level with students. Volunteers will not only be providing necessary health education for high school students, but also will be receiving an education in public health and public service themselves. PHE volunteers will also have the opportunity to apply for jobs within the organization upon their graduation from college.

In the end, the service PHE volunteers are providing for the community is tremendous, but the volunteers receive so much from the experience that it is really the community doing them a service. Executive of PHE

Louise Davis recently said in an interview “I think for college students the greatest impact we have seen is that they feel a deeper commitment to public service....

Which is really exciting because ultimately we want them to be leaders committed to serving their communities. However they want to do that is great, but we hope we can plant the seed to get them there.”

Boston College already has a tremendous community outreach relationship with the city of Boston through programs such as PULSE, Jump Start, and 4Boston.

Through our participation in the Peer Health Exchange, our relationship with the community will continue to grow.

Overheard at BC Photo credit by wikipedia.org

By Emily Akin Gavel Media Editorial Assistant One in four teenagers is a binge drinker.

One in four teenagers smokes cigarettes.

One in three teenage girls becomes pregnant. One in five teenagers experiences violence in a relationship. One in six teenagers is overweight or obese.

The Peer Health Exchange seeks to address these crises among high school level teenagers who are under-educated about health risks such as drinking and having unprotected sex. The Peer Health Exchange, or PHE, is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1999 by a group of six Yale undergraduates in New Haven, Connecticut. The PHE recruits and trains college level student volunteers to teach a health curriculum at local high schools that lack an internal health education system. Since the program’s foundation, its message has spread across the country, with participating universities in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Approximately four thousand PHE volunteers have taught the all-inclusive health curriculum to over forty thousand low-income 9th grade students.

The health workshops taught by volunteers focus on the topics of sexual education and alcohol, but also covers topics such as healthy eating and exercise habits. The program’s workshops include: Sexual Decision-Making, Pregnancy Prevention, STIs & HIV, Healthy Relationships, Abusive Relationships, Rape and Sexual Assault, Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs, Nutrition & Physical Activity, and Mental Health.

The program is based on the idea that high school students would rather discuss issues of this nature with teachers whom they can relate to and are closer to their own age. According to a study done by the PHE, 74% of PHE high school students said that having college students lead PHE workshops helped them learn about the health topics.

In Boston public schools, the need for health classes is greater than ever. Some schools in the city do not provide students with health services or health education at all. For a city in which teen pregnancy is the number one cause of girls dropping out of high school, the lack of mandatory health classes is staggering. The Boston Public Schools board just recently re-established a health department after a decade of functioning without one, and is currently working on a new comprehensive sexual education plan for the city’s high schools. The plan, called the Wellness Initiative, is being promoted

by Boston youth group Hyde Square Task Force, or HSTF. The youth of HSTF are interested in implementing “a school based, holistic wellness program that includes a dance program..., sexual health and sexual harassment education, and education regarding nutrition and fitness.”

The Boston Public Schools are currently reviewing the pilot program, but no alternative health classes have been offered in the interim. This is where PHE and its volunteers come into the picture.

Currently, in the Boston area, there are six colleges and universities participating in the PHE program: UMass Boston, Northeastern University, Harvard College, Boston University, Tufts University, and Boston College.

The PHE program searches for undergraduate volunteers who are committed to the mission of the organization, have excellent teaching skills, and are willing to improve those teaching skills, and are willing to commit four to six hours of volunteer service a week for the entire academic year.

The PHE program must be the participants’ top extracurricular priority.

PHE volunteers in the Boston area are trained through the program’s Health Educator Training Retreat and through weekly Workshop Group meetings lead by a Leadership Council. Although the program is a major time commitment, the advantages for the volunteers are significant.

Overheard exchange between a senior and an RA from Keyes Hall, on Newton Campus, Saturday, September 10th, 2011 2012: Where is Stuart Dining Hall?

Keyes RA: Its right over there.

2012: Cool thanks bruh.

RA: Where do you live?

2012: Voute, going to Newton Campus is just on my senior year bucket list. Thanks.

Overheard shouting in the Mods after a freshman allegedly was overly aggresive with an unidentified student, Friday, September 16th, 2011 Guy in the Mods: Hey I remember my first fight, go back to Newton!

Overheard exchange by two girls in Lower Dining Hall 1 AM Sunday, September 4th, 2011 Girl 1: So like what can I eat that has like 300 calories Girl 2: Uhh… we’re at late night Girl 1: Well I guess the chicken fingers have protein Overheard attempted courtship between two seniors at Mary Ann’s, Saturday, September 10th, 2011 Guy: Hey how are you doing Cute Girl: Uhhh, have we met before?

Guy: Yeah remember, you were in my yoga class today Overheard exchange between two co-workers on Newbury Street, Monday, August 29th, 2011 Guy 1: Pinkberry employees are excessively friendly. Ever wonder where they came from?

Guy 2: They came from heaven bruh.

Guy 1: How many times have we snuck out of the office for Pinkberry this summer?

Guy 2: I don’t know man but, I need that in my life right now. Want to take a break?

Overheard exchange between two roommates at lower dining hall during dinner. Thursday, September 15th, 2011 Girl 1: Sorry I couldn’t meet up with you earlier. I was doing hood-rat things.

Girl 2: OMG when are you not sneaking off to do hood-rat things?

Overheard conversation in Fulton Hall between two friends, Monday, September 19th, 2011 Guy 1: What percentage of our grade is participation?

Guy 2: I think the syllybus said 5% Guy 1: Wow, thats not enough for me to be here right now.

Guy 2: So i take it you plan on failing the midterm?

Guy 1: Pshhh, NO! Guy 2: Are you smart?

Guy 1: You know I’m f****** smart!

Guy 2: I think the last guy who said that was Peter Skilling.

Guy 1: Who? Guy 2: You know the CEO of Enrom Guy 1: No worries dude, I’m to smart to go to jail.

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Has BC become a drinking school with a Jesuit problem?

By Cal Greene III Features Editor The recent cancelation of the fall concert puts the drinking culture at Boston College once again in the spotlight as student sentiment towards the administration becomes more negative. The report released by the UGBC on September 8th, 2011 stated the Vice President of Student Affairs and Student Progams Office “can not as university offices support an event which presents a high-risk drinking situation to students� citing the increased number of drinking incidences for spurring “the call for a review of our concert process at this juncture of time.� Though the report explicitly states that the cancelation is not a punishment but a necessary review, students felt the need to voice their opinions of the decision, of the underlying “drinking problem� at BC, and some solutions to the situation.

Many students felt the cancelation was underhanded, unnecessary and a means for the administration to punish the entire undergraduate community for the mistakes of a few. Other students put blame on BCPD who, as one class of 2013 student, who chooses to remain anonymous, put it, “forces infirmary visits or hospitalization in unnecessary situations such as a small stumble.� Negative sentiment towards BCPD and the off-campus RA, Steve Montgomery

is nothing new. One off campus junior stated, “I’d rather deal with Boston PD than

Calling ALL Freshmen, This could be YOU: (Your name here)

lege life has to revolve around drinking, I don’t agree with why the fall concert was canceled but I can understand the position some students put the administration in.�

Though some students want to drink to dangerous levels, and others do not seem to want to drink at all, most seem to be calling out for moderation in the drinking culture at BC. One sophomore commented saying, “It is easy to pick out the students who are stumbling down the halls or throwing up in the Mods but the administration needs to also take into account that the majority of students, in all grades, do not act like that.�

Right now it seems BC is tailoring the rules to the few major offenders while forcing the rest of the students to be subject to the same scrutiny, a position many see as very unfair.

The million dollar question is ‘what should the university do to curb the drinking culPhoto courtesy of Cal Greene III/Gavel Media Photo ture, if anything?’ One sophBCPD and, at least BPD is reasonable and wont try to [get you in more trouble than omore girl said, “The legal drinking age necessary].� However, though past feelings shouldn’t change. Waiting until your 21 to toward BCPD and Montgomery have been drink just isn’t a big deal. I don’t know why low in the past, the cancelation of the fall other students try to get fake ID’s and creconcert seems to have driven sentiment ate elaborate schemes just to drink a case of beer.� On the other hand one senior said, even lower.

