The Huntington News Vol. XII No. 2
The independent student newspaper of the Northeastern community
October 4, 2018
News Illustration by Michelle Lee
BOSTON SUES PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES M
By Aidan McGovern | News Correspondent
ayor Martin J. Walsh announced last month that the City of Boston filed a lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court against several members of the pharmaceutical industry for their alleged roles in spreading the opioid epidemic. The lawsuit, which the city filed on Sept. 13, names 13 different commercial opioid
manufacturers, four distributors and one local doctor. In a press release issued the same day as the lawsuit, the mayor’s office alleged that these parties are responsible for contributing to deaths across the city. “[The defendants] have contributed to the local opioid epidemic through misleading marketing and reckless dissemination of
opioids that has led to the deaths of more than 723 Boston residents since 2013,” the mayor’s office alleged in a Sept. 13 press release. The announcement comes after the city issued a Request for Information in February intended to assist its legal approach for the lawsuit. After reviewing the nine responses that were submitted over the course of the ensuing months DRUGS, on Page 5
New SGA program targets food insecurity By José da Silva News Correspondent
Swipe2Care, a new initiative pushed forward by the Student Government Association, attempts to help students struggling with meal plan affordability through a meal swipe donation system. The initiative, which the university administration approved this fall, is a collaboration between SGA, Northeastern University Dining Services and Northeastern Student Affairs. Swipe2Care allows students to request and donate meal
swipes online through myNortheastern. An end-of-year student priority survey conducted by the Student Government Association, or SGA, indicated that a main issue students had was with meal plan affordability. “One of the main asks we made of the administration was to make [the] meal plan more affordable,” said Nathan Hostert, the SGA president and a third-year political science major. Students can request swipes by indicating how many swipes they want for
the week and their reason for needing them. Dining Services checks and approves the requests. Swipe2Care rolled out Sept. 11 when the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs emailed the student body to inform students of the new initiative. “The program is designed to allow you to seamlessly contribute meals from your meal plan while providing a confidential and efficient method for other students who may be having difficulty, for whatever reason—to find their next meal,” ac-
cording to the email. Students have already begun using the features of the Swipe2Care program, Hostert said. “It has already worked, kids have already donated and received swipes, and we are only a couple of weeks in,” Hostert said. Noah Brown, a second-year business administration major, did not know about the initiative and said the initiative could have been advertised better. “I had never heard of this,” Brown said, “but it seems like it is good.”
Luca Filosa, a second-year mathematics major, knew about the initiative, but said the university should have raised more awareness. “If there was a banner on myNortheastern every time you logged in that displayed it, that would have helped,” Filosa said. While Hostert said Swipe2Care has worked so far, he wants students to know that the student government is not done making meal plans more affordable. “I don’t see this program as an end to all financial need,” Hostert said.
CAMPUS
Page 2
October 4, 2018
Political speaker series engages students Photo courtesy Creative Commons Political analysts speak to students about midterm elections. By Ali Dusinberre News Correspondent
Sept. 25 marked this semester’s first installment of Lives in Law and Public Policy, a speaker series that hosts experts and leading figures in law and policy, during which two panelists discussed their opinions regarding the midterm elections, the current presidential administration, and the controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh. Professor Dan Urman, director of the law and public policy minor in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, created and directs the series as an opportunity for students, alumni and members of the
Northeastern community to better understand American current events. Tuesday’s event featured political analyst Michael Goldman and political consultant and attorney Jennifer Nassour. “I thought that they were both excellent panelists,” said Joey Kramer, a thirdyear international affairs major, “and I thought that they represented two very specific opinions and two very specific personalities which I thought was awesome because you don’t often hear from both sides.” Goldman described himself as a “yellow dog Democrat,” meaning he would “prefer voting for a cowardly dog to a Republican.” Nassour described herself as an “old-school Republican,” but one whose political affiliation is based solely upon fiscal issues. Bethany Basile, a graduate student earning her degree
in media advocacy, said she appreciated opposing perspectives in the discussion. “There are other opinions out there,” Basile said, “and you have to hear them all to really be aware of where the voters are going, and what is in politicians’ heads when they make some of the policy choices they make or some of the public appearance choices that they choose.” Despite being a Republican, Nassour expressed her disapproval of President Donald J. Trump. “My biggest problem with what’s going on today is the fact that the President of the United States who claims he’s a Republican… is single-handedly decimating the Republican party and not making us stronger,” Nassour said. As for the midterm elections, Nassour believes that the results will depend heavily upon the upcoming
Kavanaugh hearing. “I just think that there’s not going to be a big seismic shift,” Nassour said in regard to the elections. “Unless… The ‘unless’ to me is if Kavanaugh gets confirmed. I’ve been saying, ‘We may lose, we may not.’ But I think if he’s confirmed, we definitely lose the House.” Goldman expressed his opposing perspective on the midterm elections. “I have a totally different view,” Goldman said. “I think that the minimum the Democrats are going to pick up is 35 seats [in the Senate]. They could go as high as 50 to 60 seats in the House. Two weeks ago if we’d have been here, I would’ve said that Democrats had an 85 percent chance of winning the United States Senate. As of today, I think we have a 35 percent chance.” Basile stressed the impor-
tance having difficult conversations at universities. “We’re in a very politically charged time, and I think expressing your opinions and hearing the opinions of others is going to become more and more important as we become more and more divided,” Basile said. “It’s just a good practice to be in a room and talk about things that people just have vastly different views on.” Kramer frequently attends panels and events similar to Lives in Law and Public Policy and believes it’s important for students to be aware of current events and to take advantage of events like these. “I honestly think that no matter what you’re studying or no matter what you’re interested in, everything that gets talked about is incredibly relevant to everyone here on campus and in Boston and in the United States,” Kramer said.
New Bouvé Innovators organization connects healthcare, entrepreneurship “We were created in order to really help spread those A new student-led orgaideas,” said Kim, a thirdnization on campus aims to year pharmacy major. “We bring together students in want to inspire, connect health sciences, business, [and] create the next genand other disciplines to eration of health scientists advance healthcare. and Northeastern really has Bouvé Innovators, named the potential. We’re here after the Bouvé College of to help you succeed in that Health Sciences, is Northendeavor by giving you the eastern’s newest entrepresubstance, giving you the neurial club and is part resources you need.” of Mosaic, NU’s group of The club’s board repentrepreneur clubs. resents members from each Club founder and prescollege within the univerident Danny Kim said sity, except the College of Bouvé Innovators was Arts, Media and Design, in inspired by both the current order to foster diversity. healthcare system’s need for Encouraging a diversity of entrepreneurs as well as a majors and interests withcommunity need to address in the club helps mirror innovation in healthcare. real-world businesses, said By Alison Booth News Correspondent
Photo by Catherine Argyrople Danny Kim introduces his new organization to prospective members.
