March 22, 2018 by The Huntington News

The Huntington News Vol. XI No. 9

March 22, 2018

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Colin McLean could only choose leased properties during selection.

Photo courtesy Student Government Association

SGA slates debate campaign issues News Staff

The two slates running for student government president and executive vice president debated campaign issues including diversity in student government, mental health resources and housing March 14 in the Curry Student Center mezzanine. Collin Walter and

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Dylan Balcom is a sponsor of the all-gender housing referendum.

By Alyssa Lukpat

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Nina Kalantar of uniteNU emphasized the value of their experience on the Student Government Association, or SGA, cabinet and their desire to increase representation of student groups in the SGA Senate. Nathan Hostert and Dylan Balcom of yourNortheastern pointed to policies they have enacted, such as ELECTION, on Page 4

Kate Parks was misgendered by Housing while trying to register.

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ROOM OPTIONS EXCLUDE TRANS, NONBINARY STUDENTS By Morgan Lloyd | Campus Editor

hen Kate Parks applied for housing earlier this month, they found there was no all-gender housing available for their three-person roommate group. The online housing system misgendered Parks, who identifies as non-binary, telling them the options for female students were taken. Parks’ roommate group was forced to split up, leaving Parks without housing. “I lost my housing. I have not been able to find a place to live,” said Parks, a second-year theatre major. “I’m ROOMMATES, on Page 2

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Photo by Alex Melagrano

Genco grows into leadership role By Irvin Zhang News Staff

Down by 10 with 4:49 left in the fourth quarter of an invitational tournament game against Yale University, third-year point guard Jess Genco runs past a screen her teammate set to the left wing. She catches the ball off an inbound pass, knocks down a 3-pointer and becomes

the 20th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points. Genco has evolved from an overlooked recruit who received just one offer to play collegiate basketball to Northeastern’s starting point guard and leading scorer. Now, she is a 1,000 career point scorer of a Division I program. The five-foot-five BASKETS, on Page 8

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March 22, 2018

Photo by Riley Robinson Kate Parks, a second-year theatre major, applied to all-gender housing this year and could not find a room. They are currently fighting the university to be able to live where they choose.

Referendum seeks to end housing restrictions ROOMMATES, from front

currently fighting the university on being able to live with some of my friends because they’re insisting that I can’t. It’s just a mess.” Many students have problems with the limitations of gender-restricted housing. Now, a group of students has submitted a referendum question to the Student Government Association, or SGA, ballot asking students to support removing gender restrictions on apartment-style housing. Students can vote on the referendum on the myNortheastern portal until 11:59 p.m. Thursday. “If it’s a change that’s going to benefit even a single student and not hurt anyone else, why would [University Housing] not do it?” asked Jake Grondin, a third-year biology major and the lead sponsor of the referendum. A LACK OF OPTIONS Northeastern has guaranteed all undergraduate students housing since fall 2014; however, many students find that all-gender housing options are inaccessible or unavailable. “I figure somebody must have gotten gender-neutral housing, but I don’t know who,” Parks said. “That’s how I felt last year. In theory, someone got housing, but everyone I’m talking to is going through this hell process.” In a Tuesday email to The News, John O’Neill, North-

eastern’s senior media relations specialist, said about 2 percent of students choose all-gender housing. “The university has more all-gender units available than we are able to fill,” O’Neill wrote. One of the biggest problems students had with the all-gender housing process this year was the lack of room choices, said referendum sponsor Dylan Balcom, who is currently running for SGA executive vice president. “A huge proportion of it was leased properties. More typically than not, leased properties are economy and standard,” said Balcom. “It should be reflective of the other [housing] pools.” O’Neill said the university has increased its number of economy and standard units across the board as a result of requests from students regarding both all-gender and single gender housing. Colin McLean, a second-year computer science major who identifies as non-binary, faced this issue as well. When it came time for McLean’s group to find housing, the only available options were in leased properties that would force McLean’s friends to sleep in bunk beds. “I felt bad for being like, ‘Oh, can you live in gender-neutral housing?’ because they would get bunk beds,” McLean said. McLean will now have to live off campus with anoth-

er group of friends in order to avoid living in gender-restricted housing. “I’m being forced to live with cis males, because that’s what I’m under, but I’m not a man. So why would I be forced to live with men?” McLean said. “They completely neglect and throw away everyone who is gender-nonconforming.” McLean said they are not the only one choosing off-campus housing rather than having to deal with Northeastern’s all-gender housing system. “A lot of my friends moved off campus because they were done with it,” McLean said.

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asks if students would support taking away gender restrictions on apartment-style housing, allowing students to live wherever and with whomever they choose. Grondin explained that as his group envisions the process, students would preference gender for random housing assignments, rather than the current system of students choosing all-gender housing. “I don’t really get why they have to designate specific apartments to be gender-neutral,” Parks said. “I can see for dorming it might make sense, like if you’re signing up for a space with someone you

more numbers with this referendum that we can bring back to the administration and say, ‘This will affect X amount of students,’ ‘The student body in general thinks that we should do it,’ that sort of thing,” Grondin said. Balcom said while this issue is particularly significant within the LGBTQIA+ community, it affects the whole student body. “Obviously this is hurting the LGBTQIA community who is supposed to be benefiting from all-gender, but it also affects the students who don’t need to benefit from it,” Balcom said. “Males and females could still live together in a

If you are an out trans person,” Parks said, “living with someone who is not okay with that literally puts you in danger.

When Parks began fighting to live in their friends’ apartment, they said the tone of the university’s response was that Parks would be okay not living with friends. However, Parks said the university doesn’t realize how important it is for LGBTQIA+ students to know their roommates. “If you are an out trans person, living with someone who is not okay with that literally puts you in danger,” Parks said. CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE The current referendum

don’t know, but if you’re setting up a space like, ‘I’m going to live with these people,’ why does it matter where you live?” The current campaign against gender restrictions on apartments has been ongoing since April 2017, Balcom said. SGA and the Resident Student Association proposed the idea to Northeastern Housing and Residential Life last year. If the referendum passes, Grondin said his group will approach Northeastern Housing and Residential Life with more data to work on the issue. “We’re just hoping to get

mixed apartment just as if they were off campus. It just makes it all more fair and transparent.” Parks said the university does not understand the importance of the issue at hand when dealing with gender-nonconforming students applying for housing. “I feel like they only tried halfway on gender-neutral housing,” Parks said. “They felt like they should have it, so they just kind of said it existed, but they didn’t think about the implications or do any of the stuff you’re supposed to do to make it an actually accessible thing.”

