April 19, 2018 by The Huntington News

The Huntington News Vol. XI No. 11

The independent student newspaper of the Northeastern community

April 19, 2018

NU loses Tinder battle to UMass

File photos by Scotty Schenck, Alex Melagrano, Paige Howell and Lauren Scornavacca News illustration by Michelle Lee

By Samuel Kim News Staff After three weeks of intense competition, Northeastern placed second in the Tinder Campus Swipe Off Contest, narrowly missing a chance to attend a free concert with rapper Cardi B. Northeastern’s second-place finish to the University of Massachusetts Amherst is noteworthy given that students had very mixed views of Cardi B, in addition to varying levels of enthusiasm for the contest. “I was so surprised that we got to the championship round,” said Dana Walker, a fourth-year behavioral neuroscience major. “We showed that we can be competitive and band together to try to win.” Many Northeastern students shared their thoughts about the contest in the NU Meme Collective, CONCERT, on Page 11

Student influx affects religious institutions Student activists held many protests on campus this school year, on issues ranging from fossil fuel divestment to increased benefits for dining hall workers. They all say they have been consistently disappointed by the university’s responses to their movements.

By Charlie Wolfson News Staff

GAPS IN COMMUNICATION ADMINISTRATORS FAIL TO RESPOND TO STUDENT CONCERNS, FROM HEALTH SERVICES TO SUSTAINABILITY

By Glenn Billman & Derek Schuster | News Staff

nside President Joseph E. Aoun’s Beacon Street brownstone, board members, donors and senior administrators celebrate 2016 with a holiday party. Outside, 11 students are bundled up against the December cold, singing traditional Christmas carols with unconventional lyrics. “On the first day of school Ed Galante gave Aoun / A boat load of oil money,” they sing to the tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The disgruntled students belong to DivestNU and are carrying signs slamming Northeastern for giving former ExxonMobil Senior

Vice President Ed Galante a seat on the university’s Board of Trustees. To avoid breaking loitering laws, they walk in a tight circle outside Aoun’s door as members of the administration occasionally peer out. The guests send out a caterer with hot chocolate. The protesters send it back. Two hours pass and the DivestNU members finally ring Aoun’s bell to hand Vice President of Student Affairs Madeleine Estabrook a bag of coal with a message for Aoun: The endowment investments have landed him on the naughty list. VOICE, on Page 2

Father Philip Dabney moved to Mission Hill well after the tidal wave of college students began sweeping into the neighborhood. Dabney, a priest at the grand Catholic basilica on Tremont Street known locally as The Mission Church, has been living in the Hill for nine years. Though many of the rowhouses that cram the neighborhood are rented by college students rather than families or older people like him, he said he likes living there. But the church he calls home — a massive, historic edifice built almost 150 years ago called Our Lady of Perpetual Help — is struggling for attendance and money in this era of university expansion and student rentals. Other religious institutions in the area are adapting their strategies to fit the new population of the inner city, but it appears Dabney’s church may be straggling far CHURCH, on Page 8

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April 19, 2018

Student activism meets deadends VOICE, from front

During its active period, DivestNU was no stranger to flashy demonstrations — members camped on Centennial Quad for 13 days, disrupted the star-studded opening of the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex and overshadowed the State of the University to demand the university withdraw its investments from fossil fuels. And around campus, faculty and students appeared to be on the same page: A 2014 Student Government Association referendum to divest was supported by 75 percent of students, and in October 2016, the student Senate overwhelmingly passed a motion to divest. The following April, the Faculty Senate unanimously approved a measure asking the university to review and disclose its investments in fossil and explore options for divestment. But in November 2017, Northeastern Treasurer Thomas Nedell announced the board had decided to maintain its investments.

finance major. “That can really hurt the motivation of the people who’ve worked really hard on this campaign and really care about this issue.” As Northeastern attracts more national attention and raises the bar for its admissions, many current students feel left behind. From sexual assault to housing to health services, university leaders and students consistently appear to be on different wavelengths. Student Body President Suchira Sharma described student policy issues as an uphill battle, especially when the decision is ultimately made by the board. “If there is a decision that revolves around the board, the university is not willing to engage on it,” said Sharma, a fourth-year business administration major. “Where do you go from there?” The board is made of 40 trustees responsible for managing the endowment and investments, overseeing academic programs, reviewing university practices and making other high-lev-

Photo by Lauren Scornavacca Members of DivestNU protest on Cemtennial Common in fall 2016.

communications, said she does not believe there is a lack of engagement between the students and administration. She said there are staff members who ensure all student issues are resolved appropriately and efficiently. “I don’t feel that the premise of your story is supported by facts,” Nyul wrote in a March 8 email to The News. “There are more than 20,000 students at Northeastern, and we invest a lot of effort in surveying and measuring student satisfaction.” However, in a survey* of undergraduates on campus conducted by The News, more than 60 percent of students said they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement: “My opinions and concerns are valued by university administrators.” Most students indicated they felt that Northeastern was ineffective as a whole in responding to student concerns, and only 4 percent of respondents said they felt Northeastern responded effectively. “Whenever you hear about these issues you hear about them from students,” second-year physical therapy major Emily Pisacre-

