11-14-2012 by The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press [

Year xlii. Volume lxxxiii. Issue XXXXI

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

SPJ lecture encourages nonviolent protest, page 3.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

WHAT A LAUGH Student comedians test comfort levels, bring laughs, page 5.

]

www.dailyfreepress.com

DEFLATED

M. basketball struggles with losses, lack of seniority, page 8.

WEATHER

Today: Sunny/High 47 Tonight: Clear/Low 34 Tomorrow: 45/35 Data Courtesy of weather.com

Area where BU bicyclist killed hectic, locals say Menino remains in hospital for further back complications

By Jasper Craven & Regine Sarah Capungan Daily Free Press Staff

A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus was involved in the accident that killed a Boston University bicyclist on Monday night near the corner of Harvard and Brighton Avenues, an intersection that bikers and workers said is prone to accidents. While there is no confirmation that the bus directly hit the student, an MBTA bus was involved in the incident, said Suffolk District Attorney spokesman Jake Wark. “Because it’s early on in the investigation, there is no clear cut set of facts,” Wark said. Wark said investigators are conducting interviews with witnesses and tracking down surveillance tapes. Collision reconstruction experts are working on tracking down the steps of the crash, which could take a few weeks, Wark said. The driver has not yet been charged with any offense. “The facts and the circumstances from start to finish are under investigation both by Boston police collision reconstruction experts and by prosecutors experienced in motor vehicle fatalities,” Wark said. The MBTA has removed a Route 57 bus driver, who has worked for the T for six years, from service while the investigation is ongoing. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said in an email on Tuesday that the driver of the bus was tested for drugs and alcohol, following standard procedure. “There’s been no suggestion of wrongdoing

By Tyler Lay Daily Free Press Staff

COURTESY PHOTO BY MATTHEW J. LEE/THE BOSTON GLOBE

Authorities are investigating the bicycle accident that killed a 21-year-old Boston University student at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Brighton Avenue Monday night.

on the part of last night’s bus driver,” he said. Boston University spokesman Colin Riley confirmed Tuesday morning that the biker was a BU student. “This is just a terrible tragedy,” Riley said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends.” Boston bikers and workers in close proximity to the scene of the crime said they were not surprised the biker was hit in the area he was. “It’s a really busy intersection,” said John Griese, a biker and sophomore in the College of

Engineering. “It’s like, one of the busiest intersections there. Obviously there’s going to be a lot of traffic, so I can see why it would be more dangerous than somewhere else, especially if you’re not being careful.” Griese said the accident spurred him to look up helmets online. Eddie Cohen, an employee at Pizza Days located on Brighton Avenue between Harvard Avenue and Linden Street, said MBTA buses are notoriously hazardous on the road.

Cyclist, see page 2

Vets’ edu. benefits under scrutiny after Obama’s Veterans Day promise By Nora Philbin Daily Free Press Staff

In his Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, President Barack Obama said that, after a decade of war, America’s heroes are coming home and he will welcome them back with the honor they deserve. Boston University also welcomes veterans who are returning home with about 400 veterans enrolled, including spouses and dependents, in a variety of different programs, said Thomas Swift, manager of Veterans’ Services at BU. Swift said he hopes reelected Obama will keep his promise in continuing to take care of America’s veterans. “I think if they could continue the education benefits [for veterans], it’s worked out well for a lot of veterans and it’s been helpful,” he said. “I think that’s tremendous, and I think that it’s well deserved.” Obama pledged to continue meeting the needs of veterans as the wars in the Middle East come to an end.