The drinking policies enforced by BC “The 21+ age restriction is ridiculous and seem ironic to many students. “To me, it its unrealistic to believe that college students seems that the administration is creating the will not drink, and it is not wrong to drink. very problem they try to eradicate. They I’ve been drinking since my granddad gave force drinking underground and incentivize me my first beer at 16, and though I’ve had students to drink concealable liquor and to a few rough nights, I’m fine.�

One junior, who lives drink it quickly. Most off-campus, said, “The students are also less real problem is that BC is likely to get help if driving drinking off of the something is wrong safety of campus. Every for fear they would weekend my house gets get in trouble or their bombarded with underfriend would get mad classmen looking to for a if they called EMS party because they can’t for help,� stated one just have small parties in sophomore girl who Walsh. The result is when prefers to remain we deny a big group they anonymous.

Many students who were asked to voice their just hang outside, talk loudly and my house opinion for this piece echo this sentiment. gets in trouble for noise. They should keep It seems the biggest problem with the Uni- underclassmen drinking on campus so it versity policy is that the rules drive drinking doesn’t push people into Brighton.�

Of those asked, the top three solutions to underground resulting in students hiding the problem were: 1) to relax enforcement their intoxication, instead of not drinking.

Though clearly this is not the desired out- of beer and wine consumption and poscome of the matrix, it has surely been the session in dry dorms, 2) to better educate reality, supported by the increased numbers students on the dangers of hard liquor, of hospitalization cited by the VPSA and and 3) to relax rules on social gatherings SPO. Though most students do not agree in the dorms. Interestingly enough no one with the decision to cancel the fall concert, asked wanted to make the rules stricter. opinions on the role of drinking in college Many thought the Matrix system was strict is widely varied. “Drinking is a part of col- enough or is too strict. Of course federal lege life�, said one freshman, “I didn’t come and state laws concerning drinking bind here expecting to get trashed every week- the university. What most students want end, but I did expect to be in an environ- from the review is a close look at policies ment where occasionally I could drink a that make a safer student environment. The little and go to parties.� Conversely one ju- question is does a balance between reality, nior said, “I just don’t understand why col- legality and university policy exist?

“The question is does a balance between reality, legality and university policy exist?�

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Cosmetic changes improve quality of student life

Aside from the Stokes Hall construction project, Gasson Hall’s renovation is the most important change that students can see this year. The freshly renovated building provides a more modern look to the oldest academic building on campus.

Fortunately, both the inside and outside of Gasson were part of the renovation. Students can now enjoy the beauty of this historic BC building in the comfort of air-conditioning.

Gasson, despite its renovations, still maintains many of the historic selling points that it had before the renovation. The Fulton Room, the large third floor lecture hall, still features the philosophical ceiling quotes and the annual victor from the Fulton Debate Society.

BC’s cosmetic overhauls did not stop with either the dining halls or construction projects. Students now have many more options of cozy study lounges.

McGuinn, once an outdated and rarely frequented building, now sports a new lounge in the entrance that entices students to visit.

In addition, the Reserve Room in O’Neill has been dramatically altered into a cozy meeting and study place. The Cabaret Room of Vanderslice Hall also features similar accomodations for students looking for a place to study.

Carney’s Dining Hall, the most frequented dining hall on campus for freshmen, also received a savvy new look. Mac, as it is affectionately known, previously sported outdated chairs and tables as well as old serving stations. The renovation leaves the dining hall in a completely new light, providing new food stations such as a carvery and giving students more options when it comes to seating.

Lower Dining Hall was also renovated, although the look is significantly less dramatic.

The new tables offer an array of flexible seating options, similar to that of the crowded Hillside Cafe. Students may now enjoy the luxury of studying at a high table without having to fight the crowds.

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Editorials

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Restraint needed from both Israel, Palestine Palestine, under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, recently announced that it would seek full UN membership, which would make Palestine a sovereign, internationally recognized nation.

This move by the Palestinians is too short-sighted and rash and serves to incur the displeasure of not only Israel, but also America. President Barack Obama announced a plan in May that called for an initial return to the 1967 borders, with the final boundaries to be determined by mutual “land swaps.” The Palestinians are disregarding the plan proposed by Obama and are taking their case to the world community, trying to take a shortcut, fraught with complications, on the long road to a lasting peace in the Holy Land.

We at Gavel Media recognize that both the Israelis and the Palestinians are not

completely blameless in any regard, and that each side has committed wrongs in the conflict. We believe in the right to selfdetermination professed so many years ago

by Woodrow Wilson, and recognize both Israel’s and Palestine’s fundamental right to exist.

The peace process should be worked out between Israel, Palestine, and a third party such as America that recognizes the right of both sides to exist. Instead, Palestine has taken its case to the United Nations, where there are countries hostile to Israel in the General Assembly such as Iran, to say the least. As Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once stated, Israel should “vanish from the pages of time and [be] wiped from the face of the earth.” That rhetoric is far from what is needed in the peace process, and countries such as Iran should not engage in the peace dialogue.

Both sides need to make some initial compromises before the actual peace process can begin. The Palestinian people must stop supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas that kill innocents and vehemently deny Israel’s right to exist. Israel, in turn, must stop forcing Palestinians out of their homes in the West Bank to make way for Jewish settlements.

Granted, Palestine will most likely not get approved as a U.N. member state. America is a permanent member on the Security Council, and just America’s veto alone would nix the Palestinian’s efforts at the U.N. Still, the proposal alone is enough to cause worry that the peace process will be longer and more drawn out that previously thought.

The time for backdoor negotiations and disregard of the accepted means for conflict resolution is over. Only by going through and completing the “land swap” peace pro-

cess with both Israel and America will Palestine see lasting peace and international recognition. The world community at the United Nations should stand on the sidelines and only give support for a peace settlement, nothing more. If Palestine were to be approved as a legitimate state by the U.N., what would its borders be, and how would they be decided? Israel, the country that would be most affected by a U.N. decision, would have no voice in the process.

The Israel-Palestine conflict has been on-and-off for over sixty years. The Palestinians are taking an unwise gamble here that could result in further bloodshed if somehow approved by the U.N. A twostate solution in the Holy Land can become a reality; both sides just have to be patient and willing to compromise without outside influence.

BC alum Welles Crowther honored in fitting tributes On September 11th, 2001, al-Qaeda launched a devastating terrorist attack upon American soil, killing almost three thousand innocent people and forever changing the lives of countless others.

One of our own, Welles Crowther, ’99, was working in the South Tower of the World Trade Center when the terrorists struck. His selfless acts that day saved the lives of at least twelve people who did not know his name. Sadly, Welles perished in the collapse of the towers.

Several weeks later, Welles’ parents came across a newspaper article interviewing several survivors, many of whom stated that a man with a red bandanna led them to safety. Welles’ parents contacted the survivors, and by piecing together their stories, confirmed that Welles was indeed the “Man with the Red Bandana.”

A few weeks ago, ESPN did a documentary about Welles, who played lacrosse at BC, and brought his story to the national stage.

Two UCF students saw the documentary, and started a successful drive via Facebook to have all UCF fans at their home football game against BC on September 10th to wear red bandanas in honor of Welles.

BC followed suit the next week in the home game against Duke. Superfans were distributed red bandannas, and Welles’ family was honored during the game. In addition, BC’s annual 5K “Welles Crowther Memorial Red Bandanna Run” is scheduled to be held Saturday, October 15th, further enabling BC students and faculty to honor his legacy.

Gavel Media applauds Welles for his selfless heroism that day, and both BC and UCF for honoring Welles’ memory. Welles is the ultimate embodiment of the BC slogan “Men and Women for Others.”

The Gavel is the monthly print edition of Gavel Media, a student-run organization. It is published with support from Campus Progress / the Center for American Progress — online at www.campusprogress.org. We are, however, editorially independent.

There are other ways that BC can honor Welles and have his legacy live on for future generations on campus. Perhaps renaming Stokes Hall or 21 Campanella Way to Welles Crowther Memorial Hall would have his name enter into the BC student’s everyday lexicon. Red bandannas could be distributed to freshmen at every orientiation along with the Superfan T-shirt.