dence instead of a presidential ticket. Gallogly, the Divest participant and current Husky Environmental Action Team member, said the result indicates how dissatisfied students are with SGA’s inability to create change under university policy. “They say a lot of things in their campaign, like, ‘We’re going to change all these things at Northeastern and make it a better place,’ which makes it seem like [SGA has] the authority to do that,” said Gallogly, a second-year biology There is certainly a feeling that the university isn’t going to major. “But I don’t think change its position,” said Max Wagner, “and a feeling that that Northeastern actually we’ve tried everything we can, and the university really isn’t gives them the authority to listening anymore. do that. I don’t think the administration really takes According to statements by el decisions. For concerns impacted by their policies,” them seriously.” the university, the endowoutside the classroom, such David said. Gallogly said she thinks ment is invested in a comas health services, housing the administration shuts mingled fund, not directly and investments, Faculty Student concerns down students who voice in fossil fuels. A 2017 article Senator and associate promisunderstood their opinions, making it in the Guardian revealed fessor of computer science As the president of the hard to feel like students Northeastern was one of Peter Desnoyers said the Student Government Ashave any sway over the diseveral schools with money administration and board sociation, or SGA, Sharma rection of the university. in an offshore hedge fund becomes less willing to said she has only once met “It’s more of a disrespect which invested in fossil reach a decision that incor- with members of the senior thing. They sort of look fuels. porates the sentiments of leadership team and never down on the students who Since the board’s vote, the student and faculty Senates. with the Board of Trustees. are doing this,” Gallogly group has largely gone qui“In some ways, it’s a Her only regular point of said. “I think their opinion et. Divest member Wynne miracle that there’s as much communication with any is they have all the power Gallogly said as far as she input into what the admin- member of the adminis… just because they’re the knows, the group is dead; istration does,” Desnoyers tration is through Marina ones with the money, even however, fellow Divest said. “But technically, most Macomber, the assistant though students are the member and Husky Enthings people care ones vironmental Action Team about are the deciwho I think if both sides were a little more open,” said Daniel Vice President Max Wagner sion of the adminprovided Godfrey, “they’d realize they’re all on the same side, really. said the Divesters are now istration and the them prioritizing other causes Board of Trustees, with that after being shut down. ta said in Curry Student and that’s why it is difficult vice president of student money.” “There is certainly a feelCenter earlier this semester. to change their course. and administrative services. With an undergraduate ing that the university isn’t “I’ve never heard an admin- population greater than The structure is such that “There’s been a very going to change its position, they’re responsible for those unnatural erosion of stuistrator saying, ‘We need to 13,000 and an eight-person and a feeling that we’ve decisions, and they have the dent involvement on larger fix these things.’” senior leadership team, tried everything we can, In the 2018 SGA leaderright to make them.” university issues,” she said. Faculty Senator Susan and the university really ship election, 1,942 stuNadav David, a 2017 The university feels differPowers-Lee said the ratio of isn’t listening anymore,” dents, or 24.5 percent of Northeastern alumnus ently. Renata Nyul, Northstudents to administrators said Wagner, a third-year voters, selected no confiwho was involved with eastern’s vice president of makes direct communi-

“

Students Against Institutional Discrimination and other activist groups, said he feels universities across the country, not just Northeastern, tend to care more about their outward appearance than appeasing enrolled students. “There’s definitely a tendency for university administrations to really care about how they look externally — to funders, to the rankings — but not be actually lifting up student voices or following the lead of students who are being

CAMPUS

April 19, 2018 cation between the two groups difficult, but that the university is trying to hear and respond to students. “I think every human being feels [unheard] at various times,” said Powers-Lee, a biochemistry professor. “Faculty feel that way, too.” Though communication between students and administrators is not perfect, Powers-Lee said the faculty, college administrators, senior leaders and board members work hard to hear students and address their concerns. “Without students, there wouldn’t be a university,” Powers-Lee said. “It might not be apparent that people are paying attention to the students, but we want our students to feel that they’ve got a good home at Northeastern. That requires knowing what they’re thinking and listening to them.” CAMD: A lesson in communication While 45 percent of students who responded to The News’ survey said they felt their voices were heard by professors, only 15 percent said they felt heard by college administrators. “The disconnect between professors and the college deans is really jarring,” Sharma said. “The college deans have very little oversight into what individual professors are doing in the classroom.” The apparent lack of effective communication became a point of contention in the College of Arts, Media and Design, or CAMD, last fall when third-year music industry major Cairo Marques-Neto created a petition asking the music department for more practice spaces, experienced faculty and a broader selection of classes. More than 300 students signed the petition. Music department chair and professor Daniel Strong Godfrey hosted a town hall in response, during which he admitted to music students that he did not know most of the people in the room. “What wasn’t happening is we weren’t talking to the students about [faculty turnover]. And so they just thought, ‘Oh my god, they’re not listening to us,’” Godfrey said in a March 12 interview with The

News. “I think we thought it was enough to just listen through conversations they were having with their advisors and so on … so it’s been really an important lesson.” Since then, Godfrey said the music department has instituted recurring town halls, created a student advisory board and started a newsletter to strengthen communication. At the university level, Godfrey said communication gaps probably come about in the same way: Administrators with good intentions are not able to cultivate strong relationships with busy students who have unconventional schedules. While students at other schools spend most of their college career on campus, Northeastern’s co-ops, dialogues and study abroad programs give students and faculty less face time. “You know what it’s like, when you really try hard to do something, and your intentions are to do that, and then the next thing you know, you’re being criticized for not doing it, as though you didn’t care?” Godfrey said. “There’s something about that that really gets under the skin. I think if both sides were a little more open they’d realize they’re all on the same side, really.” After experiencing criticism himself last fall, Godfrey said he thinks administrators should engage students instead of becoming defensive. He gives credit to the students who pushed for change within the music department. “I think there’d be better results if faculty and administrators can just take a deep breath and resist the impulse to respond defensively to this,” Godfrey said. “Students have great ideas about what to do.” Beyond curriculum The disregard for DivestNU is not an uncommon response to student advocacy on Northeastern’s campus. When student activists launched the #NEUToo campaign to hold the administration accountable for the way it handles student sexual assault cases, Northeastern University Police Department officers were spotted taking