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March 22, 2018

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Alternatives to UHCS help with mental health By Alyssa Lukpat News Staff

When Julia Cooper went to Northeastern’s health center her sophomore year to talk to a therapist, they told her she couldn’t see one until she figured out why she was depressed. “If that was my first time ever going to a therapist, I would’ve stopped going,” said Cooper, a fifth-year psychology major. “Instead, they gave me a list of referrals. It was hard to call for appointments, especially when I was super depressed and really isolating myself. When I called them, the lines were dead or they didn’t call back. I couldn’t reach any of them.” Cooper eventually found a therapist by herself, but was quick to say not every student’s insurance provides that option. To make up for the lack of therapy on college campuses, more companies and organizations across the United States are offering therapy services through phone calls, video calls and texting for students who cannot or do not feel comfortable seeing a therapist at school. While Northeastern students can talk to staff at campus offices, such as We Care and the Violence Support, Intervention and Outreach Network, these resources do not provide licensed therapists. Cooper said some of her friends had to wait weeks to see a therapist at Northeastern’s University Health and Counseling Services, or UHCS. UHCS declined to comment for this article. Cooper is disappointed that Northeastern does not prioritize mental health

resources for students. “Northeastern’s attitude is, ‘Let’s brush it under the rug. Let’s not talk about suicide and how we can make mental health better in general,’” Cooper said. “Lots of people who are college-age deal with mental health and could benefit from mental health services.” When students can’t wait weeks for therapy, phone therapy sessions can be just as effective as in-person counseling, said Cassie Christensen, co-founder of Modern Therapy, a company that provides online counseling services. At Modern Therapy, students have an initial consultation with a therapist on the phone. Then, they pay a weekly fee to maintain online correspondence with the therapist. “If you’re going through a hard time and hitting your head against the wall, call our number and we start therapy in four hours,” she said. “Sometimes starting a conversation with someone is the best thing to do.” As more young people seek to address their mental health, some universities have tried to keep up with the increased demand. The Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State University reported that the number of students in the United States seeking help under the “threat-to-self ” category, which includes self-harm, suicidal ideation or attempts, rose for the seventh consecutive year in 2017. Schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, have increased their services in recent years. In 2015, MIT implemented a plan

News Illustration by Glenn Billman Multiple companies are now offering a different approach to students seeking mental health resources.

to increase counseling staff and trained peer advisors, add a mental health drop-in center and create an online request form for therapy appointments. To provide more options for students at Northeastern, Cooper helped launch Northeastern’s chapter of Lean On Me, an organization that offers a texting hotline for students to receive support from peers. “It’s helpful having someone, although they couldn’t provide cognitive behavioral therapy, to listen and validate what I’m going through,” she said. “I felt so alone and I lost friends because I was so depressed. I wasn’t comfortable talking to my friends and it would’ve been helpful in those moments to have someone to talk to.” While universities aren’t the only ones to blame for how societies handle mental health, they don’t always do a sufficient job of helping students address their concerns. For students who need help right away,

Photo by Morgan Lloyd Companies such as Modern Therapy provide alternatives to campus health centers such as UHCS.

free texting services like Crisis Text Line put them in contact with a trained crisis counselor, said Jared Wolf, the service’s media manager. “Crisis Text Line is ideal for that heat of the moment crisis when you need to talk to someone immediately and if you’re in immediate danger,” Wolf said. “For a lot of people, Crisis Text Line is that stepping stone to seeking longer term care. We give referrals to 14 percent of people when the texter needs something beyond what we can provide.” Campus health centers also give students referrals on occasion. However, these counselors are not always available to take new patients. At Zencare, students can select a therapist after watching videos of counselors who are accepting new patients, said Yuri Tomikawa, the company’s founder and CEO. “I think one of the challenges with getting names or suggestions from campus services is a lot of the information is not kept up-to-date,” Tomikawa said. “A therapist’s availability changes weekly and campuses aren’t currently designed to have an up-todate database like Zencare’s platform.” In addition to using online resources when health centers don’t provide mental health services, Silvia Dominguez, a professor of sociology and human services at Northeastern, said students can go to health clinics near campus. If a Northeastern professor

thinks a student needs help, Dominguez said the professor can contact We Care, a Northeastern office that helps students experiencing challenges in maintaining their academic progress. “As faculty, we can refer students to them and tell them it’s available. We can also alert We Care that we’re concerned about a particular student,” she said. “We Care may or may not try to intervene without the student actually asking for it, but nevertheless it makes an extra person aware that there’s concern for a student.” In addition to campus offices, Tomikawa said Northeastern students should take advantage of organizations that promote mental health on campus. “Student groups like Active Minds, Lean On Me and Behind The SMILE are campus organizations that I would really encourage students to check out,” Tomikawa said. Cooper is grateful to have alternative therapy resources available when she cannot see a therapist. Wolf agrees, saying services like Crisis Text Line understand that any mental health problem can be an emergency. “There’s no such thing as a problem being to small, which can be the impression students get when they’re turned away from health center or put on a waitlist,” Wolf said. “It’s so important to not hold it in and to share it with someone so you move past it and figure out what to do next.”

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President, VP candidates discuss SGA diversity ELECTION, from front

removing styrofoam from campus, and said they want to improve mental health resources and housing accessibility on campus. Both slates said they hope to seek input from advocacy organizations on campus while working with the university administration. Students have until the end of Thursday to vote on the myNortheastern portal. Results will be announced March 26. “Our students vocalize what they believe in, and that’s why I’m proud to be a Husky,” Kalantar said. “We need our student government to be an effective outlet for that in enabling vocalization of that advocacy.” Because uniteNU’s executive vice presidential candidate Kalantar is on co-op in Washington, D.C., she participated via a video call projected on a screen next to the other candidates. The SGA elections committee moderated the debate. Both slates emphasized the diversity they bring to this campaign. Balcom, who identifies as a gay man, said he has personally experienced the negative impacts of gender restrictions on apartment-style housing Hostert and Balcom were two of the sponsors of a referendum question to remove gender restrictions on apartment-style housing. The yourNortheastern slate also said they hope to increase access to all-gender bathrooms. “Dylan [Balcom] and I are both gay men who were both born and raised in conservative states, so we have our fair share of experiences with the LGBTQIA community,” Hostert said. Kalantar noted she is the only woman running in the election, and emphasized her background as a Muslim and Iranian-American woman. Kalantar said she wants to diversify SGA’s leadership by empowering more women to become leaders and stressed more than half SGA’s current cabinet members are men. “We should not be having years like this where we are having a lack of women who are taking up elected