Whatever the case may be to cement Welles’ legacy permanently here at BC, students will forever hear of Welles’ story and heroic actions that fateful day and will be challenged to strive to follow in Welles’ footsteps in truly becoming men and women for others.

The question is what can we as BC students, and the nation as a whole, learn from Welles and apply to our lives. Obviously, the situation that Welles faced that fateful day is not something that happens on a regular basis. But helping someone in need

Editorial Board MASON LENDE, Editor-in-Chief MEGHAN SMITH, Managing Editor ANDREW SCHOFIELD, Managing Editor JASMINE UDUMA, News Editor CAL GREENE III, Features Editor MARISSA THORNTON, Assoc. Features Editor KENNETH ST. JOHN, Opinions Editor JONATHAN DAME, Assoc. Opinions Editor MAGGIE LAWRENCE, Culture Editor SOFIA MARTINEZ, Assoc. Culture Editor YANIRA REVAN, Copy Editor MARION HALFTERMEYER, Copy Editor GILLIAN FREEDMAN, Photo Editor Video Department MEGHANA KUTHYAR, Video Manager ALYSSA SHAFFER, Assoc. Video Manager KATIE YAO, Video Assistant

who is having trouble with schoolwork, or speaking out in support of what is right are ways that we can honor Welles on a daily basis.

Welles had a choice that day: doing what was easy, and doing what was right.

If Welles did what was easy, he would have been able to escape, but the people he saved would may be alive today. Instead, Welles did the right thing, and died doing what he loved: helping others less fortunate than he was. His legacy lives on in the people that he saved. His legacy lives on at his college. We must never forget Welles, nor any of the heroes and innocent victims who died that day. In choosing between what is right and what is easy, we must always choose what is right, no matter how difficult that may be. We must always remember Welles Crowther.

Business and Operations RYAN LEAHY, General Manager ARUEM SHIN, Marketing Director TAYLOR MCELDOWNEY, Marketing Director CHRISTIAN FIEDLER, Finance Director MADELINE BAEZ, Finance Director XIOMARA LOPEZ, Advertising Director ARUN PARMAR, Human Resources Director CHRISTIAN DE LOS SANTOS, Online Director

Cover art by Gillian Freedman and Mason Lende. All photos by Gillian Freedman except background courtesy of Tup Wanders, Wikimedia Commons

Opinions

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Mitt Romney is the GOP’s best choice for 2012 election

By Kenny St. John Opinions Editor In anticipation of the 2012 presidential elections, there are three frontrunners in the GOP primary race that seek to challenge incumbent Barack Obama. Mitt Romney is a moderate who would resonate well with the mainstream, attract independent voters and would put the Republican Party in the best possible position in the 2012 elections.

Both Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, and Michelle Bachmann, Representative from Minnesota, represent extreme factions of the Republican Party that do not have appeal with the vast majority of the American electorate.

Those who are from Massachusetts know Romney quite well; he served as Governor of the Bay State from 2003 to 2007. During that time, he was able to erase the states budget deficit and turn it into a surplus, while enacting a health care reform law that provided near-universal coverage to Massachusetts residents, the first legislation of its kind in the nation.

He also wrested control of the previously ill-fated Big Dig construction project in

Boston from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, and oversaw its eventual completion. Romney has also shown himself to be an effective businessman as well, serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics in 2002.

After announcing that he would not run for Governor again in 2006, Romney entered the national political arena by declaring his intention to run for the Republican nomination for the 2008 presidential election. He lost that bid to John McCain, another Republican moderate, who subsequently lost to Barack Obama.

After his failed run in 2008, he kept politically active, appearing at numerous Republican fundraisers and events.

He announced his intention to run in the 2012 presidential election earlier this year.

Romney has proven to be economically moderate. In his words, the health care plan that he signed into law in Massachusetts “… really wasn’t Republican or Democrat...people ask me if this is conservative or liberal, and my answer is yes. It’s liberal in the sense that we’re getting our citizens health insurance.

“Romney is selfassured, yet cautious, and his experience and leadership skills paint him as a competent future Chief Executive.”

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore Wikimedia Commons

It’s conservative in that we’re not getting a government takeover.” In addition, creating a budget surplus resonated well from both sides of the metaphorical aisle.

Socially, however, it is uncertain where Romney falls, although it is safe to say that he lies somewhere right-of-center.

His more conservative Mormon religious beliefs have put him at odds with abortion and gay marriage. However, he has flip-

flopped several times in public statements between pro-abortion and anti-abortion stances, and supported the civil union law in Massachusetts as Governor.

As what happens to all moderates, Romney has inevitably opened himself up to criticism from both the left and the right ends of the political spectrum. Both liberals and conservatives have accused Romney of flip-flopping on the issues of universal health care and abortion. His Mormon faith has drawn ire from the Evangelical right, but his religion should not have any bearing in the election. Unlike Bachmann, Romney has never made any factually incorrect public statements about American history, and unlike Perry, Romney has never put on a mass prayer service reminiscent of Billy Graham’s religious tent revivals of the 1950s, violating the sacred principle of the separation of church and state.

Romney is self-assured, yet cautious, and his experience and leadership skills paint him as a competent future Chief Executive.

However, I do have concerns about his support (or lack thereof) for abortion rights, and his stance on how universal health care should be implemented. As a supporter of Barack Obama, I undoubtedly would be disappointed if Romney were to be elected president in 2012, but I would have faith in him to steer the country in the right direction.

Americans should be skeptical of Michelle Bachmann

By Bill Stoll Gavel Media Contributer In 2008 John McCain chose a littleknown, far right wing, hockey mom governor from Alaska as his running mate to complete his presidential ticket, in the hope that she would be able to attract the votes from women disappointed in Hillary Clinton’s loss as to snatch up the conservative voting block as well. Apparently the McCain campaign failed to appropriately vet Governor Palin adequately, as Palin would proceed to shoot off her mouth continually, alienating moderate voters and, with the issue of Sen. McCain’s age pushed to the forefront, the thought of Sarah Palin as Commander-inChief drove enough votes to Obama, ensuring a sizable loss for the GOP come election day.

Skip to present day, and again a conservative, Tea Party founder, mother of several, Christian Fundamentalist, has pushed herself to the front of the race for the GOP presidential nomination. However, this time it is Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, and as unsettling as the thought of a Palin presidency was, the thought of President Bachmann should disturb the average voter. Palin and Bachmann are fundamentally similar, they both hold extreme right-wing views, both attack

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

Obama and liberals as socialists, they are of similar age (Bachmann is 55, Palin is 47), and they have similar family situations (both have five children). Both women are known for saying outrageous things on the national stage as well, but herein lays the difference: Sarah Palin’s outlandish gaffes can be attributed to gimmicks (i.e. Joe the Plumber) or sheer stupidity (like getting Paul Revere’s Ride wrong), while Bachmann truly believes every single word that comes out of her mouth.

I believe that when Bachmann says, “Not all cultures are equal,” or when speaking at

an anti-gay rally, “This is a very serious matter, because it is our children who are the prize for this community, they are specifically targeting our children,” she is not embellishing or trying to grab headlines. She says these idiotic remarks because these are her actual thoughts, and things she believes very staunchly in. We saw in the debate that she is aghast with the HPV shot, claiming it was a government injection that could potentially harm its recipients, ignoring the fact that it is used to prevent cancer. Let us not forget her husband Marcus Bachmann either, the man who believes one can “Pray the gay away,” and owns and operates a clinic that offers gay-repression therapy. Through her husband and through her own words, Bachmann legitimately believes the homosexual community to be, as the Bible puts it, “an abomination,” -one that threatens American society and culture- and the thought of what this woman would do if elected to an entire section of our society is horrifying.