down the group’s posters almost immediately, and the administration never officially responded to the movement. Rourke Bywater, a thirdyear history major who has participated in multiple protests and is now active in Students Working for an Accessible Northeastern, or SWAN, said she believes the university has made deliberate attempts to prevent students from voicing their opinions. “Northeastern’s been very hostile to a lot of the things students have been doing, even things that are relatively tame,” Bywater said. “There’s intentional non-transparency with the administration where the administration doesn’t want students to know where they can voice their concerns, because they don’t want students to voice their concerns.” SWAN members organized to advocate for better funding, resources and appointment availability at University Health and Counseling Services, or UHCS. This SGA election, both campaigns included platforms calling for the expansion of resources and accreditation of the center. The Roosevelt Institute also included a ballot referendum for the center to make the necessary changes to meet the International Association of Counseling Services standards. Around the world, 202 universities follow their standards, including University of Massachusetts Amherst and Emerson College. The ballot passed with more than 82 percent of students supporting the measure: more than the number of yes votes for both SGA leadership tickets combined. Michelle Jeffery, a fourthyear behavioral neuroscience major, said she and her friends all have “horror stories” about UHCS. She also said she wished the university took more action to address student issues. “They seem to just be saying a lot and nothing’s actually changing and getting better,” Jeffery said. Fourth-year finance major Philip Hechenberger said he has struggled to get vaccines from UHCS, and that as an international student, the university was

Page 3 STUDENTS SURVEYED SAID THEY FEEL THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD BY: student groups and leaders

2.6% strongly disagree disagree

26.3%

28.9%

neutral agree

7.2%

strongly agree

34.9% professors and staff members

3.9%

20.4%

30.3%

41.4% college administrators

2.6% 11.9% 39.7% 25.8%

19.9% university administrators

3.3%

1.3%

32.2% 46.1%

17.1% Graphic by Glenn Billman The News conducted a survey from March 19 to March 25, 2018 on Northeastern’s campus and online, with 152 Northeastern undergraduate students participating in the survey. Results have a margin of sampling error of ±8 percentage points.

not communicative about on-campus health or housing details. “We’ve been here for two years, and some people have just not gone to a doctor because they have no idea how it works,” Hechenberger said. Paths forward One major victory for Northeastern activists came when dining hall workers received higher wages and better benefits last October after years of protests

and actions by the student coalition Husky Organizing With Labor, or HOWL. HOWL delivered letters, held rallies and hosted teach-ins to garner on-campus support and pressure the university to advocate for dining service workers, who are not directly employed by the university but subcontracted through school catering company Chartwells. However, the university ignored calls from the students, dinBREAKDOWN on Page 4

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April 19, 2018

NUPD CRIME LOG Compiled by Jill Sojourner, news staff

APRIL

Photo by Alex Melagrano Jose Taibot leads a group of HOWL protesters in a chant at Snell Quad. HOWL, or Huskies Organizing With Labor, sought higher wages and better benefits for Northeastern dining hall workers. BREAKDOWN, from Page 3

ing hall workers and their union to support them in their contract negotiations with Chartwells, and the contractual improvements only came when workers voted to strike if their demands were not met. Northeastern is sometimes responsive; in some cases the university has met the the requests of student activists and made changes in response to widely-supported student referenda. After 84 percent of students voted in favor of more gender-neutral bathrooms in 2015, the university added 40 additional gender-neutral bathrooms to campus. And as a result of last year’s Campus Climate Survey, a university-run questionnaire which asses students’ understanding of and experiences with sexual assault, the Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern and the Violence Support, Intervention and Outreach Network were relieved of their mandatory reporter status. This means sexual assault survivors can now confidentially discuss their experiences with employees in those offices. On the whole, however, Sharma said the university fails to collaborate with the student Senate. “The university touts this model of shared governance, but they perceive shared governance as what they have between themselves and the Faculty Senate,” Sharma said. “It doesn’t include students in that picture.” Wagner, the HEAT vice president, agreed there was room for the university to improve the way it engages

with student opinions. “When you have a school of some 18,000 voices, your voice gets a little bit lost,” Wagner said. “But we have had a lot of progress with working on specific projects and trying to push specific goals with the university. It’s sort of a mixed bag. But we really like working with the university and we want to work with them, not against them.” Wagner said he wants to see greater cooperation between students and administrators. Gallogly is less optimistic. “It’s really hard to be not pessimistic and critical because it seems like when they do respond in a positive way, it’s to placate something and make themselves look better in the news and to other organizations and institutions,” Gallogly said. Gallogly said she believes more direct communication between administrators and students is necessary to address student concerns. “By communication I mean direct, someone from the administration coming and talking at SGA meetings so we can disperse that information to our student groups and students in general,” Gallogly said. “If they could just listen to what we want and realize we put a lot of work into this and respect that, that would be great.” In his years of trying to advocate for change on campus, David, the 2017 alumnus, said the faculty he encountered at Northeastern were formative and helpful. He said the administration, however, did not see students as members of the community and did not include student voices in

problem solving. “They would make promises in meetings, commit to certain things or publicly say that they were committed to living out certain values and then would often backtrack on them or not be held accountable for them,” David said. SGA Executive Vice President Paulina Ruiz said one way to bridge the communication gap between could be to follow other university’s examples and add a student to the Board of Trustees. “That gives students a tangible vote and a tangible voice in that room,” thirdyear psychology major Ruiz said. “Right now we’re kind of shut out from decisions.” According to a 2010 study by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, more than 20 percent of private higher learning institutions have a student on the board of trustees. Northeastern is in the 80 percent of private universities without students at the table. Comparatively, the study found that 70 percent of public universities had at least one student on their board. “I want students to feel like their money isn’t a waste,” Gallogly said. “We’re paying $60,000 not just to get degrees, but to be a part of this — Northeastern as an institution. But it doesn’t feel like we are.” *Survey conducted from March 19 to March 25, 2018 on Northeastern’s campus and online, with 152 Northeastern undergraduate students participating in the survey. Results have a margin of sampling error of ±8 percentage points.