March 22, 2018

NUPD CRIME LOG Compiled by Jill Sojourner, news staff

MARCH

Graphic by Michelle Lee Key student issues such as UHCS, diversity and student involvement in decision-making were the main topics of the March 14 SGA debate.

positions on our SGA,” Kalantar said. “I am disappointed to see that I am the only woman running this year, but I believe that is a testament to the work we need to do to increase minority representation and diversification in our student government.” Following last year’s historic election of Suchira Sharma and Paulina Ruiz, an all-female of color slate, Walter said electing himself and Kalantar is the only way to continue making progress. Walter said he wants to increase the Senate’s representation of intercultural, international and interfaith students, as well as student athletes and Greek life participants. “We can’t afford to go backward, especially after breaking the glass ceiling that we did last year with the election of Suchira and Paulina,” Walter said. “If we want to continue progressing forward and have a bright future for Northeastern, then we need to ensure that diversity and inclusion is at the pinnacle of our beliefs both in our Senate and in SGA’s leadership.” Hostert pointed out that he started SGA’s diversity and inclusion subcommittee this year. To counter Walter and Kalantar’s emphasis on their combined five years of experience in SGA compared to Hostert and Balcom’s four, Hostert and Balcom highlighted the actions they have undertaken in SGA, including their work with NU Pride. “We are working with every single spiritual, multicultural and LGBTQIA group on campus to bring them to the table and incorporate them into our

Student Government Association,” Hostert said, “so we can focus on issues not just that we think are important, but that they think are important, too.” One change Walter and Kalantar want to bring to SGA is to improve room booking policies on campus. They hope to limit the number of outside organizations who use Northeastern’s cultural spaces. “We need to make sure cultural spaces are not overrun with events that are entirely unrelated to the purpose of that establishment,” Kalantar said. “We need to be really conscious of protecting cultural spaces on our campus for student groups.” Hostert and Balcom said one of their top priorities is improving University Health and Counseling Services, or UHCS. In addition to providing more mental health resources, Balcom said they want the center to offer cheaper sexual and menstrual health products to students. “We want to work with [UHCS executive director] Dr. [Robert] Klein and UHCS to implement a condoms-to-your-door and menstrual health product delivery system,” Balcom said. “A lot of other schools of our caliber have been able to input these so students can request all kinds of condoms and contraceptives or menstrual care products and have them delivered to their on-campus apartment.” To end the debate, Hostert and Balcom were joined up front by the sponsors of the four referenda questions on the election ballot.

MARCH

8:31 p.m. The supervisor at the Renaissance Park Garage reported two men, who were unaffiliated with NU, engaging in sexual activity on the 10th floor. NUPD responded and reported placing one of the men under arrest for a warrant and sending the other on his way.

10:41 a.m. An employee at ResNet in Speare Hall reported finding a wallet with multiple forms of identification inside with different names on all of them. A report was filed.

12:58 a.m. An NU faculty member reported finding a man, who was unaffiliated with NU, sleeping in a classroom in Hastings Hall. NUPD responded and reported placing the man under arrest for trespassing. A report was filed.

1:36 p.m. An NU student reported being approached by a man in Central Square at an ATM with a check, asking her to withdraw $998 in cash in exchange for the check. The student reported giving the man $1,000. Upon trying to deposit the check later, the student found the check was fraudulent. A report was filed.

2:10 p.m. An NU employee reported receiving emails from an MIT employee regarding a potential scam case that involved an NU graduate student’s personal information. A report was filed.

3:33 a.m. The proctor at West Village F reported an NU student vomiting in the lobby. NUPD responded and reported referring the student to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution for underage alcohol consumption.

4:49 p.m. An NU student reported her cell phone charger was stolen from Snell Library. A report was filed.

5:54 p.m. A confidential domestic violence case occurred in Burstein Hall. A report was filed.

1:19 a.m. A residence director at West Village F reported several students attempting to carry out an extremely intoxicated NU student who was vomiting. NUPD responded and reported requesting Emergency Medical Services, or EMS, who transported the student to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A report was filed.

12:51 a.m. A confidential rape case occurred off campus.

1:28 a.m. The proctor at Kennedy Hall reported a highly intoxicated NU student throwing chairs around the lobby. NUPD responded and reported the student refused all medical attention. A report was filed.

5:21 a.m. An NU student reported her roommate, also an NU student, was extremely intoxicated and was vomiting. NUPD responded and reported requesting EMS, who transported the student to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A report was filed.

March 22, 2018

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Review: Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet shines Obviously, creating a Romeo and Juliet ballet Photo Editor requires accepting some arIf I could set my death tistic changes. Shakespeare’s to any score, it would be Lord Capulet says to a Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo cousin in Act I: “You and I and Juliet.” Unfortunately, are past our dancing days,” it may not be as visually but that doesn’t seem to stunning as Boston Ballet’s matter in Cranko’s staging. performance of the starThere were plenty of other crossed drama, choreolittle moments tucked in graphed by John Cranko. I as character development lack a candlelit crypt, and gems. For instance, Juliet a shaggy-haired Romeo grabbing her own breasts so strung with grief that and looking at the audience he would dance with my in shock, realizing her tranpointed-toe corpse. But sition to adulthood. here I digress: Prokofiev’s There was also the end of yearning, soaring score is Mercutio’s virtuosic solo, still one you could curl up where he paused to give and cry in. the audience a coy “come Unsurprisingly, Boshither” finger. Really, lots of ton Ballet’s production at Derek Dunn playing a great the Boston Opera House Mercutio. He was Verona’s matched the music’s exfrat boy stereotype, but you cellence. The company has performed Cranko’s version can’t help but smile at it. His snappy pirouettes and since 2008, but this is its impeccable balance even first time using sets and elicited a loud “Bravo!” costumes by Jürgen Rose. Cranko also tampered The scenery was sparse: A with rules of classical ballet raised catwalk across the back of the stage was occa- just as much as Shakesionally joined by an equal- speare’s plot. Flexed feet! ly plain balcony or a leafier Somersaults and backflips! The choreography, creatbackdrop. Juliet’s bed was ed in 1962, is from that simply stripped to become glorious mid-air period part of the crypt. While when ballet jumped from elegant, it felt more like its classical past to sharpminimalism than sumptuer, modernist movement. ous Italian Renaissance. It feels more natural and Rose’s jewel-toned cosromantic than any “romantumes did help take up tic era” ballet from the late this empty space, howev19th century. er. It seemed nearly every This freedom of movecharacter got to unfurl ment makes the balcony some glorious cape. Even scene work: The scene the peasants had purple known for “A rose by any and yellow ribbons that other name…” is also the whipped around during a highlight of the ballet for vibrant street carnival in its untempered elation. The the second act. melody that cues the pas And yes, there was a carnival: Cranko did occasion- de deux is an imposing, crashing, descending scale. ally knead Shakespeare’s plot into a slightly different It feels like the musical shape. For example, Romeo equivalent of driving a car off a cliff, so it needs bold dies from a dagger to the stomach rather than poison. abandon like Juliet’s sprint into a head-over-heels lift. Fortunately, most of these After all this beauty, I changes served to show off have only one problem the dancers. The Montague with Juliet, danced by Misa boys — Romeo, Mercutio Kuranaga. The audience and Benvolio — were the bold and unapologetic stars needed more of her. Each of the Capulet’s ball. I doubt time she commanded the anyone would complain, as stage alone, I hoped she the trio approached techni- would break into a phrase of movement, but every cal perfection. Every doutime it was only acting. ble tour stuck a satisfying Kuranaga’s character was landing in a crisp heel-tocommendable, but her toe fifth, even when done multiple times in a row. The dancing is extraordinary. When she rolls through the second act’s carnival was a balls of her feet to come off chance for the corps to be pointe, it is as if the Earth more than just filler. By Riley Robinson