Neil Maniar, Northeastern’s director of public health. “In order to really have something go across that entire spectrum [of being a successful business], there’s so many facets that have to come together,” said Maniar, who encouraged Kim to create the club. “When you have those different disciplines represented in a group like this it also enables students to come together in a way that they might not be able to in a classroom.” This multidisciplinary approach drew second-year business administration major Fiona Zhao to the new club. “I’ve always been interested in kind of the social, human aspect of business rather than the finance side,” Zhao said. “So I was looking for a space to explore that interest because there isn’t really much. There’s all the various business clubs and there’s a strictly pharmacy club but it was kind of hard to find both.” The student organization
strives to help its members network with professionals in the industry by hosting speakers with either healthcare or business experience. “We’re going to connect those interests together and connect the audience from left to right,” Kim said. “You know, who’s actually in the room and why did they end up here and what kind of common interests do we have. So, the idea is that that might be put into a project together or form a great venture.” To provide the resources for students to explore their ideas, the board is creating an online toolkit that will act as a guideline for students, said board member Garrett Scanlon. “[The toolkit] outlines a way to be able to communicate your idea and then write a business plan for someone in health science or vice versa; healthcare 101 to someone that has an idea about healthcare but doesn’t really know what the system looks like,” said Scanlon, a fifth-year biology major.
Members of the board are also holding office hours in order to encourage interested students to get in contact with the organization, said board member Jacob Billings. “Essentially we want to be the middleman,” said Billings, a second-year business major. “We want to be the expeditor in that we’re connecting the student to the industry and creating a mentorship.” Additionally, Maniar is excited that club members will receive first hand healthcare and business experience that will benefit them in the future. “This idea of looking at those issues through an entrepreneurial lense is really important and really understanding the challenges that are related to that in a very early point in their career is going to benefit all the individuals that are involved in this throughout their careers,” Maniar said. “I talked to colleagues of mine that are 20, 30, 40 years into their careers and they’re just starting to do this.”
CAMPUS
October 4, 2018
Renovated playground brings differing opinions By Avery Bleichfeld News Correspondent
Community members, students and government officials traveled to Columbus Ave. on Sept. 14 to
Carter Playground. During winter months, one of the fields will be covered by an inflatable cover allowing teams from the community and Northeastern to con-
eastern, of BU, of BC has come at the expense of the local community,” Bluestone said, “and therefore, we have a responsibility to try and solve that housing
NUPD CRIME LOG
Page 3
Compiled by Jill Sojourner, news staff
SEPTEMBER
8:49 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
9:09 p.m.
24
26
11:14 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
8:24 a.m.
27
celebrate the opening of the newly renovated William E. Carter Playground. Mayor Martin J. Walsh proposed the project to transform Carter Playground. The construction included expanding the park, constructing new tennis courts, covering all the fields with artificial turf and moving the playground front and center. “We had natural grass for some of the field, but frankly the grass had been worn down to bare dirt,” Cook said. “There was a crumbling football stands along the MBTA tracks. In the back corner, there was actual parking lot.” Over time, the public park became a “really challenging urban space” for the city, said Boston Parks Commissioner Chris Cook. Northeastern University partnered with the city to renovate and repair the park, breaking ground on the project in 2017. “Having the playground front and center right across from NUPD just makes it a really safe and welcoming playground, to have it here along Columbus Avenue,” said Ian Parks, project manager on behalf of Northeastern. “I think it’ll be awesome for the kids, definitely.” The construction also includes advancements to enable year-round use for
tinue using the playground, said Cook. “I think it’s great,” said Kedest Gebru, a Back Bay resident. “They did a really good job. It’s good for the community.” Some groups within the local community see the university’s previous and most recent expansions as gentrification of the Roxbury neighborhood, with the expansion of the playground adding to the issue. As the university expands into the surrounding community, Roxbury residents are often forced out of their homes and relocated. Northeastern professor Barry Bluestone said that while the playground improves the Roxbury community, the university should be doing more to help the displaced residents. “I’m not opposed to the improvements that were made, and they were extensive, at the Carter Playground,” Bluestone said, “but that puts even more pressure on the university to take action on the housing front to reduce the impact of gentrification.” Bluestone said that the universities within Boston, along with the city’s government, should team up to help improve the housing market in the gentrified communities. “The success of North-
problem.” Northeastern funded these renovations and invested $26 million into the project for the repairs, committing another $82 million in maintenance over the next 30 years. Sean McIntyre, a fifthyear business administration major who spoke at the event to represent the student athletes at Northeastern, believed this partnership signals the important role Northeastern can play in the local community. “For me, Carter signifies two equally important commitments Northeastern has made,” McIntyre said. “One is to the club and intramural sports at Northeastern and two is building a harmonious relationship with the city of Boston.” But while this partnership has seen success, Boston officials are not ready to adopt this process as a common system. “This situation was perfect for this unique public-private partnership, but I do think cities have to be very, very responsible, not to rush into public-private partnerships and really analyze the specific situation,” Cook said. “We’re very grateful that this one is a positive.” Christopher Butler contributed to this article.
A resident assistant reported an NU student’s bicycle was stolen from outside of Stetson West. A report was filed.
SEPTEMBER
26
Photo by Brian Bae Mayor Martin J. Walsh speaks at the opening ceremony for the newly renovated Carter Playground.
NUPD reported a man at the entrance to Ruggles Station getting very close to passersby and attempting to speak to them. NUPD responded and reported speaking with an NU student, who said the man asked him for money for a ticket back to New Hampshire. The student further reported giving the man $60. NUPD further reported stopping the man on the Egan Research Center access road and banning him from all NU property. A report was filed.
SEPTEMBER
27
SEPTEMBER
27
SEPTEMBER
27
An individual reported her bicycle was stolen from outside of the Russell J. Call Children’s Center. A report was filed.
An NUPD officer reported a man on a bicycle with a large knife who was accompanied by a female. A report was filed.
10:46 a.m. An NU student reported his bicycle was stolen from the bicycle racks outside of Stetson West. A report was filed.
11:19 a.m. An individual reported his bicycle was stolen from the bicycle racks outside of Stetson West. A report was filed.
5:33 p.m. An individual reported her $100 Lululemon leggings were stolen while she was doing laundry in West Village H. A report was filed.
SEPTEMBER
12:58 a.m.
SEPTEMBER
3:41 p.m.
28 28
SEPTEMBER
28
An employee at the NU Bookstore reported a man stole approximately 10 pieces of clothing from the store. A report was filed.
An NU student reported his bicycle was stolen from the bicycle racks outside of the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Center. A report was filed.
5:08 p.m. An NUPD officer reported an NU student’s front tire was stolen from the bicycle racks outside of Speare Hall. A report was filed.
SEPTEMBER
8:01 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
1:31 a.m.
29
30
An NU student reported being approached by a man who asked her and her friends if they were going to a party, and upon being told “no,” the man began to follow them. The student further reported running toward the Curry Student Center out of fear, and that the man ran after them. NUPD responded and reported stopping a man, who was unaffiliated with NU, who matched the description given by the student. The man was placed under arrest for multiple warrants and banned from all NU property. A report was filed. NUPD was notified of an intoxicated woman in the street near Speare Place. NUPD responded and requested EMS, who cleared the woman. A report was filed.