In regards to fiscal issues, Bachmann is as conservative as it gets, supporting free trade, tax cuts to the wealthy, and massive spending cuts throughout the government. She pledges to “…lead the way on cutting spending” in addition to cutting taxes, but what she doesn’t mention is that the major tax cuts will be on only the very wealthy. Now, since she wishes to lower taxes, while at the

same time reduce the deficit, the only way to achieve this is through massive government spending cuts on areas such as heath care, the EPA, job training programs, the Department of Education and the State Department. This means that Bachmann would justify lowering taxes on the rich in exchange for lower air quality, the destruction of the environment, health insurance for those who cannot afford it, reliable health care, and federal funding of schools throughout the nation. This would mean that nationwide school improvement will decline and potentially halt. Additionally, the cost of college and universities would rise dramatically. If the Department of Education gets cut completely, as Bachmann wishes to do, that means that state school costs will rise dramatically in the coming years. Could you imagine a world in which the price for a state school is roughly the same price as a Boston College education today?

Michele Bachmann and her views are troubling from the top down, and the idea of her sitting in the Oval Office signing bills into law sends chills down my spine. And I know by now most of you must be thinking how exactly could Bachmann possibly win the GOP nomination while trailing Rick Perry by over 20 points? Simply put, anything can happen come primary season, just ask President Obama.

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Obama Jobs Act needed Cancellation will do little with gloomy outlook ahead to change campus culture

By Jonathan Dame Assoc. Opinions Editor

pire, the economy would lose the stimulating consumption of those 6 million people.

Moody’s chief economist, Mark Zandi esThe American Jobs Act, President timates that for every $1 spent on extendObama’s plan to stimulate the economy ing unemployment benefits, the GDP is and restore confidence in the United States, increased by $1.61. Furthermore, the act is sound economic policy and a necessary will prevent 280,000 teacher layoffs and prostep in eliminating the possibility of a douvide $90 billion to modernize 35,000 pubble-dip recession. Obama unveiled the plan lic schools and rebuild basic infrastructure. before a joint session of Congress on ThursSimilarly for every $1 spent on increased inday, September 8th. In order to stabilize frastructure spending, the GDP is increased our capricious, boom-and-bust economy, a by $1.54 according to Zandi’s report. deliberate and comprehensive restructurOverall, the Act is priced at $447 billion, ing of our political and economic system but it will be fully paid for as part of the is required. The Act does not provide such president’s long-term deficit reduction plan. a remedial solution, but it does represent a The president recently revealed the gensubstantial, short-term plan that will palliate eral components of this plan, which seeks our precipitous economy if passed. to reduce the deficit by more than $3 trilThe Act is a lion over the next combination decade, $1.5 trilof tax cuts lion of which will and spendcome from tax ing increases. increase primarFirms that ily on the upper increase their class, and $1.1 payroll by trillion of which adding new will come from workers, or decreased Ameriincreasing can involvement the wages of in Iraq and Aftheir current ghanistan. employees, Despite the carpwill receive ing of Repuba complete licans, stimulus payroll tax measures work.

Photo courtesy o f Mark Nozell, Wikimedia Commons The holiday for American the first $50 million in Recovery and Repayroll increases. In a similar vein, firms investment Act, signed into law by Obama that hire veterans or long-term unemin 2009, raised the GDP by between 0.8 and ployed workers will be given a tax credit of 2.5 percent, “lowered the unemployment minimally $5,600 and $4,000 respectively. rate by between 0.5 percentage points and These tax cuts are designed to serve the 1.6 percentage points,” and “increased the needs of the working class. number of people employed by between 1.0 Although the government cannot litermillion and 2.9 million,” according to the ally create jobs in the private sector, these Congressional Budget Office. The Ameritax cuts are the most direct way for the can Jobs Act is predicted to add 2 percentgovernment to increase private sector emage points to GDP growth next year and ployment; they are the closest the governcreate 1.9 million jobs. ment can come to literally paying private The economic benefits of the American workers’ salaries. Such policy is acceptable Jobs Act are quite salient. The act will creand advisable considering the dire circumate jobs and will be fully paid for. Unfortustances of our economy. The Act will also nately the Act may be too late to save our extend the payroll tax cuts made last year economy. The spending cuts demanded for for 160 million American workers, providand achieved by the Republicans during the ing a $1,500 stimulus to the typical Ameribudget and debt ceiling debates will cost can family. This is basic economics: more America jobs. For example, the Economic money in the pockets of consumers leads to Policy Institute estimates that the debt deal increased consumer spending, and thus propassed in August will cost the U.S. economy motes a greater possibility for corporations 1.8 million jobs through 2012 if no counter to realize positive returns on investment. actions are taken.

Direct job creation and support for the The United States economy is in a precariunemployed is the most expedient and dyous state and we cannot afford to continue namic method through which this act seeks to futilely cut non-defense discretionary to temporarily stabilize our economy. The spending. The situation demands direct Act will prevent roughly 6 million citizens action by the federal government and the from losing their unemployment insurance.

American Jobs Acts provides us with such If these unemployment benefits were to exan action for the short-term.

By Kenny St. John Opinions Editor The BC administration announced that the Fall Concert was being cancelled last week.

They cited binge drinking and increased intoxication incidents that require hospital transport as reasons for doing so. This decision was the final result of several months of a review by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Student Programs Office. VPSA and SPO say in their official statement, “[they] can not, as university offices, support an event which presents a high-risk drinking situation to students. The VPSA and SPO are not doing this as a punishment, but rather they view the health and safety of students with paramount importance.”

Obviously, binge drinking is a problem prevalent on all college campuses, and needs to be addressed. But I think the better approach is to uncover the reason as to why many college students binge drink, and that the reason has everything to do with the puritanical drinking age in this country compared to the rest of the world.

Granted, the reason why the drinking age is so high is not BC’s fault. But having the drinking age at 21, while the age of adulthood is 18, is a type of disenfranchisement for the collegiate population. Eighteen year olds can vote, fight and die for Uncle Sam, drive, have a full time job, and smoke, yet the metaphorical bottle is legally held just out of arm’s reach, tempting like a forbidden fruit.

The harsh crackdown on those under-21 that choose to indulge in alcohol drives many to drink underground, so to speak, which leads to the fast, dangerous consumption of vodka, rum, and other high alcohol-by-volume beverages to get a quick buzz. If you don’t believe my reasoning, just look across the pond to Europe, which has a lower drinking age, and binge drinking amongst their youth is hardly an issue.

In addition, what other campus event is preceded by binge drinking? You guessed it, football. There are hordes of drunken, underage Superfans that show up every Saturday gameday at Alumni Stadium, but the Administration would never think of cancelling football games for that. Football is a profit generator for Division I schools like Boston College, but recent concerts at Conte Forum have actually lost money, like The Fray back in spring semester of 2010.

If BC can cancel the Fall Concert, what other campus events besides football games can they ax as well under the excuse of excessive binge drinking? Ice Jam, a new tradition just

Photo Courtesy of Rob Rossi, Gavel Media

started last year in light of the fact that BC doesn’t have Midnight Madness? The Spring Concert? Modstock? Mile 21? I just hope this isn’t the start of a trend towards the censorship of fun, cultural events that unite us as a BC community.

Look, I understand that BC doesn’t want to be liable if someone under 21 gets seriously hurt while intoxicated. I also would understand if the concert was cancelled for financial reasons. But students binge drink whether there is a concert or not, and if BC wants to address that serious issue, it should be a comprehensive campus-wide initiative, such as the new Stay in Your Green Zone program by the Office of Health Promotion, which encourages safe, responsible drinking.

Cancelling the fall concert only serves to alienate the student body from the Administration, and puts forth the idea that BC students are irresponsible and are unable to take care of themselves. Besides, the only people that lost from this decision are the students that either choose not to drink or drink responsibly, and simply just want to enjoy a concert.

Is there anything positive that be gleaned from this?

Maybe not right now, but in the future this incident may spur better planning and dialogue between the Administration and UGBC. Ultimately, the final decision to cancel the concert was up to the Administration, not any representative body of the student population. As a BC student, I can only hope that the concerts are allowed to continue in the future, or that a similar event is planned. Cooperation is essential between both students and administrators to ensure that quality musical, or similar entertainment, is able to take place on-campus.

“There are hordes of drunken, underage Superfans that show up every Saturday gameday at Alumni Stadium, but the Administration would never think of cancelling football games...”