“Three years ago, I promised your generation that when your tour comes to an end, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil, you’ll be welcomed home to an America that will forever fight for you, just as hard as you’ve fought for us,” Obama said. “And so long as I have the honor of serving as your commander-in-chief, that is the promise that we will never stop working to keep.” The College of General Studies was specifically created for veterans in 1946, said Natalie McKnight, associate dean for faculty research and development at CGS. “It was designed as a college for mature and able students, many of whom were veterans returning from service,” McKnight said. “It was meant to be a very rigorous and challenging curriculum really designed for older students to integrate them back into academia.” Once there was no longer an influx of veterans returning from war, the school changed its curriculum, she said. “When we were founded, we had mostly

Korean War veterans,” McKnight said. “Then after a while you don’t have as many veterans returning and so you need to redesign and reshape your program for the majority for students who go to college who are in the 18- to 20-year-old bracket.” McKnight said since the school started catering to younger students out of high school they have gone through many names. “In 1962 we took the form that we currently have with the team system and the core curriculum that we offer here really took shape at that point,” she said. “And then in 1992 we renamed the College of Basic Studies to the College of General Studies.” Despite these promises, veterans still face many issues when they come home, including psychological, emotional or economic problems, said Andrew Bacevich, veteran and BU professor of international relations and history. “There are some military occupational specialties that rather easily can translate into civil-

Vets, see page 2

After spending weeks at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, doctors said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has been successfully treated for a viral infection and a blood clot, but will remain in the hospital for complications with his back. Dr. Dale Adler, vice chairman of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said Menino’s condition has fluctuated since his admission to the hospital in October, according to a New England Cable News video of the press conference held Tuesday. “It was clear that he had some kind of infection in addition to a blog clot in his leg that had seemed like it had traveled as well to his lungs,” Adler said. Adler said the focus of medical investigation is on Menino’s back, which he injured while undergoing treatment for his other complications. “Very recently, the back, instead of going in a good direction with him getting better and better, started to hurt more, and that has prompted some more investigations,” he said. Menino, after returning early from a vacation in Italy, was hospitalized due to a virus on Oct. 26 as the city braced for Hurricane Sandy. A spokeswoman from the mayor’s press office who asked to remain anonymous confirmed that Menino had his blood clot and virus treated and said a compression fracture in Menino’s back had been causing discomfort. But Menino is doing well and feeling better every day, she said. “He continues to run the city and be engaged in decision-making from the hospital,” she said. Menino stayed in the hospital throughout Election Day and also remained active during the approach of Hurricane Sandy, making the decision to close all Boston Public Schools on Oct. 29. Adler said Menino has been in the hospital for such an extended period of time because of doctors’ decision to appropriately rehabilitate him, according to a video of the conference provided by WCVB Boston. “There was a period of time where we were trying to figure out, ‘what is the best way to let him get some rehabilitation?’” Adler said. “We decided maybe the best way would be for him to stay right here … Now, in terms of his back feeling worse, he needs to be in the hospital.”

MBTA could raise prices without future long-term plans to address deficit By Shannon Nargi Daily Free Press Staff

Faced with a potential $84-million deficit for the fiscal year of 2013, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority struggles to find a solution to a growing financial crisis, as officials signal that another round of fare hikes and service cuts could be implemented. “Implementing these increases and other minor changes has obviously helped cut the debt, if by a minimal amount,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokeswoman Sara Lavoie. “It may be necessary to repeat them while more definite plans are being formed.” Despite recent fare increases, ridership on the MBTA continues to rise. Contrary to an originally projected drop in overall usage, bus ridership was up 2.3 percent while subway ridership increased by 3 percent in September, according to the MBTA website. But while the importance of the public transportation system remains high, it will do little to help with the deficit, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo in an email.

“The recent increases in ridership have little impact on the MBTA’s structural financial crisis,” he said. “But the numbers make it abundantly clear that the MBTA plays a critical role in not only moving people, but also in moving the economy forward.” Pesaturo said a plethora of short-term bandages will not revive the MBTA, and a long-term plan is necessary. “It will be difficult to maintain satisfactory levels of service without a long-term fix that addresses the MBTA’s budget problems,” Pesaturo said. “Without a permanent remedy, the MBTA is going to face growing budget deficits each and every year.” As part of its short-term solutions, the MBTA recently imposed a 23-percent fare increase to help curb the debt. Other proposed solutions have included the reduction of energy costs, introduction of single-person train operation on the Red Line and enrolling more MBTA employees in a lower-cost health care plan, according to an information booklet on the MBTA’s website.