Page 4
Teams design MLK memorial By Jane Marks News Correspondent
In the search for a new Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, the MLK Boston Art Committee has chosen five teams that submitted proposals for the project. While the team of artists, architects and scholars that will create the memorial have not yet been chosen, five teams have been narrowed from the original 126 proposal applicants. The proposals are currently on display at the Boston Public Library where people have been encouraged to view the projects and leave comments. “I appreciate that all five of the finalists took a more conceptual approach to the Kings’ legacy,” said Cheryl Knight, a public art specialist, who is part of the committee helping to pick the final monument. Knight said while other monuments show the physical representation of the person, these proposals represent more of the intellectual teachings of King. “What’s been nice is that there’s been kind of a deeper dive into the Kings’ legacy. We were not so interested in objects. It’s more about the experience of the object.” Knight expects the committee will be able to decide on a winner by the end of the year. Community members will be able to leave their feedback on the projects until Oct. 16. Knight stressed that community involvement is an important part of the project and said the committee will take the public’s comments into consideration when making the final decision. Already,
many have been eager to participate. “You have to connect to it at at some level,” said Jacques Fleury, a Boston community member who spent more than 30 minutes leaving a detailed response to the potential projects. In Fleury’s opinion, the chosen memorial must have components that people from all walks of life can relate to. “You have to have it connect the human experience,” Fleury said. The five finalists rose to the occasion. Julian Bonder, a professor of architecture at Roger Williams University, is a member of one of the final teams. “We think that all the projects require an ongoing community conversation and discussion and we would welcome that opportunity,” Bonder said. “What we tried to do is respond to the call.” Bonder’s project, “The Ripple Effects,” has a range of components including a pair of towers that symbolize the impacts of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, creating a “living memorial” that is designed to be visited repeatedly by the members of the Boston community. While all of the teams plan to build their monuments in the Boston Commons, “The Ripple Effect” would be oriented close to the Statehouse. No matter which proposal is chosen, the goal of each team is to have a current reminder of the importance of activism in today’s world. “This political moment is so difficult for most of us,” Knight said. “I think it definitely put a sense of urgency on the project.”
Photo courtesy MLK Boston Julian Bonder’s project, “The Ripple Effects,” has a pair of towers that symbolize the impacts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
CITY
October 4, 2018
Photo by Julia Crooijmans More then 370 people apply for citizenship at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.
Citizenship event helps immigrants apply By Julia Crooijmans
of Project Citizenship, 75 News Correspondent percent of the group’s cliHundreds of immigrants ents live below the federal took their first steps on poverty line. the path to U.S. citizenship “Citizenship isn’t just for Sunday at an event that wealthy people. We really brought together more than work hard to make sure 350 community volunteers, that [our clients] have the law students and pro bono high-quality representation attorneys to assist citizenthat people with money ship applicants. could get,” Serrato said. The event, called Citizen- “Immigrants are very vulship Day, was held at the nerable […] poor, elderly Reggie Lewis Track and immigrants and immiAthletic Center in Roxbury grants with disabilities are and assisted more than even more vulnerable.” 370 citizenship applicants. Serrato’s motivation to This year marked the fifth join Project Citizenship iteration of the event, which stemmed from being raised is New England’s largest by two immigrants who beannual citizenship workcame naturalized citizens. shop. “Both of my parents are “My country is not really naturalized citizens; they like America – you never both were born in the same know what can happen, so town in Mexico,” Serrato in order for me to be safe … said. “I really had the adI decided to get my citizen- vantages of U.S. citizenship ship as soon as possible,” since birth in a way that said Michneider Estime, a they did not.” sophomore at Wentworth Citizenship gives immiInstitute of Technology who grants a slew of privileges. is originally from Haiti. “I Among them are the right gotta save myself.” to vote, travel with a U.S. For many immigrants, passport and the ability to obstacles such as cost, petition other family memlanguage barriers and govbers to come to the United ernment bureaucracy deter States. Citizenship is also a them from applying for U.S. protection against deportacitizenship. Out of all elition. gible permanent residents, For many, citizenship is only around 10 percent no longer a luxury – it has apply, Serrato said. In an become a necessity. effort to make the process Serrato believes that more accessible, Project today’s political climate and Citizenship, the non-profit the increasing number of organization behind the hurdles in the process of event, provides high quality obtaining citizenship have free legal services to immi- motivated more people to grants who cannot access apply. such services otherwise. “It’s gotten more expenSince 2011, Project Citsive and it’s gotten more izenship has assisted over complicated; the applica23,000 Boston immigrants tion now is 20 pages and from 152 different coun[...] not that long ago it was tries, ranging in age from 1 more like eight pages,” Serto 103. rato said. “So there’s more According to Veronica questions and there’s more Serrato, Executive Director investigation.”
From 2016 to 2017 there was a 29 percent national increase in naturalization applications, according to Project Citizenship. While the U.S. has enforced tougher immigration policies, Serrato stressed that the country needs immigrants. “Boston would not have the robust economy or the growth if it was not for the diversity and the talents [of immigrants],” Serrato said. Sharon Jaquez, a Boston University Law student volunteering at Citizenship Day, seconded that idea. “[Immigrants] came here to fully experience America and I think allowing them to get that citizenship is really important for them to fully participate in our communities,” said Jaquez. Citizenship Day felt more than just a workshop that helps immigrants to acquire citizenship – it felt like a celebration. Volunteers warmly welcomed applicants, guided and cheered them on throughout and congratulated them after completion of the process. “They make the process so much easier – I love the process,” said Estime. “My message to them is to keep the process the same way.” Many applicants left the building pridefully with beaming smiles. “[Applying for citizenship] is the biggest compliment an immigrant can pay to the United States,” Serrato said. “I don’t know if everyone remembers when they first held their American passport – it’s really exciting; it’s a big deal. So being able to vote and have a passport and be able to say ‘I’m a U.S. citizen’ is a huge moment for people.”
CITY
October 4, 2018
Page 5
City alleges reckless opioid distribution DRUGS, from front
the city moved forward with Motley Rice LLC, a law firm specialized in litigation cases focused on wrongdoing and negligence. Walsh’s team outlined their reasons for selecting the firm for this particular case back in June, citing the leading role they believe the firm is currently playing in “helping state and local governments across the country address the opioid crisis by investigating and litigating against pharmaceutical companies.” One of the many areas of focus for the firm when it comes to different types of tort liability cases is opioid litigation. This is an area in which they have established legal and historical precedent as the firm that represented the City of Chicago and Santa Clara County, California, both alleging
“deceptive marketing that misled the public about the drugs’ highly addictive properties.” The Chicago suit made history by becoming the first of its kind to avoid motions to dismiss and to enter discovery, a period that takes place amidst pre-trial procedures when each party can obtain evidence from the other party. In the case of Santa Clara County, a $1.6 million settlement was reached in May 2017 with three different pharmaceutical companies, the funds from which are expected to help “substance abuse treatment and education” in Santa Clara and Orange counties. While Boston is the latest to make headlines for their advances in this legal pursuit, it is not the first city in Massachusetts to seek a lawsuit against the opioid industry. Framingham and
Source: City of Boston News Illustration by CJ Andrews These 12 pharmaceutical companies and single doctor are listed as defendants in the city’s lawsuit for their alleged role in the opioid crisis.