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Perry’s early success could Interventionist policy raises signal an electorate shift questions on sovereignity

Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore, Wikipedia.org

By Andrew Schofield Managing Editor Just a few weeks ago, it seemed all too likely that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney would handily win the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential election. With Michelle Bachman reinventing American history and Tim Pawlenty putting Americans to sleep everywhere, Romney commanded a double-digit lead throughout the summer months. But with the entrance of Rick Perry last month, Romney has seen his lead in the national polls evaporate as some polls even suggest that the pistol-toting Texan has even taken a slight lead. With Bachmann fading quickly as Perry contains to draw upon the same uber-conservative base, the Republican primary appears to be becoming a two horse race. But despite Perry’s apparent popularity with the Republican Party, the question of how he would fare against the charismatic Obama in the general election still remains.

Despite being nearly booed off the stage by the very vocal Tea Party contingency (a group so conservative that even Ronald Regan would have trouble appeasing them) at the latest Republican debate for his support of allowing children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Texas universities, Perry still certainly remains the far right’s greatest hope. In response to a question on his stance on gun control, Perry responded, “I’m actually for gun control,” before sarcastically adding, “use both hands.” His opposition to state-run health care is well documented – as is his hostility to what he often simply calls ‘big government.’

But as easy as it would be for Democrats to dismiss Perry as just another far right candidate selling out to a radicalized base for primary votes, the political landscape has shifted to the degree that Perry could find success in a general election. In 2008, with former President George W. Bush floundering in a mess of his own making, Perry would most likely find little to no success – with the

electorate frustrated with the steep economic downturn.

But with Obama’s first term defined in large part by bailouts, stimulus packages, and the health care reform (or in other words, spending followed by even more spending), voters, as a whole, have shifted towards the right – even within demographics historically considered to be more supportive of the Democratic Party. According to a Pew Research poll conducted last July, the 12-point advantage among Americans earning between $30,000 and $75,000 that Democrats enjoyed in 2008 has vanished. Among white voters under 30, a demographic that favored Democrats by seven points in 2008, Republicans now control by 11 percent. Within the Republican Party, the American exodus to the far right is even more apparent – with a ten percent increase in Republican primary voters calling themselves ‘conservative’ (From 63 percent in 2008 to 73 percent in 2011).

However, the most important development with regard to Perry’s chances in 2012 is the centralization of the Republican message.

As David Brooks astutely points out in a recent op-ed in The New York Times titled ‘President Rick Perry?,’ the Republican Party of pre-2009 was too diverse for its own good – with moderates calling for tax cuts and the more radical members calling for gay marriage bans and the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

However, in the current political climate, the Republican Party has seemed to rally around opposition to what is often pejoratively referred to as ‘big government.’ And no candidate harnesses this resentment more so than Mr. Perry – a resentment that could carry the Texan to the White House as a recent Gallup polls suggest.

However, the simple-talking Perry is not without his faults. His academic record is, to put it respectfully, less than stellar – with a ‘F’ in organic chemistry, a ‘D’ in an introductory economics course, and another ‘D’ in a course simply titled ‘Meats.’ He has a history of flip-flopping in the name of the political game – switching from the Democratic Party after his 1984 congressional election and backing off from his previously rabid antisocial security stance.

Whether Perry will outlast the more moderate Mitt Romney and challenge Obama for the presidency remains to be seen. However, if nothing else, Perry’s success so far has proved that the political landscape has shifted drastically to the right. It represents a militant belief by some Americans that government should have little to no role in their lives.

If President Obama and his fellow Democrats expect to win, they must shift the public debate towards the discussion of tools that the government can utilize to effectively fight joblessness and economic stagnation, and in turn, reaffirming Americans’ faith in the ability of our federal government to responsibly solving the economic mess at hand.

tions of the United States in that region over the last six decades. The majority of terrorists in the Middle East do not carry out attacks It was revealed on Tuesday, September 20th against the United States because “we have a that the United States is in the process of concivilization that is antithetical to the civilization of the jihadist,” as Rick Santorum would structing new, secret drone bases on the Horn lead you to believe, but rather they carry them of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for carryout because for the last sixty years, Western ing out counterterrorism operations. Officials confirm that the drone bases are being built powers, led by the United States, have waged as part of a new campaign against al-Qaeda war, supported oppressive autocracies, and overthrown democratic regimes in order to in Somalia and Yemen. The CIA uses drones safeguard access to cheap oil. The invasions (unmanned aerial vehicles) to execute covert of Iraq and Afghanistan typify such actions bombing raids all across the Middle East. As and have only served the purpose of increasof this writing, the United States has carried ing terrorist activity. It does not take a defense out drone bombings in at least six countries secretary to realize that another war in this (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, region will do nothing to ameliorate the sentiand Yemen), causing the immediate death of ments inducing terrorism in the Middle East. hundreds of people.

However, the purpose of this column is not The attacks fall under the umbrella of necessarily to condemn the United States, but the decade-old ‘war on terror,’ in which the to analyze why average United States has diAmericans are so acrectly violated many quiescent to the type international laws, of military action dedisregarded the nascribed above. We are tional sovereignty currently developing of multiple nations, militarized air strips and aggravated antiin foreign countries U.S. sentiment in the with the intent of carMiddle East.

The rying out bombing construction of these operations within the new drone bases raises sovereignty of indeimportant questions pendent nations that about the United will lead to the death States’ role in the of civilians. Imagine world and the astonif a foreign power beishing complacency of gan constructing air strips in Mexico in order the American people with respect to that role. to bomb Christian fundamentalists within the First of all, a ‘war on terror,’ posses a logiUnited States because the aforementioned cal contradiction. Terrorism is, according to foreign power disagreed with their moral valthe dictionary, ‘the use of violence and threats ues. I would object to such an action, but why to intimidate or coerce, especially for politithen are the American people so complacent cal purposes.’ Terrorism is not a country or a to the United States’ successful attempt to do group of people, it is an action taken to realize the same thing to Middle Eastern countries? a particular, political goal. Terrorism is not The answer is a combination of fear, ignounique to the Middle East or to any one relirance, and blind patriotism. The U.S. govgious group, and has been employed repeatedernment and mass media have censored and ly by the United States throughout its history distorted the information reaching the genand continuing through today. When it comes eral public concerning international politics to the Middle East, these demonstrations of and have tactfully worked to sustain the fear terror have been motivated by the direct acthat swept the country in the aftermath of 9/11. Moreover, any criticism of U.S. foreign policy will now bring the patriotism of the critic into question.

Unfortunately these realities are having devastating impacts for the people of the Middle East. Take Iraq for example: we literally launched a full-fledged invasion against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.

The absence of mainstream criticism of U.S. foreign policy has real and deadly consequences. The American people must shed their fearful apathy, and actively work to elevate our political discourse to a more informed and Photo Courtesy of United States Air Force empathetic level.

By Jonathan Dame Assoc. Opinions Editor

“Imagine if a foreign power began constructing air strips in Mexico in order to bomb Christian fundamentalists within the United States because the aforementioned foreign power disagreed with their moral values.”

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As I see ‘em: The sports world according to Bill Stoll

By Bill Stoll Gavel Media Contributor

The Ohio State, to the fighting Ducks of Oregon, to Miami U and their booster’s penchant for using such recruiting aids It was a crazy summer in the world of as wads of cash, yachts, and hookers. sports, complete with the joyous ending But that’s not actually what I want to of one lockout, only to give way to the talk about in this column, no, the issue I misery of another. The NBA, fresh off would like to address is the realignment one of its most anticipated, fascinating, of teams throughout the BCS, resulting exciting, and compelling seasons ever is in what will probably be 4 “Superconmired in the trappings of a work stoppage ferences,” the ACC, SEC, BIG 10, and that threatens to far exceed the length PAC-12. This is absolutely horrible for and severity of the NFL’s for several rea- college football and basketball. Not only sons. The simare these plest explanation teams for the lockout destroyis this: several ing deNBA owners are cades of losing incredtradiible amounts of tion and money, estimatrivalry ed around $300 through million last year, realignand the playment, ers steadfastly but what refuse to accept they are any scenario in doing is which the reva blatant enue sharing slap in between ownthe face ers and players to every changes.