APRIL

8:27p.m. An individual reported a man sleeping in a restroom in International Village. NUPD responded and reported escorting the man, who was unaffiliated with NU, out of the building and banning him from all NU property. A report was filed.

11:58 p.m. An NU student reported his friend, also an NU student, was intoxicated and vomiting. NUPD responded and transported the student to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The residence director was notified. A report was filed.

7:23 a.m. An NU facilities staff member reported two individuals who appeared to be smoking marijuana in a restroom in Columbus Place. NUPD responded and reported two children, who were unaffiliated with NU, in the restroom. NUPD further reported releasing the children to a parent. A report was filed.

2:28 p.m. An NU student reported his bicycle was stolen from outside of Shillman Hall and the cable lock securing the bicycle was cut. A report was filed.

11:45 p.m. The proctor at East Village reported an intoxicated NU student laying on the ground, and that the student was breathing but unconscious. NUPD responded and reported speaking with the student, who was conscious and alert upon their arrival. NUPD further reported transporting the student to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A report was filed.

1:58 a.m. An individual reported a man had been vomiting in a third-floor men’s restroom for approximately 40 minutes. NUPD responded and reported the student was conscious and alert and refused all medical attention. A report was filed.

3:34 a.m. An individual reported his roommate, an NU student, was intoxicated and required an evaluation. NUPD responded and requested Emergency Medical Services, or EMS, who transported the student to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A report was filed.

3:02 p.m. An NUPD officer reported stopping a man, who was unaffiliated with NU, in front of Willis Hall after he was observed casing several bicycle racks. NUPD further reported banning the man from all NU property and sending him on his way. A report was filed.

APRIL

2:03 a.m.

An NUPD officer reported an NU student threw a bottle out of a window in Speare Hall. A report was filed.

APRIL

2:27 a.m.

APRIL

MARCH

An individual reported an intoxicated NU student vomiting in the first-floor restroom in Speare Hall. NUPD responded and requested EMS, who transported the student to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A report was filed.

12:46 p.m.

An NUPD officer reported finding two fake I.D.s belonging to an NU student. A report was filed.

3:04 p.m.

An individual reported a male NU staff member walking around the Speare Hall lobby who appeared to be highly intoxicated. NUPD responded and reported requesting EMS, who responded and cleared the staff member. NUPD further reported sending him on his way. A report was filed.

SPORTS

April 19, 2018

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Pat Jordan: From walk-on to Beanpot champ By Thomas Herron Sports Editor

Northeastern men’s hockey walked to the locker room in disbelief, an emotion shared by the Husky faithful as another shot at the Beanpot championship slipped away. As the 2005 team walked through the tunnel, a fan reached down, hoping for contact with his heroes. Then-goaltender Keni Gibson handed his stick to nine-year-old Patrick Jordan, a gesture that motivated Jordan to dedicate his life to hockey. Now a fourth-year criminal justice major at Northeastern, Jordan played goalie for Waltham High School. He graduated in 2012 and decided to go for a postgraduate year. After a recommendation from high school teammate Doug Usseglio, Jordan chose the Winchendon School. Diagnosed with a season-ending concussion, Jordan’s first hockey season at Winchendon ended early, and halted his recruitment.

However, Becker College, who had recruited the goaltender out of high school, still wanted him. After a year and a half on Becker’s roster, a new opportunity presented itself. The Jr. Bruins, an organization for amateurs between 16- and 21-years-old in the United States Premier Hockey League, or USPHL, reached out to Jordan hoping he’d fill an available roster spot. After his teammates at Becker encouraged him to take the spot, Jordan joined the Jr. Bruins alongside his classes. That year, the team went on to win the USPHL national championship. “After winning a national championship, I thought to myself, ‘What a great way to leave hockey,” he said. After not even dressing for Becker’s Division III squad, Jordan was through. “I accepted that I was done with hockey,” he said. “I didn’t want to ruin my dreams of playing for a NCAA program again,” he said.

Jordan then applied as a transfer to Bryant University and NU. He hesitantly paid his deposit to Bryant. Shortly after, NU accepted Jordan and he abandoned the investment to follow his dream. Jordan wanted little to do with hockey at the time, even with the opportunity to play club. But during his first year at Northeastern, he was convinced to tryout. Still, he said he only ended up playing five or so of the team’s approximately 30 games. The goaltender had to step into the starting role in his second year with the club and played pretty well. Out of nowhere, men’s hockey head coach Jim Madigan called him and asked if he would like to practice with the team. “Once he called me, it all came back,” Jordan said. “I started loving hockey again. That ignited it all.” Jordan also remembers how honest Madigan was: Madigan told Jordan up front that he would only

practice with the team until a given date. With his love of hockey reignited from Madigan’s call and the level of competition he faced in practice, Jordan led the club team to their league championship, earning him a spot in the club league All Star game. Over the summer, Jordan reached out to the varsity program’s goalie coach and asked if he would work with him to improve for the upcoming club season. On December 19, 2017, Madigan called Jordan again. It was the same request as the year prior. At the time, Jordan was living in his Waltham home, commuting for class and participating in the Waltham Police Department cadet program. Jordan said the police officers were some of the staunchest believers in him and would constantly remind him of his talent as a goalie. After practicing with the varsity team for a month, Madigan offered Jordan a roster spot for the rest of

the 2017-18 season. Overwhelmed, Jordan accepted. “I was just ecstatic to be playing NCAA hockey at any level. My life changed overnight,” Jordan said as he couldn’t help but smile. The same nine-year-old kid who received former goalie Gibson’s stick in 2005 was among those who stormed the ice from the bench, 13 years later, when Northeastern men’s hockey ended their 30-year drought and won the Beanpot championship. As Northeastern’s season concluded, Jordan compiled some memorabilia from his miracle season. “This week, Gaudette gave me a stick, and when my mom was putting it away, she found the stick from ‘05,” Jordan said. He then wanted to reach out to the goalie who gave him his stick. Jordan’s mother messaged Gibson on Facebook.“When he responded, he asked me for my stick,” Jordan said. “It’s funny how things like that work out.”