Photo courtesy Creative Commons Boston is only the lastest city in the commonwealth to sue the opioid indstry. Framingham and Danvers are two of the more then 70 towns and cities that are suing the pharmaceutical companies.
Danvers are just two examples of other communities from around the commonwealth that have joined more than 70 towns and cities in suing the industry. These communities have joined a growing movement to hold drug companies and distributors accountable and to recover damages that rose from this public health crisis. Data and statistics released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reveal that, as of August 2018, the total number of opioid-related overdose deaths from 2000 to 2017 have been the highest in Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties, the counties in which residents of Framingham, Danvers and Boston respectively reside. With the death toll in each of these three counties exceeding 2,000, the decisions of these local governments to take legal action assume a new context of urgency. Legal action against pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma L.P. has even been taken by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who announced a lawsuit in June, stressing the long-term effects the epidemic has had on the lives of Massachusetts residents. “The opioid epidemic is killing five people every day in Massachusetts,” said Healey. “The more drugs they sold, the more money they made, and the more people in Massachusetts suffered and died.” Purdue responded to The News’ request for comment by reaffirming a statement they released Jun. 12, the same day the lawsuit had been filed.
“We share the Attorney General’s concern about the opioid crisis. We are disappointed, however, that in the midst of good faith negotiations with many states, the Commonwealth has decided to pursue a costly and protracted litigation process,” the statement read. The News was also directed to an open letter published on Purdue’s website detailing their decision to no longer promote opioids to prescribers to help limit “a patient’s unnecessary exposure to opioids.” Boston is certainly no stranger to the ongoing dialogue over opioid abuse and addiction issues. The U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams came to the city in January to give his thoughts on the crisis at “The Opioid Crisis in America: A Conversation with the U.S. Surgeon General,” an event hosted by Boston University. “One of the priorities of my tenure is to continue to educate the public about the severity of the epidemic and what they can do to respond,” Adams said at the event. He called for a need to spread a fundamental awareness regarding the relevance and danger of the crisis, citing research showcased by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The findings of the research, done by Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel and John Benson, showed that only 28% of the American public viewed the opioid epidemic as a “national emergency,” and that only “about half of the public thinks there’s
a treatment for prescription-painkiller addiction that’s effective long-term.” The Surgeon General also mentioned the importance of making Naloxone, a drug with the potential to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, more available in communities nationwide to serve as the “tourniquet” for the “bleed.” He made this comparison when talking about the importance of temporary, life-saving action, as well as the long-term treatment process in addressing this health issue. In an interview with The News, Walsh’s deputy press secretary Ana Vivas said that, in the event that the City wins a payout from the pharmaceuticals lawsuit, the people of Boston can expect continued commitment from Walsh in seeking justice for those affected by the opioid crisis, as well as making sure that those he believes to be responsible are held accountable. Vivas also said that damages recovered as a potential result of the payout could come in the form of additional funding for things like specialist training, medical care, supplies of Naloxone or other programming. “This litigation will be an ongoing process and the City is working with outside counsel to continue to collect data and information to understand the full extent of the those costs,” Vivas said.“The City will work with our partners to ensure that any damages recovered from this litigation are used within the framework of combating the opioid crisis and supporting recovery services.”
CITY
Page 6
October 4, 2018
Photo by Dylan Shen Right: Sam Adams founder Jim Koch drinks an entire can of his company’s beer onstage to rally the crowd before the concert at Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit.
Butterscotch opens the U30 Music Festival w Photo by Dylan Shen Forbes summit attendees Jason Adulley and Vladimir Medenica exchange contact information instantly with Klik devices provided by event staff.
Photo by Riley Robinson Summit attendees network amid food trucks and vendor tents before the concert Sunday at Boston City Hall Plaza.
NU students attend 30 Under 30 summit By Riley Robinson News Staff
The Forbes brand loosened its top button this weekend. The business media company hosted its fifth annual 30 Under 30 Summit Sunday through Tuesday in Boston City Hall Plaza. More than 7,000 young people from more than 40 countries attended the event, according to a Forbes spokesperson. Several Northeastern students participated through the Forbes Under 30 Scholars program, which provided free tickets to 1,000 college students from around the country. The 30 Under 30 “village,” a collection of clear plastic tents and Epcot-domelike structures, sheltered speakers across professional fields, including Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, former Secretary of State John Kerry and Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx. A “work hard, play hard” attitude shone through, with other tents devoted to tequila tastings and a mosh-pit kickoff concert Sunday night.
“The commonality is they’re are all doing things, the action element,” said industrial engineering graduate student Sai Praneeth Macherla, of summit attendees. Macherla is a mentor at IDEA, Northeastern’s venture accelerator, and was a Forbes 30 Under 30 Scholar for the second time this year. “My end game is leading a company,” he said. Jerry Spatch, a fifth-year business administration student, first attended the summit in 2016, where he pitched his business in its prototype phase. Spatch is the creator of “vers,” a rap card game that prompts players with topics and rhyme schemes. “Back when I was a baby, I was walking around with this,” he said, holding out a brown cardboard box filled with cards he had illustrated himself in primary-hue digital scribbles. “I gave the exact same pitch, like here, this is what I’m slinging.” Spatch said he gets a better response now with a manufactured product, which he created with Northeastern’s student-run
design firm Scout over a four-month period. He carried it around the summit tucked in a black and white striped beanie. “When I whip this thing out, now they’re like, ‘Yo, that’s legit,’” Spatch said. What hasn’t changed over the past two years? How he pitches himself. “I usually go up to people and tell them I’m ready to party,” he said. “You’d be surprised how often it’s worked. I’m here to get turnt and stay turnt.” Spatch wasn’t the only person there to party. As the sun dipped below Boston’s skyscrapers Sunday, hoodies and vape pens replaced slacks and blouses as thousands gathered for a concert by Butterscotch, Russ and Marshmello. Butterscotch, a female vocal percussionist, opened with lyricless beats before picking up a guitar and mixing in soul vocals. Between songs, she spoke in support of music education in public schools. “When I was younger, I would struggle with depression and often felt suicidal,” she said. “It was music and
art that saved me.” Some audience members began climbing on other’s shoulders while Russ, an American rapper, was onstage. Eager Snapchat users captured bursts of smoke, flame and other pyrotechnics that punctuated mixes by Marshmello, a mask-wearing DJ. Monday and Tuesday’s agendas were filled with business speakers, gif-making photo booths, and opportunities for attendees to pitch to venture capital representatives. Macherla called experiences like the Forbes summit, and his work at IDEA, “learning vicariously.” “I go through the grind without any of the risk,” he said. Though Flake protestors made the headlines through Monday, revolution seemed to be on the mind both inside and outside the gates. “This is Boston. We start revolutions here,” said Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams brewery, while addressing the crowd Sunday night. “I hope you all have a chance to start your own revolutions.”
Former Secretary of State John Kerry signs
Marshmello plays a set as the headliner for
Sen. Jeff Flake says the Kavanaugh nominat
CITY
October 4, 2018
Page 7
Photo by Dylan Shen with her fusion of jazz, reggae and hip-hop.
Photo by Dylan Shen Beyza Burcak demonstrates at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in support of the women who have accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.