And other frankly, why mid-mawould they? In jor cona league where ference. teams only inW h o clude 12 playe v e r ers, and of those will win 12 maybe 8 are these significant conconfertributors, free ences agency bidwill be ding wars result guarPhoto courtesy of Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons in outrageous anteed contracts such as, but spots in certainly not limited to Gilbert Arenas the BCS bowls, and the odds of a team ($17 million), Rashard Lewis ($20 mil- like Boise State marching its way past lion), and Jermaine O’Neal ($6 million). these teams are all but eliminated. VotNot that they aren’t decent players, but ers will automatically chose teams from paying out those contracts would be these conferences ahead of mid-majors, like me paying $200,000 for one year at even if the mid-majors have the same or BU: shamefully overpriced and not in even better records, using the explanaany way worth the money. Also, think tion that they have not faced stiff enough about what fans would be deprived of competition. This will add to the already this year if the labor stoppage results in ludicrous recruiting gap between major missed games: a year taken from some of and mid-major conferences, not to menthe greatest players in the NBA who are tion the insane amount of money that starting to fade (Kobe, Dirk, Steve Nash, major programs will make due to TV Tim Duncan, most of the Celtics roster, revenue as well. It’s bad for college athetc.), a chance to see if the Mavericks letics, it’s bad for millions of fans, and it’s have it in them to repeat, another year bad for football in general. of The Heatles’ soap opera, the eventual If there was ever a case in which one firing of Eric Spoelstra, and the profes- free agent player and his agent needlessly sional debuts of Kyrie Irving, Ricky Ru- and shamelessly exploited the system, it bio, and the Jimmer. Can you imagine was this summer with NHL star Brad a Sportscenter in November without an Richards. I know some of you may be analysis of why LeBron missed another thinking it has to be last summer with game winner? Sounds like a nightmare the LeBron saga, but at least in that free to me. agent class there was comparable talent Seriously, what is going on with college available in the free agent pool. This athletics? It seemed like every single day year’s NHL free agent class included a another major program was caught in singular star in Brad Richards, followed some type of scandal this summer, from

by a myriad of above-average to godawful players. Richards and his agent went from town to town the days before the market opened, hitting local radio stations encouraging GMs to open their checkbooks and win the national auction., and the day free agency opened GM’s, coaches, and team representatives flew in droves to Ontario to give their pitch. Unfortunately for teams such as Los Angeles, Toronto, Buffalo, and Dallas among others, Richards knew where he was going to play all-along, eventually signing with the New York Rangers, having used the other teams as leverage to assure a larger contract. His shenanigans resulted in missed opportunities league-wide, as teams missed out signing their other priorities. However, if history provides any indication, karma will make a swift example out of Richards, as by signing with the Rangers he has all but guaranteed himself a one-way ticket to mediocrity and missed expectations (see Pavel Bure, Chris Drury, Theo Fleury, Alexi Kovalev, and Eric Lindros).

Finally, in baseball, it’s been a year of oddities and streaks for several clubs.

In June both Cleveland and Pittsburgh seemed to have righted their respected ships and seemed to be cruising to a playoff spot, but skip ahead just a couple months, and both teams are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. How ‘bout them Red Sox? After an awful start,

they were cruising to a sure clinched division, and seemed to be reserving their spot in the World Series. Skip ahead just a few weeks, and they sit several games behind the truly bizarre NY Yankees, whose starting rotation include Freddy “that guy is still in the league?” Garcia, Bartolo “seriously that guy is still in the league?” Colon, Phil “dead arm” Hughes, and A.J. “the strikezone misser” Burnett. Were in mid-August, and at the time I’m writing this article the Rays are a game and a half back from the Red Sox. If the Rays take the Wild Card, this will be remembered as one of the largest collapses by any team in recent history not named the NY Mets. Lastly, I don’t know why we are even bothering playing the rest of the season, as the Philadelphia Phillies are six games ahead of every other team in baseball. Their rotation, which has given up almost 50 runs less than the next closest team in baseball, and close to 100 runs less than EVERY team in the AL, has four legitimate aces on it, with Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay, and Cole Hamels, and will be remembered as perhaps the best rotation in the history of baseball when this season is finished. They don’t score as many runs as the other potential playoff teams, but when they are only giving up three runs a game, they don’t need to. Pitching wins World Series, and pitching is what the Phillies have.

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David Guetta: ‘Nothing bad but the beat’ on new album

By Cal Greene III Features Editor

‘Nothing But the Beat’ is David Guetta’s highly anticipated fifth album and after his last two very successful albums, One Love and Pop Life, fans had a lot to look forward to. In previous songs Guetta has collaborated with Chris Willis, Kelly Roland, Tara McDonald and Kid Cudi, all creating some of Guetta’s most memorable hits. This time around his collaborations were sub par and many lacked the energy fans have come to expect. Below are a few examples of some of them song by song.

‘Little Bad Girl’, featuring Taio Cruz and Ludacris: Taio Cruz lacks the energy or passion fans have come to expect from the artists that Guetta collaborates with. Dynamite will be his only real hit and even that song is only when listeners are either drunk or doing some Weird Al Yankovich style lyric twisting. The beat is good but the vocals are sub par and the lyrics make no sense. Although most house and electronic songs have awful lyrics, this is just bad.

“They tell me I’m a bad boy, all the ladies look at me and act coy.”

Sam Adams did a better job coming up with lyrics and one of the songs said, “the way you look is a problem.” The beat will

make you want to rage and the words will make you want to question Guetta’s judgment in collaborating with Cruz. Also, the section with Ludacris seems out of place and if listeners wanted to hear a mediocre rap verse they would have bought Luda’s album.

‘Turn Me On’ featuring Nikki Minaj: This song is not bad, but it isn’t the rager other reviews make it out to be. Nikki at least has more of the energy that past collaborators such as Chris Willis and Kelly Roland brought to the table. So far the song is the most popular on the album according to iTunes and Spotify,

Photo courtesy Chucho Ramirez via Wikimedia Commons

but it is still not true classic Guetta.

‘Sweat’ featuring Snoop Dogg: Though this song features Snoop Dogg, his autotuned rap is not bad at all. The beat and the lyrics are pretty typical of most house/ techno but one could rage to this without the help of MDMA unlike Cruz’s let down.

Snoop brings a sort of smoothness to the song contrasting with the intense beats that Guetta lays down before the first chorus riff in the track.

‘Without You’ featuring Usher: this song is just a bad Usher song with a more electronic feel. If you are a fan of house already then you’re used to the overly passionate lyrics vibrating through a surely vapid crowd but this song doesn’t even have a good drop. Other songs such as ‘Blessed’, by Tim Hangs and ‘Shermanoloy’, edited by Avicii, and ‘Heiress of Valentina’, by Alesso, are two songs that have absurdly romantic lyrics.

‘Nothing Really Matters’, featuring Will.I.Am: This song sounds like an emo song with a beat. The chorus that just repeats, “Nothing really matters, in the club, but the beat” in a soft beat just does not work. Also the days of coming up with a mediocre one liner, ending it with the phrase “In the club”, and expecting a hit is over. Flo Rida killed that trend when “The club can’t handle me” became the most absurd statement you can make about a club. Sorry Will.I.Am but you have a better shot of becoming President of Haiti than making this song a hit.

‘I Can Only Imagine’ featuring Chris Brown and Lil’ Wayne: This song is probably the only song besides ‘Sweat’ that is a good collaborated song.

‘Crank It Up’ featuring Akon: Akon was awesome in ‘Sexy Chick,’ but when he starts singing about how much he loves a girl because she’s available, it just doesn’t have the same sexy vibe. Imagine going to Mary Ann’s and trying to pick up a beautiful girl saying “Wow you’re so awesome, because

you’re available and are probably easier than a cuter girl.” That line is surely not a winner.

At least no one can say Akon is being shallow because all he’s attracted to in girls is their dancing ability and location.