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SPORTS

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April 19, 2018

Photo courtesy Riley Robinson

Photo by Riley Robinson

Members of UTSAV, a South Asian cultural organization, perform in the group’s annual Nataraj show featuring music, dance and skits. This year’s performance was Kardashian-inspired and titled “Keeping up with the Kapoors.”

Cheering students pack balcony sections of TD Garden for the Beanpot. Northeastern beat Boston University to end the 30-year drought and bring home the trophy Feb. 12.

Photo by Brian Bae

2 3 4 5

A runner turns the final corner to Boylston Street during the Boston Marathon on April 16. Runners braved strong winds and rain. The race has never been canceled because of weather. Photo by Riley Robinson Dan Lothian and Jonathan Kaufman of the School of Journalism speak with writers Akilah Johnson and Clint Smith Jan. 16 on a panel about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. April 4 marked 50 years since King was assassinated.

Photo by Alex Melagrano The women’s hockey team takes the ice for their Beanpot consolation game against Harvard. They came back to win the Hockey East tournament 2-1 against UConn.

Photo courtesy Lauren Scornavacca President Joseph E. Aoun and other university representatives conclude the Empower fundraising campaign with a performance in the Cabot Center. Empower began in May 2013 and raised more than $1.4 billion.

3 8

Photo by Alex Melagrano Students flock to Centennial Common for dogs and free food promoting Giving Day April 12.

9 10

Photo by Ellie MacLean Local students lead tens of thousands through Boston’s streets on March 24 to demand tighter gun control during the March for Our Lives.

Photo by Alex Melagrano Students play video games in the Midtown Hotel. Approximately 60 N.U.in students moved into the Midtown for spring semester after the university experienced a housing shortage.

Photo courtesy Lauren Scornavacca Students celebrate Tu B’Shvat, a Jewish holiday honoring nature and springtime, at the Hillel Center for Jewish Life.

SPORTS

April 19, 2018

Page 7

THE YEAR IN PICTURES By Riley Robinson News Staff

13 Photo by Albert Tamura

11 12

A child in a lion dance costume celebrates the Lunar New Year in the rain in Chinatown Feb. 25.

Photo by Riley Robinson A woman wrapped in a Trump flag stands at a free-speech rally on Boston Common Nov. 19.

Photo by Alex Melagrano An estimated 10,000 people marched on Cambridge Common on Jan. 20, one year after the first Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March.

CITY

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April 19, 2018

Rising collegiate population impacts religion

CHURCH, from front

behind. “I wouldn’t say that the basilica is what it used to be,” Dabney said. “I wouldn’t even describe it as a parish church.” The problem the basilica faces is one many other local institutions and longtime residents contend with: adapting to a new local topography and demographic norm. More and more old houses on Mission Hill are packed with students from some of the handful of colleges and universities nearby, including Northeastern. According to the Boston Planning and Development Agency, 29 percent of Mission Hill’s population was children under the age of 18 - which indicate family households - in 1970, but this number dropped to 19 percent in 2000. At the same time, the population as a whole grew younger, thanks to an uptick in college students. Barry Bluestone, a political economy professor at Northeastern who works on a housing “report card” each year for the Boston Foundation, said a third of the city’s population was made up of 20- to 34-yearolds in 2000. Between 20002010, nearly 75 percent of Boston’s new residents were in that age range. “The way that has affected housing is that young people are linking up with a mate much later in life and having children later in life than, say, their grand-

housing market.” He described three “demographic revolutions” for the city: the massive waves of European immigrants between 1870-1920, a move to the suburbs as men returned from World War II and today’s college student phenomenon. “Now we have this third revolution where we have this influx of young people and an older population who are empty-nesters and are starting to look into getting out of big, single-family homes and into a condo or something,” Bluestone said. Dabney said his church has seen decreased daily and weekly Mass attendance and is hurting financially. What caused this storied religious center’s decline? “To be honest with you, our greatest weakness is we have no parking lot,” Dabney said. He said many of the church’s congregants relocated to the suburbs long ago for a multitude of reasons, not least of which is students moving into the neighborhood, driving up rent and hosting loud parties. He said many of the people who moved away “still have a great love” for the place, but rarely come to the church partly due to the hassle of driving and parking in inner Boston. As a result, churches now have to market themselves to a new audience. The Christian Science Church is a prominent

Photo by Charlie Wolfson Boston’s Christian Science Church is the religion’s worldwide center.

parents,” Bluestone said. “The result is that folks are coming here, and after maybe living in dorms for a year or two they move out into the private housing market. Often, they’ll have a roommate, or two or three or four. That has had a tremendous impact on the

landmark on Massachusetts Avenue, a few blocks from Northeastern and even closer to Berklee College of Music. Ingrid Peschke, a spokesperson for the church, said church leaders prize their place in the community. “We’ve always been a

Photo by Charlie Wolfson Dabney said the Mission Church has low attendance in part because of its small parking lot.