Sen. Jeff Flake discusses Kavanaugh at Forbes By Julia Preszler City Editor
Photo by Dylan Shen s copies of his new memoir.
Photo by Dylan Shen the U30 Music Festival at Forbes.
Photo by Dylan Shen tion should be addressed with due diligence.
Attention turned to Sen. Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, when he spoke Monday about the confirmation process of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit. Attendees and those who watched the interview afterward listened carefully, trying to discern how Flake will vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination, which has gripped and divided the country. Three women have accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, including Christine Blasey Ford, a clinical psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California. Both Kavanaugh and Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 27. “Everybody I think on my side of the aisle and the other side of the aisle said that she offered compelling, credible testimony,” Flake said. “Then Brett Kavanaugh came on and made an impassioned, very raw defense and rebuttal to what was going on. That was seen as very effective as well.” Flake said while he did not like the brash tone of Kavanaugh’s testimony before the committee, “if I felt that I was unjustly accused, I can’t imagine that I would act differently than that.” Silent protesters in the audience stood and held signs while others, led by Democratic Congressional candidates Ayanna Pressley
(MA-7) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) chanted outside. “I want to thank every survivor that is here today, that is allowing themselves and everyone in this country to be retraumatized over and over because people like Anita Hill and Dr. Ford have to sit there in front of panels of 11 men,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Could you imagine if Brett Kavanaugh had to sit in front of a panel of 11 women of color deciding his fate? Could you imagine?” Ocasio-Cortez was referring to the 11 Republican men on the Senate Judiciary Committee who heard testimonies from Kavanaugh and Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party in the 1980s. Last Friday, the committee voted 11-10 to advance the nomination to the full Senate. Flake, who publicly struggled with his decision, provided the critical 11th vote to approve the motion, but demanded that the Senate pause to allow for a week-long FBI investigation into the incident. The request echoed a suggestion made by Flake’s friend, Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, another member of the committee. “We don’t do bipartisan things in the Senate very often anymore, but I felt it was important to do this,” Flake said. The moderator of the talk, Forbes chief content officer
Randall Lane, asked Flake whether his decision to call for the investigation had been swayed by two women, including Northeastern alumna Maria Gallagher, who confronted him in an elevator at the Capitol Friday. The women told Flake that confirming Kavanaugh would show sexual assault survivors around the country that their experiences “don’t matter.” Flake had announced he would vote “yes” Friday morning. “I’ve gotten calls and emails and texts from women who I never thought I’d hear from in this regard saying ‘Here’s what happened to me when I was young. Here’s what happened to me 30 years ago,’” he said. “What Dr. Ford said really emboldened a lot of women to come forward.” About 10 audience members stood in silent protest throughout Flake’s Monday talk in Boston. The group met one another during the 30 Under 30 summit, which ran from Sunday to Tuesday and included talks, exhibitions and entertainment to celebrate 30 young leaders in politics, science, media and more. All Monday morning, it was unclear when and where Flake would speak, said protester Beyza Burcak, 28. Flake was originally slated to appear with Ohio Governor John Kasich at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. On Friday, it was announced that Flake’s talk
would be relocated because of safety concerns. When the group of protesters, led by Lynn Le, learned around 11 a.m. that Flake would be speaking on City Hall Plaza, they scrambled to design and print posters to hold at the 1 p.m. event, said Burcak, who works at a non-profit organization in Boston and attended the summit as a Forbes Fellow. Each piece of paper had the name of a sexual assault survivor from Arizona, Flake’s home state. Burcak’s sign read “I am Melissa from Phoenix.” “It just makes me feel sick to even think about it,” she said. “It’s also not just about Kavanaugh. It’s a message to anyone who commits sexual assault or abuses women and girls. We are rewarding this person. This nomination is a reward and if he takes that chair it is a reward.” The protesters inside remained silent, but chants from the crowds outside could be heard through much of Flake’s speech. “Sexual assault is about the abuse of power. It is always women who are marginalized. It is the young. It is the interns. It is the immigrant. It is the trans,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “They are always most at risk because society listens to them the least. And that is why a man believes that [with] an elite education, a high income and his rich friends, [he] can get away with sexual assault.”
Page 8
Editorial: We believe Ford
In light of the current political climate and testimonies from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh, we at The News feel it is imperative to address the topic of sexual assault and harassment. This issue remains deeply embedded in our culture. In the United States alone, one in three women and one in six men experience some form of sexual violence, and nearly two-thirds of college students experience sexual harassment, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Moreover, we acknowledge the vast number of nonbinary individuals excluded from these statistics, and those in other marginalized communities, whose stories go untold. We live in a society that distrusts victims and blames women in particular for the gendered harassment and violence they experience. Women are discouraged from coming forward, and often suffer when they do. They are forced to watch as their perpetrators go unreprimanded, and are elected to positions of power in academia, industry and politics.
OPINION
October 4, 2018
The Huntington News Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief
Morgan Lloyd
editor@huntnewsnu.com
Women are routinely faulted by their friends, families and political leaders for not reporting abuse when it happens. Yet few stand by to support and believe them when they do. Ford’s testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 27 was gut-wrenching. The entire nation watched as she delved into her most distressing memory, while senators on the committee discussed her appearance. In her recounting, Ford states that she was assaulted by Kavanaugh when she was 15 years old. We at The News find the allegations brought against Kavanaugh to be both pressing and worthy of a thorough investigation. To be completely clear, we believe Ford. Rape culture, or the normalization of sexual abuse, will endure unless we begin to acknowledge its impact and hold people accountable for their actions. We stand in solidarity with all who have lived through the events Ford has bravely described. But our responsibility does not end in offering belief alone. We have to do more than posting our
opinions online and then hashtagging our empathy. The problems that surfaced during Anita Hill’s testimony in 1991 persist today. Our culture is still one that desperately fails to support its most vulnerable members when they need it. It is also worth noting that as a white woman, Ford is granted more agency than people of color and others of marginalized communities. Though it cannot be stated concisely enough to fit into this editorial, there is a profound conversation about inter-
sectionality that needs to be considered. We have an opportunity to take the responsibility of confronting abusers off the shoulders of victims. It is our collective duty to change the culture by announcing our commitment to actively dissociate from known abusers and make an effort to discover and acknowledge who those abusers are. It is time for us to break down the conventions that perpetuate rape culture. We believe Ford, and everyone who follows her.
orable, for all the wrong reasons. Around 7 p.m., gunshot-like noises filled the air. Before any of us registered the sound, people were running. Screams echoed as panic and fear manifested into a mob that nearly trampled my friend and I when we were pushed to the ground. In tears, separated from my friends and without cell service, I ran. I remember a mother sprinting, a child in each arm and a broken stroller dragging behind her as officers advised: “If you can’t run, then hide.” Then, the NYPD police commissioner announced it was a false alarm. What had felt like an eternity of fear of the unknown had concluded in minutes. I exited the park without faltering. When I finally spoke to my parents, my words were jumbled be-
tween sobs. Once I found my friends, we boarded the first train out of the city. It was a false alarm, but my nightmares wake me in a cold sweat. The relief I felt after finding out it was a mistake has been followed by the unsettling feeling that it is too easy in this country for it to be a reality. The relief I felt never came to those who attended the Route 91 Harvest music festival, or the parents of children who walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 and never came out. Not to mention the shootings that claimed the lives of 10 people at Santa Fe High School last May, 26 people at First Baptist Church in Texas last year and 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in 2016. Worse yet, I understand another iteration of what “This is America” means. For 60,000 people in Cen-
tral Park last Saturday, it was more plausible that shots had been fired than that a barricade had fallen; the feasibility of an active shooter outweighing any other scenario. This is America, and it is not a facet of the country that I am proud of. To the survivors of gun violence: I stand with you. I support you. Never doubt that you are seen or heard. Perhaps it is pessimistic to say bad things will keep happening. Then again, maybe bad things happen so we remember what good looks like. With that in mind, I will vote for the first time come November; to make that good happen by helping employ it. I implore students to do the same. Your voice matters: In the words of Cleo Wade, “We make the world safer when we speak up.”