‘I Just Wanna F’ featuring Timbaland: Guetta should be severely reprimanded for making such an awful song. Timbaland should retire. The song is overly vulgar and just makes no sense. “What’s your name again… I just wanna F.” ‘Paris’: This song is arguably the best song on the album. It’s purely created by Guetta and does not have any lyrics, which may turn some listeners off. But to those who give it a chance the intoxicating beat that drops that after a much-anticipated build up will leave anyone shaking, and creates a flow that makes the song feel complete.

What makes Guetta, or really any house, techno or electronic song good, is the ability to let loose and have a good time. Typically, you don’t have to come up with a terribly complicated melody or beat to make a hit. Avicii’s ‘Enough Is Enough’ is not at all complicated but when he opens with it at the IDENTITY Festival, it’s a song the crowd can get lost in. Though most of the collaborations in ‘Nothing But the Beat’ are pretty bad, the songs Guetta created by himself, with Avicii, Afrojack, and Sia are very good, the ones Guetta’s fans will remember are: ‘The World is Mine,’ ‘Love is Gone,’ ‘Memories’ and ‘You’re Not Alone.’ Sorry Guetta, but you need to pick your collaborations better. It’s a good thing you will always be an awesome DJ.

Chillwave band transforms the Paradise Rock Club

By Sofia Martinez Associate Culture Editor

concertgoers, there is a good amount of space to enjoy the show around its two floors and three bars, not including the In an effort to quell the outrage in re- Paradise Lounge. sponse to the administration’s decision The past Friday’s Toro y Moi concert to cancel the regularly scheduled Fall opened with two small bands, Uknown Concert, Gavel Media has ventured off- Mortal Orchestra and Ava Luna, who campus to explore the novel idea of at- set the scene for the main show with their tending one ourselves. Last Friday, Toro chilled but upbeat jams. When the time y Moi played at the Paradise Rock Club came for Toro y Moi to take the stage, in downtown Boston. This small and in- the crowd couldn’t contain their excitetimate music venue opened its doors on ment to see Chazwick Bundick, the September 22, 1977 and has hosted an lead singer, who continuously thanked array of music genres ever since, primar- his audience. Bundick, originally from ily booking national and local bands. The South Carolina, has been identified with venue never seems to be overcrowded, different contemporary genres such as and with a maximum capacity of 904 the chillwave movement, slowly shifting gears into a more progressive rock scene throughout his career.

Albums include: Causers of This, Under the Pine and the most recent Freaking Out, which came out on September 13. Many artists, for self-promotion reasons, focus their shows on their most recent album, but Toro y Moi did not fall into this category, playing songs from their entire discography, creating a balance throughout the hour and a half show. Bundick didn’t disappoint his audience by closing the show Photo by Sofia Martinez/Gavel Media with “Low Shoulder,” one of his

most celebrated songs. After a rhythmic and danceworthy send-off, Toro y Moi called it a night.

Bundick reminds us that there’s always a chance to reevaluate your typical Friday night. Perhaps venues like the Paradise will come in handy when the BC community stops expecting the concerts to come to them.

Don’t forget to check out the other concerts at the Paradise Rock Club this semester: The Shins: Saturday, September 24 RJD2/ Icebird: Monday, October 10 Dum Dum Girls: Wednesday, October 19 Ra Ra Riot: Thursday, October 20 Forward to Love Tour featuring Ziggy Marley: Wednesday, October 26 Wale: Monday, October 31

Photo by Sofia Martinez/Gavel Media

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A foreign film you should see: Fellini’s 8 1/2

By Tracy Rizk Gavel Media Contributor Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 is, above all, a film about the artist’s struggle to create.

Heralded by critics as the “best film ever made about filmmaking,” it tells the story of movie director Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) who is contractually bound to make a movie but is unable to find the inspiration. Guido’s childhood memories, surreal visions, and over-the-top dreams are woven into the story line to mark a move away from Italian neorealism—a genre that characterizes Fellini’s earlier films— towards fantasy. At first, viewers may have some trouble distinguishing what is real and what is the fruit of Guido’s mind. However, the intertwining of actual events with the world of memories, visions, and dreams ultimately succeeds in conveying the enormous difficulty the artist may face when drawing from the well of human experience for inspiration.

In order to enjoy this movie, viewers must learn to loosen their grip of what they think is real and allow Fellini, with his vivid imagery and extravagant symbolism, to show, not necessarily explain, the madness of the creative process.

Fellini’s biographer, Tullio Kezich, quotes

Marcello is me. Every once in a while I feel like I just can’t take it anymore.” 8 1/2, undoubtedly, an autobiographical film, is valuable if only because it lets us into the mind of one of the most acclaimed figures in Italian cinema. However, there is a certain quality to it—an almost obsessive introspection— that is unmatched. Kezich recounts how Fellini was undergoing psychoanalysis before making the film, a fact which may account for the heavy influence of dreams and childhood memories on Fellini’s understanding of the creative process. The director’s self-awareness magnifies his character, Guido’s, crisis in the film: in order to create something true, he must delve into an expansive and overwhelming consciousness—one which viewers may struggle to make sense of, but which is fascinating nonetheless.

8 1/2 is striking for the wealth of symbolism which pervades both its real and fantastical elements. The viewer is overladen with images Photo courtesy of imdb.com that are instinctively recognized as symbols; however, their significance Fellini in saying “I reflect my crisis in the character’s crisis. At heart, if truth be told, appears vague and unexplained. We must

allocate meaning to these symbols as the story progresses and as the depth of Guido’s psychological crisis is revealed. An example of one is the rocket launch pad being built for Guido’s incomplete upcoming film. According to Guido, it is intended to transport survivors to an outer space planet after a nuclear holocaust destroys everything on earth. Although we do not know what Guido’s movie is about, we are constantly reminded that an enormous tower is being built for the set. Guido must face pressure from the production team because it is very costly, and they, too, are not yet aware of its purpose.

At first, it is difficult to make sense of this object as a symbol. However, as we delve into Guido’s mind, we come closer to the crux of his problem: that he yearns to create something that transcends the earthly and is completely pure. When we come to understand this, the tower begins to symbolize his quest. Near the end of the movie, the launch pad is torn to the ground as Guido momentarily gives up his desire to create anymore. The dismantling of the tower and, therefore, the loss of his unattainable ideals lead to a rare moment of hope where Guido, freed from his desire for purity, is able to create—not necessarily the film he envisioned, but something.

Best new artist: Tyler the Creator

By Emily Akin Editorial Assistant The hype around the new rap collective from Los Angeles, OFWGKTA, has been huge ever since Tyler the Creator brought the group together in 2007. OFWGKTA, or Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, consists of eleven rappers: Tyler the Creator, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Mike G, Left Brain, Frank Ocean, The Jet Age of Tomorrow, Syd Tha Kyd, Jasper Dolphin, and Taco Bennett. The group has enjoyed an underground cult following for two years, which had been fed by a YouTube channel and Tyler the Creator’s twitter feed. OFWGKTA’s fame blew up over night after their appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in February, when Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats performed, and absolutely killed, their song ‘Sandwiches.’

The song is a perfect example of the techno-infused base-thumping-slightly-creepy sound that the group manages to pull off. Go ahead and watch the video on YouTube, Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats both have ski masks on, there are garden gnomes on the stage, and the smoke machines were working overtime. At the end of the song, Tyler jumped on Jimmy Fallon’s back, piggy-back style, and maniacally stuck out his tongue as the live audience went crazy. You will not be able to tell what the rappers are saying (just repeating WOLF over and over again maybe?); it’s the type of planned chaos that will incite you’re curiosity and make you wonder, “What

the hell am I watching?” out lumping into the broad category of “hipBut I’ve never seen anything like it on na- hop”. And while OFWGKTA’s music doesn’t tional television before. And while critics sound like the Jay-Z/Kanye West-esque rap of the group OFWGKTA would argue that we’re all familiar with, it’s a great new addithere are plenty of bands out there who have tion to every rap-enthusiast’s iTunes library. been producing this kind of music for awhile Goblin, the new album fronted by Tyler the now, namely Doomtree and Rhymesayers, I Creator and with guest appearances from the didn’t see Doomtree or Rhymesayers at the members of OFWGKTA, is a new take on VMAs. In fact, I doubt either of the groups the same old themes of unaccepted teenage were invited. But Tyler the Creator and his rebellion and violence. On the title track Gobband of middle class suburban misfits have somehow managed to break into mainstream music.