university town,” Peschke said. “We’re really close to Berklee and Northeastern. I used to work in that long colonnade building that flanks the reflecting pool — we share that with Northeastern now. We sold a piece of land that became a dorm for Berklee. We care a lot about our university neighbors.” The church has embraced the use of the internet to promote itself to a younger audience, Peschke said. They engage on social media and offer sermons and lessons through webcasts. “I do think with the demographics of the city,

make the adjustment to the digital age as well. The Mission Church may not be adapting to new targeting and outreach strategies as much. Father John Furey, a priest who has been at the church for almost all of his 84 years, admits not much has changed about the church’s programming in the last eight decades. “I see that the priests that are here now are pretty much the same as the ones from before,” Furey said. “There’ve been no real great changes that I can see except that the priests in the past were living in a differ-

great love for the church because they grew up here,” Dabney said, “but they don’t come back except for funerals and weddings, because they still think it’s what it was in the ‘60s and ‘70s. They still think it’s a dangerous neighborhood, which it isn’t.” The Mission Church speaks of a proud and rich history, but other groups, much like the Christian Science Church, are more proactive in trying to adapt. The Islamic Society of Boston, or ISB, a mosque located in Roxbury not far from Northeastern or Mission Hill, is embracing its

we’ve always had a sense of those are our neighbors and we want to make sure they’re feeling welcome,” she said. “The various tools, like the internet, have helped us become accessible to them.” Brooks Helmick, a member of the church who often works as an usher, said the church’s message — particularly having the word “science” in the name — intrigues a lot of people coming to Boston to study. “A lot of people come here because they walk by and hear ‘Christian science’ and that’s not something you hear together very often,” Helmick, a longtime Bostonian, said. Helmick, like Peschke, said they’ve moved out of traditional media formats, like print newspaper ads, and into social media. He said the Christian Science Monitor, the global media outlet associated with the church, is struggling to

ent era. There’ve been a lot of changes in the world. But otherwise, the priests are pretty much doing the same things they were doing when I was there.” Dabney, the Mission Church priest, said student participation is a weakness for the church. “That’s where we feel as though we are limping,” Dabney said. He described what used to be a thriving part of the community: The attached school used to provide “superb” primary and secondary education to hundreds at a time. The school has since been sold from the church’s possession and is much smaller. In the 1960s and 1970s, Dabney said, increased crime, poverty and drugs drove out many Irish families who made up the base of the church and the neighborhood. “People who left the neighborhood still have a

environment. “We’re across the street from a T stop and we’re very, very accessible,” said Abdul-Malik Merchant, an imam at ISB. “Sixty-four percent of our congregants are under 34. The largest part of our constituency actually is young people. And so we have to engage everything we do based on that.” He said they plan much of the mosque’s programming with youth in mind. Leaders are mindful that many of their congregants are students from overseas and may be accustomed to different traditions than one would find in a Boston mosque. They provide mental and spiritual counseling, Merchant said, because young people are “very comfortable” with it. “That’s something they want and need,” Merchant said. Contrarily, Furey described college students

“

”

“I wouldn’t say that the basilica is what it used to be,” Dabney said. “I wouldn’t even describe it as a parish church.”

CITY

April 19, 2018 -scribed college students with a touch of resentment. They were, in his view, the cause of his church’s fall from its heyday. “They don’t think Christ is the center of anything,” Furey said of the waves of students moving into the area. “He’s just someone else, and for me, without him they can’t do very much. They consider people like me to be medieval. Living in the past. I certainly don’t feel that way. I think they’re the ones who are doing a lot of harm, both to themselves in this life, and in the next life more.” Merchant viewed the student population as a resource, like a recruiting pool for a college football team. “A team can plan on certain people being there for four years or so. But the problem is once they graduate, they have to rebuild their team. Sometimes that’s the case for us at the mosque,” Merchant said. “Our core constituents are in town and readily engaged, but after they finish their studies or whatever type of program it is,

they’re going to go back to wherever they’re from, and we’ve lost some very key volunteers and very dear community members. But it constantly gives us a feed of new people.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses take a proactive but respectful approach to getting their message out to Boston students. They’ve become a staple on Northeastern’s campus over the past few years; they are reliably posted in Boston MBTA stations, eager to chat about their faith with passers-by, but only ones that initiate an interaction. They find that many students are eager to explore their faith. “I feel like the students are more comfortable to just come up and ask a random question,” said Dianne Burrows, who volunteers often with her husband, Michael. “Which is great. We’re open to anything. At times the older people are just going where they need to go.” She described many situations in which college students, recently liberated from a home where they didn’t explore faith, were

Page 9

Photo by Charlie Wolfson The mosque is less than a block from the Roxbury Crossing MBTA stop, one stop from Northeastern.

curious and excited to talk to them about the Bible. This delights Burrows: “There’s not much that could ruin this for me. It’s really amazing.” The Mission Church doesn’t do much outreach to students nearby. The Northeastern University Catholic Center, or CCNU, which is run by a board of students and a staff of ministers called The Brothers of Hope, doesn’t associate with the Mission Church extensively, said Abby Blake, the student vice-president of CCNU. “We interact with them and have relationships with the priests, but we don’t

advertise their programming,” Blake said. “We’ve done Mass on campus and Mass on Mission Hill, but I don’t know if we’re going to continue on that path.” Blake said they do a lot of campus outreach for the center, with tabling, distributing flyers and promoting events and a youth group. The Mission Church, though, doesn’t tap into that outreach. Bluestone said the trend of these neighborhoods filling with college students is unlikely to reverse in the foreseeable future, so the tides will likely carry the Mission Church further toward financial pain and

empty pews. Meanwhile, places like the Christian Science Church or the ISB are hard at work opening their doors to students through new strategy and engagement. “[The students are] certainly not anywhere near as integrated in their community as the people they displaced,” Bluestone said. “The people they displaced were probably more active in their precinct politically and in their parish religiously. These young people are more connected to their university, their employer or some social gathering other than church or political organization.”