has to politely ask for her return. To only see her when she’s accompanied by a male partner seems a missed opportunity and an antiquated choice — even for a ‘60s adaptation of an Elizabethan play. “Romeo and Juliet” runs until April 8. Regular tickets range $45-$159. Student subscription tickets are $25 per show.

Photo courtesy Liza Voll Misa Kuranaga and Nelson Madrigal portray Juliet and Romeo.

EVENT CALENDAR Calendar compiled by Allie Kuo, lifestyle columnist

Thursday, March 22

Ravyn Lenae’s falsetto has been described by the online music magazine Pitchfork as “reminiscent of Erykah Badu’s,” and she will be bringing it to AfterHours this Thursday. The 19-year-old will be joined by Asoh Black! of Free. All.Mind$, a creative collective based out of New York City. Doors open at 6:30. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.; AfterHours; Free.

Friday, March 23

If you’re an avid fan of slam poetry, the House Slam at the Haley House Cafe in Roxbury will be a great opportunity to hear poets from the area participate in a slam. Friday’s event is a team semifinal slam, where poets will present three poems for judging. The space fills up quickly, so arrive around or before 6:30 p.m. with your ID for the 18+ event. 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.; Roxbury; Free.

Saturday, March 24

For a night of Filipino pride and performances, check out Bahay Kubo, NU Barkada’s annual cultural show. It is also the organization’s 20th year on campus, which is all the more reason to learn about Barkada and the culture of the Philippines. Through skits and dances, you’ll follow the main characters Aya and Lauren on an adventure. 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Fenway Center; Free.

Sunday, March 25

Restaurants and shops in the North End are teaming up Sunday for Shop and Nibble. What better way to spend an afternoon than browsing through Italian literature at I Am Books, the first Italian-American bookstore in the country. Some of the participating eateries include Nico, Strega and Lulu’s Sweet Shoppe. 1 - 4 p.m.; North End; Free.

Monday, March 26

Join the New York Times bestselling author, Mackenzi Lee, for a talk about the remarkable women feautured in her “Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World”.It is surely going to be a night filled with vibrant discussions and plenty of girl power. 7 - 8:30 p.m.; The Public Library of Brookline; Free.

Tuesday, March 27

On the theme of femininity, artist Caitlin Keogh will discuss her work at Boston University’s MFA Lecture series. Keogh’s pieces explore gender and representation, especially images of women, in a bold and witty way. Keogh’s work has been exhibited at locations like MoMa PS1 and will also be on display in a solo exhibition at the ICA this spring. 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Peter Fuller Building; Free.

Wednesday, March 28

Alternative rock duo Diet Cig will be at AfterHours with Chris Farren for a great mid-week, mid-studying music break. Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman met at a house show where Luciano asked Bowman for a lighter, and Diet Cig was born. Farren, a Florida native, is a singer/songwriter and member of Fake Problems, as well as half of the duo Antarctigo Vespucci. Doors open at 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.; AfterHours; Free.

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Boston’s best hidden treasures, revealed By Claire Wallace | News Staff

oadside America, a travel site, boasts list after list of attractions and oddities from California to New York and everywhere in between. While everyone has heard of the Freedom Trail, the Aquarium and the Prudential Center, what about Boston’s lesser-known attractions, like Phineas Gage’s skull and the location of the telephone’s birthplace? Boston has 28 of these roadside oddities, and as The News discovered, it is possible to do all 28 in a single day with minimal public transit. Here are nine highlights:

March 22, 2018 Ether Dome 55 Fruit St., Boston The Ether Dome is open at all hours except when it is being used for conferences. It is located on the fourth floor of Massachusetts General Hospital. Following signs up four flights of stairs, you will arrive at the doors of the dome. When members of The News entered, the lights were off and the only light came through the top of the dome, which created an eerie feeling when combined with the skeletons, mummies and large marble statues around the dome. Going by yourself to this one is not recommended.

Accessibility: 5 Popularity: 7 Cool: 6

Statue of JFK: Going Places 24 Beacon St., Boston Located on the steps of the Massachusetts State House, this statue of John F. Kennedy was unveiled in 1990 on what would have been the former president’s 73rd birthday. The statue is staged in a running position, although the artist left the reason behind Kennedy’s jog up to interpretation. Teddy Kennedy and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were present at the unveiling. While passing visitors cannot see the statue up close, the State House offers JFK-themed tours for $60 per group where tourists can get inside the gates.

Accessibility: 7, Popularity: 1, Cool: 6

Make Way for Ducklings Corner of Boston Public Garden, near the intersection of Beacon and Charles streets. The garden holds a parade of Boston ducklings that are usually dressed in festive outfits based on special events and holidays. Betsy Melrose from Melrose, Massachusetts, visited the ducks the day of the 2018 Super Bowl to take photos of their new outfits. “It’s a huge attraction. The kids ride on the big one. I’ve never seen them in their Pats gear but of course, tonight,” Melrose said. “They are usually in their Santa hats for Christmas. My brother-in-law loves these and so every time there’s a new fashion — he lives in Alabama — I send him a picture.”