Managing Editor
Patrick Burgard
managing@huntnewsnu.com Campus
Christopher Butler Nick Hirano news@huntnewsnu.com Opinion
Ellie MacLean
comments@huntnewsnu.com City
Julia Preszler Jenna Majeski
city@huntnewsnu.com Lifestyle
Sam Cronin Claire Wallace
lifestyle@huntnewsnu.com Sports
Thomas Herron Irvin Zhang
sports@huntnewsnu.com Photo
Brian Bae Dylan Shen
photo@huntnewsnu.com
News Illustration by Pete McKay
Column: We must vote for our lives
I
Melissa Wells
forgot Oct. 1 marked the anniversary of the Route 91 Harvest mass shooting in Las Vegas. It is easy to lose track, with the staggering frequency of gun violence tragedies. Perhaps the real tragedy is not the America we live in, but how we must adapt to incompetent gun control laws as a nation. On Sept. 29, I attended the Global Citizen Music Festival with friends to celebrate my birthday. It was nothing short of mem-
Design
Open
design@huntnewsnu.com Multimedia
Paxtyn Merten
p.merten@huntnewsnu.com Web Manager
Cheyenne Tang
web@huntnewsnu.com Social Media
Alyssa Lukpat
alyssalukpat@huntnewsnu.com Copy Chief
Katie McCreedy
copy@huntnewsnu.com
Business Business Manager
Vivien Shao
business@huntnewsnu.com Outreach Coordinator
Hannah Bernstein
outreach@huntnewsnu.com
Copy Editors Aanchal Dharmani, Ali Dusinberre, Alyssa Lukpat, Anson Huang, Avery Bleichfield, Charlie Wolfson, Charlize Koch, Hannah Bernstein, Iman Khan, Kaitlyn Budion, Elizabeth Klemm, Lily Rupert, Maria Lovato, Marisa Goolgasian, Nia Beckett, Rachel Powell, Riley Robinson, Sofie Kato, Sully Barret
Staff Writers Jill Sojourner, Julia Crooijmans
Staff Photographers Alex Melagrano, Lauren Scornavacca, Riley Robinson
Staff Designers Alaine Bennett, CJ Andrews, Devin Raynor, Hannah Guarino, Michelle Lee, Seamus McAvoy, Sofie Kato
Board of Directors Bill Mitchell, Carlene Hempel, Eliot Sherman, Gal Tziperman Lotan, James Ross, Laurel Leff, Lincoln McKie, Jr., Meredith O’Brien, Nicholas Daniloff Opinions expressed in The Huntington News through letters to the editor, cartoons and columns are not necessarily those of The News staff or its board of directors. Northeastern University students conduct all operations involved in the production of this publication. For inquiries about the Board of Directors, email the outreach coordinator. For general inquiries, email the managing editor.
The Huntington News 360 Huntington Ave. 102 Lake Hall Boston, MA 02115
huntnewsnu.com @HuntNewsNU The Huntington News
SPORTS
October 4, 2018
Page 9
Men’s soccer signs 8-year-old cancer patient By Mike Puzzanghera News Correspondent
As 8-year-old Simon Pelletier lifted his pen from paper on Wednesday afternoon, an uproarious round of applause erupted from the rest of Simon’s new team, the Northeastern men’s soccer squad. Pelletier, who is courageously battling lymphoma, became an official member of the Huskies this past week through a partnership with Team IMPACT, signing a national letter of intent to join the team. Team IMPACT is a Boston-based program that connects children fighting illnesses with college athletic teams. They have worked with almost 1,600 children in the U.S. through their 500 collegiate partners. During the ceremony, Pelletier signed his letter after short speeches by head coach Chris Gbandi and his mother, Lisa Pelletier. Afterward, Simon enjoyed a
dinner with his new team. “Simon, your mom Lisa, your sister Stella, we want to say welcome to our family. This is a big group, but a welcoming group and we think you can really help us,” Gbandi said during the presentation. Lisa was thankful to both the Huskies and Team IMPACT for helping Simon. “First of all I just wanted to say thank you to Team IMPACT and to Northeastern,” Lisa said. “Simon is really, really excited to be a part of the team, and it just means a lot to us that the organization exists and that as a team you guys are willing to support them and have Simon be a part of your practices and games and things like that. It really means a lot to us.” Simon will receive a team locker as well as a uniform and other team gear. After signing his letter of intent, he received his first piece of gear, a Northeastern hat
given to him by Gbandi himself. Simon will be joining the team for all of their games, practices and team events. Gbandi said that he knew immediately bringing Simon into the team was going to be great for all parties involved. “From the get-go we knew it was going to be a home run because he likes soccer and he likes hanging around the guys, and he visited our guys and he was super excited,” Gbandi said. “The guys obviously love Simon, they’ve been around him, and it’ll be big for us. We’re super excited to just welcome him to the family.” Northeastern captain fourth-year midfielder Gerardo Milano said having Simon around will be very beneficial for the team. “It’s a great opportunity to have someone who can give us a lot of perspective about what life is. Sometimes we take a lot of things for
Photo by Riley Robinson Simon Pelletier signs his letter of intent to join Northeastern men’s soccer alongside his mother, Lisa Pelletier and head coach Chris Gbandi.
granted and this is a great chance for him to help us have that perspective,” Milano said. “Having a young guy like him is going to bring a lot of energy to the team as well during practice and games. It’s great to have someone in there that we can share these experiences with on and off the field.” Milano also hopes the Huskies can teach Simon some important lessons. “One of the things that we show in training and
off camera and off the field as well is professionalism. We have to be role models to the young kids,” Milano said. “It’s a great chance for us to show him what he will be facing when he goes to school, and if he wants to play sports as well, we can give him that perspective.” For young Simon, the experience was exciting, yet somewhat frightening. “I felt happy, but kind of scared that everyone was looking at me,” Simon said.