You will never hear their music on the radio; like Eminem most of OFWGKTA’s good tracks are too explicit for the radio. But Tyler the Creator’s Best New Artist win at the VMA’s, a title previously held by Justin Beiber, is proof that Photo courtesy of thecomeupshow via Wikimedia Commons OFWGKTA’s future is bright. lin, Tyler goes back and forth with a theraPersonally, I find the shift from Justin pist: Beiber’s teenage pop to Tyler the Creator’s Tyler: I’m not a f****** role model deep, rhythmical rap refreshing. It’s proof that Therapist: I know this the music industry is moving closer to the apTyler: I’m a 19 year old f****** emotional preciation of actual talent over popularity. It coaster with pipe dreams. is also a step towards the musical community’s It’s nothing earth shattering, it has been said embracement of rap as its own genre, with- before. And a lot of the other tracks on Gob-

lin have an “obsessive focus on...all the ways people can rape each other” according to feministmusicgeek.com. It is true, some tracks can get a little graphic, but then again what else is new? Personally, I think it is a great album. The sounds are fresh, the beat is always present, and the wit of Tyler the Creator and the featured members of OFWGKTA is far superior to say, the pathetic attempts at lyrical depth on Li’l Wayne’s latest album (“So misunderstood, but what’s a world without enigma? Two bitches at the same time, synchronized swimmers.” so much potential, so little sense).

Tyler the Creator’s stabs at recently successful hip-hop artists( B.O.B., Haley Williams, and Bruno Mars) should also make you reconsider the mainstream music that gets replayed on Top 40 stations as if it’s pure gold.

(Really Bruno Mars? No one wants to listen to you sing about how you do absolutely nothing and STILL make millions of dollars.) At least the tracks on Goblin always have a point, they are trying to say something. And most of the time they succeed, while making me laugh at the same time: ”Random disclaimer: Hey, don’t do anything that I say in this song, okay? It’s f**kin’ fiction/If anything happens, don’t f**kin’ blame me,/white America...”

My advice to you? Check out OFWGKTA and Tyler the Creator’s new CD Goblin. Buy it, steal it (I am not condoning that, just being practical), have your friend burn you a copy of it, but get your hands on a copy of Goblin.

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MFA presents: Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art

By Maggie Lawrence Culture Editor The familiar tune of ‘Surfin’ USA’ echoed up into the high ceilings of the newly constructed Edward H. Linde Gallery in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on Sunday, September 18th. Yes, the tune was familiar, but not in the way one might think. Eight dynamic performers poised in front of old school typewriters were humming and rhythmically tapping out this Beach Boys classic for a gathering of listeners. The Boston Typewriter Orchestra was only one of five live concerts to rock the new wing’s halls.

On Saturday, September 17th, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston unveiled the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art. The 21,000 square-foot expansion of the west wing of the Museum was designed by MFA Head Designer ,Keith Crippen and displays 250 works including video, painting, photography, and sculpture.

The former West Wing of the museum, originally designed by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, has been transformed into an open and inviting two-story space brilliantly illuminated by a rounded skylight spanning the entire hall.

In celebration of its latest completed project, the MFA hosted an open house free of charge on

September 18th. The open house showcased the myriad capabilities of the new space, featuring concerts, poetry readings and performance art throughout the day.

Many of the special events held in honor of the Linde Wing were interactive, live models posed in the galleries for sketching and the Riley Seminar Room invited visitors to design their own mixed-media collages.

The open, well-lit space has provided the Boston art scene with an accessible tribute to contemporary art. Coupled with the recently revamped Art of the Americas wing, The Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art has put a modern and relevant spin on the Museum’s vast and varied permanent collection.

Some notable pieces included a cast aluminum sculpture of Lynda Benglis, as well as a haunting work from Andy Warhol’s ‘Di-

saster’ series. The MFA has incorporated some of the most prominent names in contemporary art into the Linde Wing, featuring works by the likes of Donald Judd, Ellsworth Kelly, Chuck Close and Sol LeWitt.

An all-star cast of artists brings the collection to a new level, but perhaps the most compelling aspect of the new space is the juxtaposition of famous pillars of contemporary art with work from the Museum’s Community Artist Initiative. Committed to expanding the presence of the arts in the Boston community, the Community Artist Initiative has reached out to youth in Boston through The Artist Project. Through the MFA’s Artist Project, children from eight local after-school programs collaborate with an artist in the area.

For the opening of the Linde Wing, Raul Gonzalez III led the 2010-11 creation of And Their Families, which was a heartfelt collection of

Photo courtesy of Maggie Lawrence/Gavel Media

Photo courtesy of Maggie Lawrence/Gavel Media

the childrens’ artistic musings about their relatives connected through the magnificent rendering of an gallery-spanning tree.

The Hope and Mel Barkan Art Wall located on the upper level of the new wing features several installations of word-sculpture, thematically titled ‘Sparking Dialogue.’ An Italian artist Maurizio Nanucci’s neon sign boldly reminds us that ‘ALL ART HAS BEEN CONTEMPORARY.’ This concept seems to be at the center of the Linde Family Wing’s overall message.

The wide variety of mediums, representative of artists of all ages and associations provides a broad and dynamic definition of what art can be, and what is considered contemporary to us at the beginning of the 21st century.

Roman holiday: Student life in the ‘Eternal City’

By Sofia Martinez Associate Culture Editor Living in Rome was nothing short of life-changing, but the magical time spent there goes beyond the conventional wonder of the ‘Eternal City.’ Immediately being immersed in a culture unknown to me opened my eyes to unimaginable things.

Coming from a small island in the Caribbean, called by some a U.S. territory and by others a nation because of its long-sought independence, I had always lived in a society dominated by North American influences. The Puerto Rican society of my upbringing was defined by a tendency to follow trends: careers, universities, fashion, social scenes, restaurants, and beaches. To be a trendsetter was unfathomable.

One of these trends had always been to study-abroad in Spain, attractive and comfortable because of its common language.

After three years studying Economics and Italian at Boston College I considered myself fluent, until I spoke with a native speaker outside of class and experienced an automatic mental block. While my background in Economics had instilled in me the inclination to always fish for solutions when confronted with an issue, I could

Photo courtesy of Sofia Martinez/Gavel Media

not decipher the solution to this problem.

Eventually I had to overcome this obstacle, when I had no other choice but to speak Italian when ordering my lunch, paying at

the supermarket, getting lost on my way to my university’s orientation, when walking along the streets that turned into alleys.

After I overcame my fear of Italian, I was able to open my eyes and savor what the Eternal City had in store for me. I was able to see life in a different way than the trenddominated cycle of my youth. The way the Italians live their life is very different from what I had ever lived: the language, the gestures, the public transportation, the tones of voice, the way of interacting with friends as well as strangers, the flora, the fauna, the streets, the directions, the telephones, the bathrooms, the views, the balconies, the kitchens, the businesses on the street, the supermarkets, the coffee, the coffee bars, the restaurants, the waiters, the music, the pubs, the clubs, the facades, the different smell of every street, the homeless, the elevators, the traffic, the scooters, the cars, the gelati, the drinks, the food and the fresh ingredients, the candy, the pastries, the keys and the graffiti. Among all of these new and different things existed the greatness of this city’s history with its monuments, museums, ruins, statues, sculptures, paintings, fountains, churches and plazas turning it into the most intricate painting that I have ever seen.

It wasn’t long after I started to submerge into the culture of this city and its lifestyle

Photo courtesy of Sofia Martinez/Gavel Media

that I understood the Roman populations’ perspective of their city as well as life: It is not based on what it seems to be but what it actually is. Almost everyone that has been to Rome can talk about, what I now am confident enough to consider the ‘touristy places’, but fail to realize what this city is all about, a vast collection of the inherent dichotomies of everyday life, the new and old, its beauty and ugliness, and glamour and poverty.

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