Accessibility: 7, Popularity: 10, Cool: 8

The Mapparium 200 Massachusetts Ave., Boston Opened in 1935 by Mary Baker Eddy, the glass Mapparium has not been altered since its opening day. When visitors enter The Mapparium, they walk on a clear glass bridge that goes through the globe, which stands three stories tall and is made entirely of glass. Martha Planton, a visitor from Wakefield, Massachusetts, toured the Mapparium on a weekday afternoon with her friend Edward Jensen, a tourist from England. “I’ve been here a few times and Edward really likes maps, especially historical maps. So, this is the place,” she said. The library is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and costs $6 for adults and $4 for students with valid ID.

Accessibility: 10, Popularity: 10, Cool: 10

To see the rest of the map, visit us online at huntnewsnu.com Design by Michelle Lee

Big Teddy Bear Statue, 750 Washington St., Boston The bronze teddy bear used to sit in front of Boston’s FAO Schwarz toy store until it closed in 2004. Today, it sits in front of the Floating Hospital for Children as a greeting to all patients who enter. The bear was cast by artist Robert Shure in 1991 and stands 12 feet tall.

Accessibility: 10, Popularity: 4, Coolness: 7

LIFESTYLE

Page 7 Mother Goose’s Gravesite Granary Burial Grounds, Tremont Street The famous Granary Burial Grounds holds the graves of famous historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere. But it also holds the gravestone of Mother Goose. Mother Goose was not a real goose — she was the mother-in-law of Thomas Fleet, who created the children’s storybook “Mother Goose’s Melodies for Children.” Fleet named the book after her because she told fairy tales like those he chose to include in the publication.

Accessibility: 10 for graveyard, 4 for grave itself Popularity: 8, Cool: 7

March 22, 2018

Molasses Flood Plaque 529 Commercial St., on the north end of Puopolo Park between the two baseball diamonds. This plaque commemorates a little-known and oddly unique Boston tragedy. In 1919, a molasses tank exploded at 529 Commercial St. and a 40-foot wave of molasses came over the street, killing 21 people and a number of horses. The molasses flood crushed buildings, destroyed railroad tracks and flooded entire neighborhoods. Rumor has it that the ground in front of the plaque is still sticky, but members of The News visited in the rain and could not verify that claim.

Accessibility: 3, Popularity: 1, Cool: 7

All Saints Way Wall of Saints, 4 Battery St., Boston

Boston resident Peter Baldassari decorates this North End alleyway every month with tributes to different Roman Catholic saints. The alleyway is gated, but onlookers can see decorations on the wall above the gate. During February, the alley was decorated for Saint Valentine, featuring gates adorned with hearts and colorful printed photos of Saint Valentine.

Accessibility: 7, Popularity: 4, Cool: 8

Golden Teapot 63 Court St., Boston

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SPORTS

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March 22, 2018

Genco evolves into 1,000-point scorer mutual connection, Cole guard said her competitive heard about Genco and spirit and knack for scoring gave her a chance. started on a paved court in “We were trying to locate her driveway in Scranton, players and one of my Pennsylvania. ex-players from Boston “I come from a basketball College when I was over playing family,” said Genco, there [Amber Jacobs] called a business administration me when I got the job and major. “There’s definitely told me about this young sibling rivalry, you know, lady in Scranton that she one-on-one games in the was working with,” Cole driveway. I always say I said. “[Jacobs] said, ‘I think have my sister to thank she’s got what it takes. I because she’s one of the think everyone is overlookbetter defenders that I’ve ing her.’ Amber was a great faced. Always playing with player for me and so I said, her and against her really ‘Let’s take a look.’” helped me develop as a When Cole invited Genco player.” to campus to evaluate her Genco said she grew game in person, she loved up emulating her mothGenco’s “court vision and er, Catherine Genco, who court sense,” she said, and played collegiate basketball envisioned her fitting well at Fordham University. in the program. When she “Something she ingrained joined the Huskies, Genco in me was that if you work came in with low expechard enough, you can [be a tations of what her role college basketball player], would be but said she had but you’re going to have to a chip on her shoulder and put in the work because it’s wanted to work as hard as not going to be easy,” Genco she could. said. Despite being a first-year, Like her mother, Genco Genco had a huge role played high school basketon the team and finished ball at Scranton Preparatory second in the nation in School. minutes per game at 38.9. Her high school career She was named to the CAA was not picture perfect, and All-Rookie Team, averaging she went into her senior 9.4 points, 4.2 assists and season unsure if any school 4.2 rebounds per game. was going to give her the Genco was surprised by her chance to play collegiate playing time but said forbasketball. mer Northeastern forward During the same time Samantha DeFreese helped period, the Northeasther transition to the college ern women’s basketball game. program had a coaching “I didn’t realize ‘til prechange. New head coach season that I’d be getting a Kelly Cole had just one lot of time [on the court],” player who stayed through Genco said. “I guess there the transition. Through a were a couple little hints BASKETS, from front

Photo by Alex Melagrano Third-year Jess Genco reached 1000 career points against Yale on March 15.

like Sam DeFreese, who was a great player and a senior during my freshman year, would always be very encouraging and help build up my confidence. I can’t thank her enough for it.” DeFreese, who was also a 1,000 career point scorer, said she was drawn to Genco because of the high level of maturity she showed. She wanted to give Genco the blueprints to a successful collegiate career. “You don’t see that in a lot of freshmen,” DeFreese said. “That maturity off the court translates into a maturity on the court as well. If you have that, you can take all of the things that are thrown at you on the next level. For me, it was ‘this kid has so much skill.’ If I could try to help guide her and make her more confident in herself, I knew she was going to be great.”

While Genco had similar success her sophomore year, she vastly improved this year. During the offseason, she worked on increasing her offensive repertoire, improving her shooting off the catch and off the dribble. During her junior season, she set career-highs in points, assists and shooting percentages and earned a spot on the All-CAA First Team. “She’s improved the way scores and improved her shot even more,” fourthyear forward Loren Lassiter said. “She’s continued to study the game and learn from her teammates. You can always find her in the gym working on her shot or on situations that might happen in the game. She always watches film and is always trying to improve herself.” On top of her increased

production, her teammates have noticed how she takes command of the team, becoming more vocal on the court and more involved off the court. “Her leadership is contagious,” said third-year forward Gabby Giacone, who has been Genco’s roommate since freshman year. “This year, she’s done an absolute great job of making connections with everybody.” Upon hitting the 3-pointer that would be her 1,000th point, Genco did not celebrate; she immediately focused on defense and began pressuring the ball. That is who she is, her teammates say. “She’s so humble,” Giacone said. “She can walk into a gym and put up 20 points and have a great game and the next day, she’s at the gym like nothing happened. She’s all about a team-first mentality.” After Northeastern’s season-ending loss to Yale, Genco said in tears that she would rather have more wins than points. Just like when she was younger on the paved court with her sister, Genco’s goal is to win. Only this time, she’s chasing a bigger stage. “I’m always thinking about the conference championship,” Genco said of her hopes for her senior season. “It’s always on my mind throughout the year. That’s the ultimate goal. Getting that berth, it’s what you dream of as a kid: getting to play in the NCAA tournament and winning championships.”