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OPINION

Page 10

April 19, 2018

Editorial: Giving Day doesn’t give, it takes

etween service days, alternative spring breaks and yearlong outreach programs, Northeastern boasts many opportunities for students to practice philanthropy. The university proudly advertises events designed to foster a sense of community spirit. Giving Day is an annual event heavily marketed by Northeastern, that took place April 12. We already pay an exorbitant amount to be here. Meal plans are required our first year. We have to pay residential and activity fees. Many pay dues for clubs. So when Northeastern targets students on Giving Day, it feels more corporate than philanthropic. The university makes Giving Day impossible to ignore — reminders can be found all over campus,

with flyers on every bulletin board, decals on the steps outside Snell Library and emails in each student’s inbox. Beyond the fanfare, Giving Day is an excuse for the university to solicit money from students, families, alumni, faculty and staff. Families and students often go into debt attempting to pay the tuition fees that private universities in the United States demand. And still, Northeastern has the audacity to request that we give more. This year, Northeastern University received 12,259 donations, with a total value of $708,434. If one donates, they have the choice of which department their gift will benefit. But Northeastern has no obligation to publicly state the specific programs where

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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

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the money goes. This is not the only strategy the university has for such a ploy. Take, for instance, the fact that each Northeastern student is alloted 120 dollars for printing and 45 dollars for laundry each semester. If this amount goes unused, the money cannot be refunded and instead goes back to the university. Many students are required to purchase a meal plan where their issued meals expire at the end of each week. Should a student not use a meal swipe, the meal, along with the money spent on it, simply disappears. Other universities have programs like Swipe Out Hunger, which allocates meal swipes to students in need. Though Northeastern makes it seem as though

News illustration by Pete McKay

each student has choices in terms of how they spend their money, the truth is we hardly get a say. Instead of using institutional money to put on the production that is Giving Day, the university should

allocate those funds to programs and clubs that directly benefit students. Considering that many students already struggle to afford college, Northeastern should not pressure them to give more.

Column: Exercise your right to vote absentee states require that they request an absentee ballot in advance in order to receive their home ballot in the mail. The exact process to find the form varies by state, and it can be hard for them to cast their votes in time, especially if their minds are preoccupied with schoolwork. Maria Lovato While absentee voting he 2018 midterm may seem daunting, there elections will take place are many online resources Nov. 6. While years featurto help with this process. ing presidential elections If you know where to look, get the most media attenabsentee voting can be easy tion, midterm elections also and stress-free. warrant our notice. Before you can request an This year’s election takes absentee ballot, you have to place in the middle of be registered to vote in your President Donald J. Trump’s home state. If you are unterm, and all 435 seats in sure about whether or not the House of Representayou are registered, check tives and 34 of the 100 seats here: https://www.vote.org/ in the Senate will be conam-i-registered-to-vote/. tested. This year’s midterm Vote.org has the answers elections will decide which to all of your voting quespolitical party controls tions. Fill out a quick form, Congress, which has lasting and vote.org will email you implications on our politian absentee voter form cal future. This election also specific to your home state. features many contested Find the form here: https:// local seats. www.vote.org/absentee-balMany students at Northlot/. The whole process eastern are from out of takes under a minute, and state. When students live all that’s left for you to do is away from home, most fill out the form and mail it

to the address that vote.org provided for you. ResMail has stamps and envelopes that you can buy, so you don’t even have to leave campus. Research is also important to educated voting. Although you can wait until the election comes closer to do research on candidates’ platforms, you can get a head start by finding which elections are going to be on your ballot: https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_ Congress_elections,_2018. Elections have the potential to make a significant impact on your life and your future. Elected officials make many important decisions regarding your future, such as tax structures and student loans. No matter which party or candidates you support, voting is a fundamental right and your civic duty. Don’t let a couple of forms stand in your way! Take five minutes out of your day right now to find out how you can vote in the fall or in the primaries, which are occurring now or in the near future, depending on your home state.

LIFESTYLE

April 19, 2018

Page 11

Students object to Cardi B’s transphobia CONCERT, from front

a Facebook group for Northeastern students to share memes. While some were excited at the prospect of having Cardi B come to campus, others, including members of the transgender community, were more wary to participate. Alexandria Alexieff, a fourth-year nursing major, was disappointed Northeastern lost the competition. After Tinder announced UMass the winner, Alexieff shared a photo on the meme collective of Kim Kardashian from a “Kourtney & Kim Take New York” episode subtitled “I feel bad, you don’t think I feel bad?” In the caption, she wrote, “Me after finding out UMass Amherst gets to party with Cardi and we’re stuck with Charli XCX.” “Frankly, the lineup for Springfest has been lacking the past couple of years, including this year,” Alexieff said. “I mean, Charli XCX was okay, but I’m a way bigger fan of Cardi. I just wanted to convey my disappointment, because I really wanted Cardi to come.” Alexieff said she looks up to Cardi B as a fellow Dominican woman. “It’s so nice to have representation in the mainstream music industry,” Alexieff said. “Cardi’s Dominican and so am I, so we vibe.” Rosette Pambakian, Head of Brand at Tinder, said in a Tuesday email to The News that Tinder created this contest to appeal to their college student user base. “Today, more than 50 percent of Tinder users are college-aged,” Pambakian said. “We also consistently tap into our users to hear what they want. Our college users are huge Cardi B fans, so we set out to do something special to show how much we appreciate them and get them swiping.” Pambakian said the challenge created a considerable rise in activity in the app. “We’ve definitely seen a ton of enthusiasm around the Swipe Off, and an uptick at the top 64 schools in particular,” she said. Many others shared dismay that Northeastern was not victorious including Samantha Amodie, a thirdyear music industry major.