NU Athletics releases rebranded logos By Evelyn Bleed News Correspondent
A new breed was born this past summer as Northeastern Athletics presented their new logo, a new presentation of King Husky, amidst a marketing campaign known as #HowlinHuskies. The primary mark will be the King Husky head, a
black and white, simplistic side profile of the Husky, looking upward and forward, toward Northeastern’s future, said Tim Duncan, deputy athletic director of external affairs. Several secondary marks were also designed, such as the standing Husky, paw, type ring and a new “N” mark, within a shield or
Photo courtesy Northeastern University Athletics As part of the rebrand of its visual identity, Northeastern released the shield lockup featuring a new design to the university’s ‘N.’
with a husky in front of it. Jeff Konya, Northeastern’s athletic director, said his department felt there was lack of distinction in the marketplace when he took over in January. “We felt that this was the right time to rebrand,” said Konya, “We have live, new energy and ideas on the board.” The marketing and communications department suggested a tattoo-inspired design that emitted a modern and regal feel, said Tim Duncan, the deputy athletic director of external affairs. They primarily wanted to use black and white to utilize the negative space and make it distinctive. “A good tattoo artist makes their marks look very distinctive, and that’s the level of detail we wanted on our logo,” said Duncan. Input on the rebrand was broad. Recent graduates, student athletes, employees in and outside athletics, long-standing donors and corporate partners were involved in the designing and marketing campaign, Konya said. “We had internal and
Photo courtesy Northeastern University Athletics The new-look King Husky is the face of a myriad of changes Northeastern University made this past summer to rebrand itself.
external focus groups. We went through several iterations to make sure we got what we thought was the right marks, font and look,” Konya said. “I’m really excited to see how our new brand and our marketing matures over time.” The old husky mark will be used as a throwback mark: during hockey retro nights, for example. Primarily, the Division-I varsity teams will use the head and the other marks
will be visible in Northeastern’s marketing materials, facilities and non-competition apparel items. Additionally, uniforms and posters will have a 3D rendering of King Husky. More information on the branding guide can be found on the Northeastern Athletics website. “We’re the original Husky but we put a new twist on it,” said Duncan. “And now we’re a new breed that has been born.”
LIFESTYLE
Page 10
October 4, 2018
Poreotics performs at Fenway Center By Claire Wallace Deputy Lifestyle Editor
Northeastern University’s Fenway Center was packed to the brim last Friday as the Asian Student Union, or ASU, presented their sold-out show “A Night With Poreotics.” Poreotics, a hip-hop dance crew from Westminster, California, got their start in 2010 when they were crowned the champions of “America’s Best Dance Crew” and went on to perform on “World of Dance.” Five of the eight Poreotics members, Aidan Carberry, Matt Dumbo Nguyen, Can Trong Nguyen, Lawrence Bravo and Minoru Iwasaki, performed their unique hiphop dance style, followed by an audience Q&A and a meetand-greet. Their performance was also quite interactive, as they stopped at one point to invite 10 Northeastern students to the stage to engage in their own dance-off. The dance-off winner, second-year business major Christophe Lu, has been a Poreotics fan since the beginning and was glad to be able to perform with the crew.
“I was very surprised. It was very unexpected,” Lu said. “I am very grateful. I think it’s just a good time to be on stage with all of my friends and getting to be on the same stage as Poreotics and watching them live because I have watched them ever since I started dancing way back in sixth grade. It was definitely a surreal experience.” The evening was full of student performances, as a number of ASU members sang and played instruments before Poreotics even began. The night opened with a performance by Northeastern’s Eon Dance Troupe, a group that began on campus in 2016. Francesca Mei, a second-year international business major, has been a part of Eon since she started at NU. “We were established in 2016, so we’re pretty new,” Mei said. “We’re taking opportunities as they come. We do a lot of traditional dance as well as fusion, classical and ethnic dances. The people who are here have been really committed to learn a whole entire new dance, like a full four-minute set, within these
three weeks. We’re really proud of them and excited for tonight.” “A Night With Poreotics” was part of a series put on by ASU every semester to bring Asian-Americans from diverse backgrounds to campus in order to educate students about job diversity in the Asian-American community. Megan Lau, a third-year computer science and finance major and president of ASU, emphasized the importance of the series. “This series has been happening every semester for more than five years,” Lau said. “It is a really important event to show the diversity of Asian-Americans and the careers and the paths that we take. We’re not just mainly in the STEM field. We can be dancers, comedians — anything.” During the post-performance Q&A, Poreotics discussed topics ranging from performing on “World of Dance” to their family lives and favorite land mammals. All five members concurred that they owe a lot of their success to “World of Dance.”
Photo by Ashley Wong Dance group Poreotics performs at Fenway Center.
“Just being able to focus on dance for eight weeks was the best,” Carberry said. Dumbo Nguyen emphasized what a hectic and stressful experience reality TV can be but shared the major thing that got him through the entire process. “It’s a lot of stress. I almost threw up on the first show,” Dumbo Nguyen said. “My newborn daughter was the one giving me the most energy to suck it up and do it. For those of you who want to pursue your passions, play the
long game.” The night concluded with members performing one final dance to the song “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton, which elicited an excited reaction from the crowd. They cheered on Poreotics quite passionately as they finished off their set for the evening. The next ASU-sponsored event is scheduled for Oct. 7 in Curry Student Center. It will celebrate a number of different cultures and feature Korean-American rappers Lyricks and JL.
EARN YOUR ENGINEERING M.S. DEGREE in as little as one year or at your own pace. Learn more at go.tufts.edu/engmasters
Master’s degrees offered at tufts: Bioengineering Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Data Science Electrical Engineering Engineering Management Human Factors Engineering Human-Robot Interaction Innovation and Management Materials Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering
LIFESTYLE
October 4, 2018
Page 11
Boston Women’s Market celebrates anniversary By Nia Beckett News Correspondent
In celebration of their first anniversary, the Boston Women’s Market held a marketplace on Sept. 30 at District Hall. The anniversary marketplace included approximately 25 vendors, featuring a henna tattoo artist, professional flash headshot photoshoots, a DIY collage station and a create-yourown-bracelet station by Bracelet Bash. Over the past year, the Boston Women’s Market hosted marketplaces and workshops with the intent of supporting womxn entrepreneurs and promote their work. Womxn, as defined on their website, describes a passionate person who inspires and supports their community regardless of sex, race, gender or income. The Boston Women’s Market is based around unity and inclusion, and subsequently incorporated the spelling of womxn in their branding in response to many people feeling excluded by the traditional spelling. “I think there are many different people who the ‘e’ does not capture, but they are still welcome and wanted in our Boston Women’s Market family,” said Molly Leger, the organization’s founder. While the Boston Women’s Market developed a community through their events in the Boston area, they didn’t intend to become a long-standing organization. “We started as a one-time event– that’s all we were supposed to be,” Leger said. “The community rallied around us in such a way that we had to start growing and keep going and I’m so happy that we have.” The expansion of the Boston Women’s Market from a single event into an organization with a supportive network made the one-year milestone a special event.