Women’s basketball ends season in disappointment By John Hagerty Deputy Sports Editor

After a regular season marked by a program-best 11 CAA wins, the Northeastern women’s basketball team’s play faltered in the postseason. The Huskies suffered two first round losses, first in the CAA tournament and then the Women’s Basketball Invitational, or WBI. At the CAAs the Huskies fell 61-51 to the University of Delaware, a team they had beaten twice during the regular season. After their loss at CAAs, the Huskies were selected to

play in the WBI. With the selection, head coach Kelly Cole led the program to its first postseason appearance since 1999. While the invitation to the WBI allowed the team to have a chance to rebound from their CAA tournament loss, the Huskies were not able to capitalize. Thursday night at Cabot Center in their WBI matchup with Yale University, NU lost control of the game in the second quarter. Yale first-year guard Tori Andrew had 11 first half points as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 13

in the second quarter. Yale never relinquished their lead after the 9:33 mark in the second quarter and won 68-58. Third-year guard Jess Genco expressed the postseason success requires a more focused mindset. “Postseason play is different,” Genco said. “You have to bring it every possession and you can’t afford to have mental lapses. It’s a whole different ball game.” Genco scored her 1,000th career point against Yale and led the Huskies with 19 points. Two others joined her in double figures, as

first-year Stella Clark and second-year Jasmine Braswell each had 10. Despite the poor results, the team expressed gratitude for the chance to compete in the postseason. “We did a lot of work this year,” Cole said. “This is not the outcome we were hoping for, but we are thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of the madness and to come back and take it into the offseason in a different light.” The team is now looking forward to the offseason in order to improve and prepare for next season.

“I think that we’re definitely taking steps forward individually and as a program,” Genco said. “We can see ourselves reaching that final end goal.” Despite the losses capping the season, Cole felt that the team’s 2017-18 campaign was ultimately a success because of the team’s development throughout the year. “This was a great year,” Cole said. “It doesn’t feel great right now, but we had great wins and a lot of progress from different people. We will continue to move in the right direction.”

March 22, 2018

SPORTS

Page 9

Men’s hockey falls in Hockey East semifinals in this game, and it just ticked away. Sikura came didn’t happen tonight.” close, firing his seventh Turns out, the Huskies shot of the night from the had been on the wrong side slot only to be shut down by of the power-play the whole Hawkey. time — their first goal came Primeau was still awake shorthanded at 18:06, a bar- down the other end, redidown nip by Sikura. recting pucks from ProviThere had been some dence to keep the Huskies roughing in the Northeast- in the lead. The rookie, ern defensive end which however, was caught offlanded Erik Foley of Provguard by Kasper Bjökqvist, idence and NU’s Biagio who took the puck from Lerario in the box for hitbehind the net and tipped it ting after the whistle, with up over Primeau’s glove for Lerario serving an extra the game-tying goal with two for roughing. The Friless than two minutes on ars went on the power-play the clock, ultimately sendin Northeastern’s defensive ing the game into overtime. end, but the tables turned The extra period seemed Photo by Brian Bae when Gaudette picked the to be a mimic of the openMen’s hockey came up short against Providence in the Hockey East semifinals, losing in overtime 3-2. pocket of a Friar and caring one, seeing zero shots nately on our end, we’ve and Adam Gaudette —were ried the puck over the blue By Calli Remillard from either team in the first Sports Editor fallen on the wrong side of finding it hard to generate line. Gaudette himself was few minutes of play. Both offensive plays with the Fri- unable to finish the shot, The Hockey East tourna- the ledger in two of those teams fired a few shots on ars’ defense all over them. ment, in which the top four overtime games.” but Sikura took over and goal, but the game-winning Things were slow to get Sikura and Providence’s teams battle it out at TD buried the puck bar-down goal came at 9:55 from rolling following puck drop. Vincent Desharnais reGarden, is one of the most in the net for the Huskies’ Providence’s Brandon DuProvidence took the first ceived matching minors prestigious titles in NCAA first goal of the game. haime. Duhaime rocketed Division I hockey. The team shot on goal just over three for tripping and embellishBack on the ice for the off a shot through a screen minutes into play, but first- ment, leaving the players on final period, the teams were of both Huskies and Friars, that comes out on top is year goaltender Cayden the ice to play four-on-four, knotted at one and the Fri- leaving Primeau blind to awarded the coveted LamPrimeau saw it coming but the Huskies still weren’t ars were on the power-play the puck’s whereabouts. oriello trophy. from the slot and made the able to generate any scoring for a hooking minor on In 2016, Northeastern “You know, it’s overtime,” opportunities. brought the Hockey East ti- stop. Jeremy Davies at the buzzer Madigan said. “One team’s The Friars came up with Things changed when tle back to Huntington Avin the second. The Friars going to win, one team’s goboth men came out of the enue for the first time since a messy goal at 8:57, with tried to tip the game back ing to lose and unfortunatesecond-year forward Vimal penalty box, giving North1988 — the same year as in their favor, but Primeau ly for our guys, we came on the team’s last Beanpot win Sukumaran sneakily poking eastern the momentum it knocked away two shots the short end of the stick.” the puck past a sprawledneeded to kick things into prior to this year’s victory. sent his way by Sukumaran With the end of Hockey out Primeau for the first gear in the offensive end. With the hockey program to squash their advances. East play, the Huskies move goal of the game. A scramble near the crease on the up-and-up over the Back at even-strength, forward to focus on the NU Defenseman Trevor sent some bodies flying and second-year center John last few years and the 2018 NCAA Division I tournaOwens sent a rocket from ultimately landed ProviBeanpot Championship Picking fired the puck at ment, where they clinched the point just a few mindence’s Jacob Bryson in the Hawkey from the slot. under their belts, it looked a number three seed. The utes later, but Providence box with a hooking minor, like anything was possible Hawkey made the save bracket for the playoffs was when Friday night’s semifi- goaltender Hayden Hawkey putting the Huskies on their but bobbled the rebound, released at noon on Sunday got a glove on it. Hawkey second power-play. nal contest rolled around. giving first-year forward during the NCAA Selection steered aside more shot Hawkey crushed NorthHowever, the Huskies’ Austin Goldstein the perShowing. eastern’s hopes of lightHockey East season came to attempts over the next few fect angle to bury his first Northeastern will face off minutes, this time from ing the lamp on the man a devastating end just after collegiate goal, giving the against the University of midnight, with a 3-2 loss in winger and Hobey Baker fi- advantage, coming up with Huskies a 2-1 lead. Michigan in the first round overtime to the Providence nalist Dylan Sikura, and the two huge blocks on shots Providence almost got of the tournament, playing Huskies finished the period from Sikura and first-year College Friars. one back later in the periin the Northeast region at Zach Solow to effectively The Huskies finished their down a goal. od, just under the midway the DCU Center in WorcesHeading into the seckill the power-play. season ranked second in point with a loose puck in ter, Massachusetts. Puck ond period, Northeastern Almost as soon as Bryson the crease, but Primeau was drop is slated for 4:30 p.m. Hockey East and seventh outshot Providence 13-8 was out of the box, he was in the nation, according able to get a glove on it beSaturday, following the despite the losing score. sent back in for high-stick- fore it got on a Friar’s stick. game between the 2016to the USCHO.com poll, The Friars controlled most ing and the Huskies found while Providence secured The Huskies were still 2017 Hockey East Chamof the offensive early in the themselves on another third and ninth, respecbattling and trying to add pions Boston University middle frame and left the power-play, which was tively. The Northeastern another goal to cushion against Cornell University. Huskies scrambling to pull again unsuccessful. and Providence matchup their lead as the clock The Huskies were 0-3 on was expected to be a pretty together some attacking the power-play for Friday’s even playing field, and that’s plays. Even an NU powgame, an uncharacteristic exactly how it played out on er-play proved unable to produce anything other statistic for the team whose the ice. than a few redirected shots power play was ranked fifth “It was a good college on Hawkey. in the nation. hockey game,” head coach It looked as though the “We didn’t get the puck Jim Madigan said. “Two Huskies were stuck in a moving, but we had some teams that worked hard looks,” Madigan said. “It and played hard. We played rut, leaving them scoreless halfway through the second just didn’t go, we were zero them three times this year period. Even the Big Three for three. You’re not going and all three games went Photo by Brian Bae — Sikura, Nolan Stevens to get a lot of power-plays into overtime. UnfortuFourth-year Dylan Sikura scored one goal against Providence.