“I hate Tinder — I only got it for this competition because I love Cardi,” Amodie said. “I would just swipe without even looking at my phone. As soon as I heard we lost, I deleted my account.” Amodie also said she felt Northeastern students were at a disadvantage, especially in the championship round, because so many students do not live on campus. “So many Northeastern students, including me, live off-campus,” Amodie said. “We’re just forced to, because Northeastern is never able to accomodate all the students who request on-campus housing. I myself had to really make use of the times I was on campus so my swipes would count. In fact, I made excuses to come to campus during the championship weekend when each swipe really counted.” Amodie said she believes that because UMass students live in a much smaller town, they were more likely to live on or near campus, maximizing their percentage of right swipes. “This may sound silly, but I believe this contest can point to the flaws of Northeastern’s housing system. We were screwed that last weekend,” Amodie said. While many students like Amodie were invested in bringing Cardi B to campus, others were hesitant to participate due to transphobic comments Cardi B has made in the past. Kate Parks, a second-year marine biology major, created a thread in the NU Meme Collective centering around a video in which Cardi B uses derogatory terms for members of the transgender community. “In her video, Cardi says that if someone cheated on her, she should get even by getting them drunk, then forcing them to have sex with a transgender person,” Parks said. “Not only is that rape, but that also plays off the stereotype that transgender women are these predatory men in dresses. Cardi’s video perpetuates a bigger culture of hate and misunderstanding toward transgender people, particularly transgender women.” CONTEST, on Page 12

Photo by Mohit Puvvala

The Tinder trolley came to campus on April 17 to hand out foam flames.

EVENT CALENDAR Calendar compiled by Claire Wallace, deputy lifestyle editor

Thursday, April 19

NU & Improv’d Presents: West Village G: An ANTON Odyssey Are you a fan of fast-paced, audience-involved and hilarious comedy? Then check out student improv group NU & Improv’d as they bid adieu to senior member Anton Monteleone. This show promises to be a unique one, especially because it will take place in a smaller-than-normal-venue for the troupe. 8:30 p.m.- 10 p.m.; 108 West Village G; Free. File photo by Ashley Wong

Friday, April 20

Come help No Limits Dance Crew celebrate their 10th year during a showcase they promise will be one of their best ever. No Limits performs different styles of dance, including jazz, tap and modern, many of which will be featured at the showcase. The crew will perform 16 original pieces, all choreographed by Northeastern students. Make sure to grab your free tickets on the myNortheastern portal before they are all gone. 7:30 p.m.; Blackman Auditorium; Free for students. Photo courtesy Creative Commons

Saturday, April 21

Join the South Asian Community at Northeastern University as they celebrate Holi, otherwise known as the festival of colors, with an afternoon of music, food, free t-shirts and sunglasses and, of course, colorful Holi powder! Be sure to wear white clothes you don’t mind dirtying so you can leave the event covered in beautiful colors. Don’t forget your Northeastern ID, as this event is for students only. 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.; Centennial Commons; Free for students. Photo courtesy Creative Commons

Sunday, April 22

Get ready for a night of fast-moving feet and rhythm, because dance troupe Northeastern University Dance Company, or NUDANCO, will present their 15th Annual Spring Showcase. The showcase, titled “Explorations,” will feature many types of dance, including intense contemporary, traditional Irish step and rhythmic tap dance. 7 p.m.; Blackman Auditorium; Free. Photo courtesy Creative Commons

Monday, April 23

Photo courtesy Creative Commons

Are you a fan of video games? Then the Curry Ballroom is the place to be. Monday’s event will feature games, research and presentations created by Northeastern students and faculty members. Co-founders of The Deep End Games, Bill and Amanda Gardner, will speak about their video game “Perception,” a firstperson horror-adventure game. Visitors can try out games that have not yet hit the market or are still in the first few stages of development. 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.; Curry Student Center Ballroom; Free.

Tuesday, April 24

The creative development of the new indie film “CareForce One Travelogues” is supported by Northeastern University in partnership with The Sundance Institute and ITVS/PBS Indie Lens Storycast. This story follows three characters as they travel from New York City to Miami in a 50-year-old station wagon and explores topics of racial discrimination, the legacies of slavery and immigration. This event is free, but an RSVP must be submitted here: 6 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Free.

Photo Courtesy Creative Commons

Wednesday, April 25

Photo courtesy Creative Commons

Join David Shribman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and executive editor of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, as he discusses The Rule of Law: the theory that law, not elected officials, should govern a nation. Shribman will be accompanied by Northeastern journalism professor Laurel Leff. They will discuss tensions between the rule and democratic governance. Discussion will include both the United States and the polarization and upheaval abroad. 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.; West Village F 20; Free.

LIFESTYLE

Page 12

April 19, 2018

Students collaborate for Cardi B concert CONTEST, from Page 11

Parks, who is a member of the transgender community, said they did not want other members of the collective to think they shouldn’t be participating in the contest. “I just want people to hold others, including celebrities, accountable and not just shrug it off,” Parks said. “I do acknowledge that Cardi is a woman of

color, and that she is a role model to so many people. That’s why I hope she learns from her mistakes and is more accepting of the transgender community.” The contest started March 27. The rules stated that accredited four-year colleges and universities were eligible as long as they had an enrollment of 5,000 on-campus students. Schools with the highest

percentages of right swipes advanced to the next round. The total number of right swipes by Tinder users on campus was divided by the total number of enrolled students at school. There were six rounds, each lasting three to five days. Sixty-four schools made the preliminary round and went on to the second round in which 32 were eliminated. This con-

tinued into the sixth round, which saw Northeastern face off against UMass. After five days of competition, UMass won. The first 200 of their students who swipe right on a promotional card in their feed will be eligible to attend a free Cardi B concert April 25. Though students’ levels of participation varied, many appreciated how the contest united students.

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“Though our school isn’t known to have a lot of school spirit, we shared insights and strategies and ended up beating out bigger schools like UPenn and, of course, our forever rivals BU,” said Ece Bapcum, a first-year behavioral neuroscience major. Mohit Puvvala and Claire Wallace contributed to this article.