Erin Connors, the founder of Bracelet Bash, started her company in November 2017. She has traveled around the Boston area as far as Plymouth and Lawrence doing a variety of events from pop-ups to personal parties. Like many of the vendors, she works full-time and runs her business on the side. This event was her first time working with the market. “This has been great because [working with] other women-owned businesses is amazing,” Connors said. Lisa Lang, a 2011 Northeastern alum and artist, was a vendor at the event as well. Lang was a math major at Northeastern but has always been interested in art. At the event, she sold prints and other pieces self-described as “tastefully distasteful.” “I like to make people laugh,” Lang said. “I do these things to make myself laugh, and once in a while, people come around and laugh with me.” The Boston Women’s Market enjoys working with its customers, who are also advocates of amplifying womxn’s voices. “You can always support other people,” said Trish Fontanilla, a Boston Women’s Market customer. “I wasn’t able to buy things from everybody, but I shared everybody’s stuff on Instagram, and tagged them so that even if I can’t buy everyone’s stuff, I know people on my network can maybe find stuff.” The events so far are just the beginning for the Boston Women’s Market. Leger’s biggest short-term goal is a larger 2019 calendar featuring more workshops. With a growing community, the organization works to accommodate their needs. “[We are] really trying to take that insight and craft it into something that is useful and fun and engaging for people in our organization,” Leger said.
Follow the Boston Women’s Market on Instagram @bostonwomensmarket to see their upcoming events.
Photo by Nia Beckett Creators at the Boston Women’s Market showcase their art.
EVENT CALENDAR
Calendar compiled by Claire Wallace Graphics by CJ Andrews
Thursday, Oct. 4
This how-to class will be hosted by Tastemakers Magazine’s head photo directors and will provide a real concert stage setup for photographers to learn and practice. Tastemakers will set the Afterhours stage with live musicians, lights and sounds. This reallife concert experience allows photographers to hone their craft and see what it is like to be front row at a concert and take good, usable images for publication. 7 p.m.- 10 p.m.; Afterhours; Free.
Friday, Oct. 5
Cheer on the Northeastern women’s hockey team as they face off against Boston University in one of their first games of the season. The Huskies and the Terriers are longtime rivals, especially in sports, so the Northeastern team appreciates all the support they can get. Put on your Northeastern gear and head to Matthews Arena for this evening of fast-paced sports action. 7:00 p.m.; Matthews Arena; Prices vary.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Sunday, Oct. 7
The Manhattan Film Festival will be making a stop in Boston at the Museum of Fine Arts during their 250 city, six continent tour. Every year, festival organizers receive over 1,000 film entries which they narrow down to 10 films that get the honor of being shown in the traveling festival. Upon arrival in the MFA theatre, guests will get a voting card to choose their favorite film at the end. The winner will be announced Oct. 8 and receive high honors in the film industry. Make sure to get your tickets for this special touring event here: 2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.; Museum of Fine Arts Boston; $10 with student ID.
Join the Asian Student Union and the Vietnamese Student Association for “A Night in Asia.” This event will showcase a number of diverse Asian cultures and promises to serve lots of free Asian food. A number of student organizations on campus will perform cultural events and demonstrations. The event will also feature Korean-American rappers Lyricks and JL. Get your free ticket on myNortheastern before they’re gone. 6:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.; Curry Ballroom; Free for students.
Monday, Oct. 8 Advertised as Boston’s largest day of free arts and culture events, A Day of Cultural Experience will take place in multiple locations across the city beginning with a New Orleans-style parade at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at the Mary Baker Eddy Library and continue down Huntington Avenue right through campus. There will be events throughout the day at the library and the MFA including dance performances, speakers and arts and craft events. There will also be indoor kite flying at the Huntington YMCA. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Various Locations; Free.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 Help the Council for University Programs welcome young writer and poet Olivia Gatwood to perform slam poetry from her book, “New American Best Friend.” Her book and poems focus on feminism, sexual assault and Title IX. Gatwood is a Title IX compliant-trained educator in sexual assault prevention. 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.; Afterhours; Free for students.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Famous cookbook authors Alan Richardson and Karen Tack will make an appearance at Northeastern’s Xhibition Kitchen to autograph copies of their newest book, “Make It Easy, Cupcake.” They will also decorate cupcakes made from scratch with designs and patterns featured in their cookbooks. This event promises to be educational and delicious. 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.; Xhibition Kitchen; Free.
LIFESTYLE
Page 12
October 4, 2018
Jazz festival returns with blues, food and funk By Sully Barrett News Correspondent
Berklee College of Music held its annual Beantown Jazz Festival last Saturday, showcasing live jazz and blues music on three outdoor stages lined up on Columbus Avenue. Starting at noon, thousands of people attended the event to enjoy the sunny weather and listen to artists such as Ralph Peterson, Catherine Russell and the Marco Pignataro Almas Antiguas Quartet. Next to the stages, food joints served turkey legs, barbecue and fried dough. Several organizations including Metro Boston and Art Works sponsored the festival, which WBUR, Boston’s NPR radio station, has attended for years. “It’s fun for us to be able to sponsor festivals like this,” said Taylor Harris, a marketing specialist at WBUR. “It’s great to get out in the community and hear from people who love the station so much. It’s nice to just be able to chat with everybody.” The festival upheld its tradition as a
come-and-go block party for the entire public, with attendees visiting from all over the Boston area. “Oftentimes, you’ll have a… kind of narrow demographic at events,” said Candice Springer, the marketing and events manager at WBUR. “And this captures families, college students and everybody else, so it’s great.” The festival also provided many hands-on activities for children. KidsJam, a youth music education program at Berklee, offered free sessions for kids to explore a wide variety of musical instruments with faculty and students. Reese Massey, a junior at Berklee majoring in music education, clapped along to kid-friendly songs performed by her fellow classmates. “We’re all music education students,” Massey said, “and [the festival] is really good
practice because kids are unpredictable. We all come up with a plan that works for the theme of jazz.” Additionally, a row of tents dubbed the “Instrument Petting Zoo” provided kids with real instruments to try out. Volunteer students held demonstrations showing the proper ways to play electric keyboards, guitars and drum sets. Well-known jazz bands such as Aggregate Prime, a four-person band from New Jersey, performed on the festival main-stage. Shea Rose, a Berklee alumna and the festival’s host, said this was her fifth year attending the concert. “I love seeing the Boston community come out every single year to support this event,” Rose said. “And on a day like this, you see everyone that you know, so it’s kind of like the best party you could ever have.” Rose is an acclaimed singer/songwriter who has received widespread praise from several Bos-
Photo by Michael Wheeler Saxopone and flute player Gary Thomas entertains the crowd.
ton critics and a scholarship from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She performed at the 2011 Beantown Jazz Festival the year she graduated from Berklee. The next year, she said, the college asked her to be a host. “It’s an honor, it’s a tradition now,” Rose said. “That’s the beautiful part about it.” This year, Rose introduced artists on the Burke Street Stage, including
saxophonist and Berklee professor Tia Fuller. “I’m excited to see Tia Fuller,” Rose said. “She has an incredible career, and she performed with Beyoncé on her tour. She takes hold of that instrument and is like, ‘This is what I do.’ And I love that.” The festival came to an close at 6 p.m., ending with Fuller performing songs from her latest album Diamond Cut.
Photo by Michael Wheeler (Above) Guitarist Mark Whitfield passionately performs at the concert. Photo by Michael Wheeler Ralph Peterson, leader and drummer of the jazz band Aggregate Prime, rallies the crowd.
Photo by Michael Wheeler (Below) A crowd gathers around the stage to enjoy the music.