OPINION

Page 10

Editorial: Time to say #NeverAgain

ortheastern students have yet to say #NeverAgain. This hashtag began after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, eventually spreading across the nation. But here at Northeastern, despite many students’ individual efforts, there has not been a united response to gun violence. After mass shootings occur, the public is steeped in grief. And then comes the time to act. The time to call for stricter gun control measures. The time to push for better mental health screening. The time to make our voices heard. Northeastern needs to stand in solidarity with Parkland victims. The #Enough National School Walkout was scheduled for the morning of March 14 to protest gun

violence and commemorate the 17 students killed one month before in Parkland. There are around 19,000 students enrolled at Northeastern University. Less than 1 percent of Northeastern students participated, with about 30 students gathering in Krentzman Quad for the walkout. Granted, Northeastern did have a delayed opening and student organizers did admit the low attendance could have been because not enough people saw the Facebook event. Gun violence, however, is not something we protest only when it is convenient. It is a topic always on our mind. Mass shootings are not confined to elementary schools or high schools. The 2007 Virginia Tech shooting is still ranked as the second deadliest shoot-

The Huntington News Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Campus Editor Opinion Editor City Editor Lifestyle Co-Editors

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Opinions expressed in The Huntington News by letters to the editor, cartoonists and columnists are not necessarily those of The News staff or of the Northeastern administration. Northeastern University undergraduate students conduct all operations involved in the production of this publication. Staff Writers

Alyssa Lukpat, Ava Sasani, Chris Butler, Christian Triunfo, Claire Wallace, Irvin Zhang, Jenna Majeski, Jill Sojourner, Julia Crooijmans & Sam Cronin Staff Photographers

Brian Bae & Lauren Scornavacca Copy Editors

Alyssa Lukpat, Anson Huang, Ava Sasani, Hazel Solender, Jenna Ciccotelli, Kaitlyn Budion, Lily Rupert, Lindsay Lowery & Maria Lovato

March 22, 2018

News illustration by Oriana Timsit

ing in U.S. history, taking the lives of 32 people, including the shooter. This can happen on any campus, whether it is a friend’s, a sibling’s or even our own. Although there is an outpouring of activists fighting gun violence nationwide, we cannot rely on others to fight for a cause that also affects us. You may think your presence is not integral to the movement, but it is. Each voice strengthens the protests that echo toward Congress. This is not a cause that we can fight once and forget.

Just over a month after the Parkland shooting, a student at Great Mills High School in Maryland came to school with a handgun. A school resource officer engaged with the shooter and was able to stop him, but not before two students were shot. Both are currently in the hospital, one with critical injuries. Let’s stop this deadly narrative together. It is not too late for Northeastern’s student body and administration to show support at this pivotal moment in our nation’s

history. The March for Our Lives will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The path runs from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to Boston Common, passing by Northeastern’s campus along Columbus Street. For those of us who live on campus, the rally will be a mere 15 to 20 minute walk away, at most. We at The News stand with those marching and encourage all to participate. We will not only grab the attention of policymakers, but keep it.

Column: Where is your personal data going?

Maria Lovato

ver since I made my first email account, I have routinely clicked “accept” to online terms and conditions without fully reading them first. While many people do this without question, the Facebook data leak forces us to reconsider how websites and online programs are using our personal data. Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm that worked for the Trump campaign, gathered private information from millions of Facebook users. The firm then used this data to attempt to identify the personality traits of these individuals and influence their behavior through political advertising. All

of this occurred without the Facebook users being notified. Those of us who have grown up in the internet age do not realize the extent to which the information we put out is being consumed. This has been so normalized that it appears harmless. We may not realize the kind of extensive online profile we are building about ourselves. Companies such as Cambridge Analytica realized the power of this data, and decided to capitalize off it. We also do not fully understand who has access to this content. We are conditioned to think in terms of what our followers will see, not about the company that provides the platform. In reality, social media sites and search engines like Google track and store this information. Most people have come to realize that the content you put on the Internet can be seen by other individuals, even if they do not directly follow you. But what about private companies? What about the content that you think is secret, like your

Google search history or the birthday you have on your Twitter profile? Oftentimes, we will see ads promoting items we shopped for the day before on a completely unrelated site. This is a perfect example of companies making use of our personal information. Online advertising services, such as Google Ads, use search history to create personalized ads by targeting their advertisements to specific users. Cambridge Analytica essentially did the same thing on Facebook. They tracked users and used this data to target ads to specific people. The difference is that Cambridge Analytica was using this information to manipulate voters, and the people this was happening to had no idea it was occuring. If this doesn’t scare you, it should. Sites such as Facebook need to be held accountable for protecting individuals’ privacy. They can start by being transparent about their policies and making it clear to users how their personal data may be used.

CITY

March 22, 2018

Page 11

Local high schoolers march for gun reform By Christian Triunfo News Staff

After a winter storm left Boston schools closed on March 14, students walked out of their homes instead of their classrooms to march to the State House and meet with legislators to call for gun reform. On the one-month anniversary of the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in

protest to March 15 because of school closings. At St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Boston, however, hundreds of students came out to show their support. “This march is incredibly important to us,” Lexington High School sophomore Luis Ramirez said. “The opportunity to speak with local legislators and have our voices heard won’t be stopped by a snow day.”

Photo by Christian Triunfo Students march to the State House in Boston despite the snowy weather.

Parkland, Florida, high school and college students across the United States participated in the #Enough walkout, most lasting 17 minutes to commemorate the lives lost on Feb. 14. More than 150 schools in Massachusetts planned to participate in the walkout, but most postponed the

Before marching across Boston Common to the State House, community organizers trained students how to speak to legislators and what to ask for. Among their goals, student organizers want to pass H.3610, an Extreme Risk Protective Order that would allow family and law enforcement

to obtain a court order to take firearms away from a person in crisis. The legislation is known nationwide as the Red Flag Law. Rachel Alexander, a junior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, said her peers have organized weekly walkouts for the foreseeable future until the pending bill is passed. “Our voice, as students, is an unprecedented one, and we need to take advantage of that,” Alexander said. “We’re looking for real change.” During their march across the Common, spectators stopped to take pictures and watch. Eduardo López was on vacation from Spain and asked a student holding a sign to take a picture with him. “This is big. This is historic,” López said. “To see so many young people try and make a change in their country, it is incredible to witness.” As students waited to pass security at the State House, Charlotte Lowell, a senior from Andover High School, led the crowd in chants. “We are marching, even though it’s easier to stand

still,” Lowell said. “We’ve been practicing active shooter drills since elementary school. Enough is enough.” Lowell is also involved in planning for the citywide March for Our Lives on March 24, which invites the public to march for gun reform. But the high schoolers were joined by other protesters March 14, including concerned citizens and college students. Emilia Encallado, a Beacon Hill resident and local activist, stood outside the State House auditorium with her husband as students waited to publicly address 15 legislators. Once capacity was reached, the couple left the room to give two more students the opportunity to speak. “I’ve been going to every protest imaginable, and the thing that I love the most is the energy from the youth,” Encallado said. “This fabulous generation is our future, and I’m here to let them know that I stand with them.” After publicly addressing the legislators, students dispersed to knock on their individual legislators’

doors. Groups of parents stood outside waiting for them. Anna Lambert from Weston, Massachusetts, has a daughter who attends John D. O’Bryant High School. As she waited for her daughter, Lambert stood on Beacon Hill with a smile on her face. “I’m supporting my daughter’s choice to use her voice,” Lambert said. “I’m also here to support legislation that will support children, but we should let them do the talking.” For many students, the march is an introduction to activism and speaking out on national issues. “This is only the beginning,” Lowell said. “We’re not done yet.” The high schoolers’ activism will continue this weekend as thousands are expected to take to streets in Boston and across the country in the March for Our Lives. The march is meant to protest gun violence and advocate for stricter gun regulations. Many of the marchers are sure to be high school students, though the march is meant to include people of all ages.

Boston Cultural Council awards 181 grants Maggie Dolan News Correspondent

Local artists and cultural organizations gathered for the Boston Cultural Council Grantee Reception Tuesday night to celebrate awards they received since 2018 began. This year the Boston Cultural Council, or BCC, awarded 181 grants to arts and humanities organizations and individuals, totalling more than $470,000. The event, held at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Roxbury, focused on three categories of funding offered throughout the year: organizational grants for arts and humanities projects, the Opportunity Fund for individuals and groups looking to access opportunities in the arts and the Artist Fellowship Award given to individual artists of Boston. “The groups here tonight are going to be beautifying our public spaces, something that is important

for us to continue to do, improving arts education, promoting inclusion in the arts and so much more,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh, whose Office of Arts and Culture oversees the BCC. Julie Burros, chief of arts and culture for Boston, was met with a round of applause when she said this year, for the first time, grant recipients would be given the money right away rather than spending their own money and being reimbursed. “We really listened to what our grantees told us, and this year we made some big changes in new directions in our grant process,” Burros said. Veronica Robles, a professional mariachi band singer from Mexico, received a grant for her nonprofit cultural dance organization, the Veronica Robles Cultural Center. She and her volunteer staff teach Boston-area students tradition-

al dances from Latin America. She said she likes the new grant process because she can now afford to pay older students to help teach. “I’m excited because I think we received $3,000,” she said. “And that’s not bad for us because we don’t get anything. And so we will decide how we want to spend it, and so that’s good. It’s exciting and also inspiring.” A group of her regular Tuesday night dancers attended the reception in authentic dance costumes from Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador. Robles said she started the program when she moved to Boston and wanted to preserve traditional dance culture from around the world, beginning with Latin America and, she hopes, continuing with other countries. “Through the dance I connect with the community,” she said. “And when

Photo by Maggie Dolan Dancers from the Veronica Robles Cultural Center speak to the crowd.

I came to Boston I saw the lack of representation of the traditional music, but there’s people here who love their culture and traditions.” The event featured bongo and singing performances by students from Paige Academy, an elementary school in Roxbury. They sang classic songs of peace to display their grant-receiving project. “This year they received a grant from the Boston Cultural Council to support ‘A Lovely Day,’ a flash mob that will be coming to a

neighborhood near you,” said Bridgit Brown, the introductory speaker who also helped organize the event. Complete with a buffet of hors d’oeuvres and music by the Paige Academy All-Stars, the reception concluded with a chance for the winners to mingle. “This is a big deal in the city of Boston,” Wash said. “I want to thank you for continuing to be creative, continuing to think outside the box and continuing to push us in the city so we stay ahead of the curve.”

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CITY

March 22, 2018