MBTA, see page 2

HEATHER GOLDIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Passengers line up to board the Green Line. MBTA officials say that fare hikes and service cuts may continue for T riders.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Buses dangerous in intersections, local says FEEL IT IN YOUR BONES Cyclist: From Page 1

“Intersections in all of Boston are kind of dangerous,” he said. “But the buses, especially the buses on Mass. Ave., are kind of insane. So I guess I wasn’t really surprised about that.” Dave Gettleman, owner of Spike’s Junkyard Dogs on the corner of Brighton Avenue and Linden Street, said the intersection of Harvard and Brighton Avenues is always busy. “It makes me not want to ride a bike nearby,” he said. “You have to be careful, it’s a busy area. There’s a lot of traffic. It’s very sad what happened.” When police officers arrived at the scene, the Boston Fire Department and the EMS were already at the scene, said Boston Police Department spokesman David Estrada.The police report did not indicate whether

the victim was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The accident occurred at 6:36 p.m., said BPD spokeswoman Neva Coakley Monday. At the scene, Police officers from District 4 in Brighton observed a male victim who was seriously injured. The victim of the accident was transported to Beth Israel Hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival. Pesaturo said Monday the BPD and the District Attorney’s office have taken over the investigation, with MBTA Transit Police assisting. The fatality follows two other incidents involving MBTA buses in the city in 2012. A Boston College graduate student was killed in June after an MBTA bus hit her on Huntington Avenue, an incident Pesaturo said was not the fault of the driver.

“As far as the June incident on Huntington Avenue is concerned, investigators found no wrongdoing on the part of the bus driver,” Pesaturo said. “That bus driver has returned to work.” In August, a Route 57 bus hit BU School of Management alumnus Steve Binnam Ha. Witnesses saw him cross the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Babcock Street when the bus had a green light. “Witnesses said the bus was traveling through a green light at the time,” Pesaturo said about the August incident. “The bus operator did nothing wrong.” Pesaturo said the incidents in June and on Monday night do not demand a reevaluation of MBTA drivers. As of Tuesday night, the name of the victim had not been released.

Prof: Vets face psych., financial issues upon return Vets: From Page 1

ian employment but there are many, many others that do not,” Bacevich said. “And so veterans face the challenge of acquiring the skills they need to become successful in the civilian economy either through job training or through education.” Obama addressed the issue of continuing education, an important

one for many veterans and families. “Because you deserve to share in the opportunities you defend, we are making sure that the Post-9/11 GI Bill stays strong so you can earn a college education and pursue your dreams,” Obama said in his speech. While Bacevich said he is not sure if all of the benefits and opportunities that Obama has promised are realistic, he said it does not matter because

not every problem has a solution. “The U.S. government, acting on our behalf as citizens should do whatever it possibly can do to ensure that veterans can get a fair shake in our society,” he said. “[It] doesn’t mean that in every instance the assistance offered by our government is going to be successful, but I think the effort is an entirely appropriate one.”

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The Daily Free Press Crossword

By Tribune Media Services

Across 1 Palindromic title 6 Ashen 10 Interrupter of a bad act, on an old game show 14 Word after horse or soap 15 Elvis __ Presley 16 Mayberry kid 17 Government declaration of its intentions 20 Prefix with gram 21 Modest shelters 22 Madison Square Garden et al. 23 Variety of lily 24 1998 animated bug movie 25 Vietnam War defoliant 29 Speed Wagon maker 32 Velma’s rival in “Chicago” 33 Chat room chuckle 34 Detained at the precinct 35 Electrical network 36 Pigs and hogs 38 Etcher’s need 39 Leer at 40 Scepter’s partner 41 Emulate Cicero 42 Betty Ford, __ Bloomer 43 Gold Rush villain 46 Jockey’s tool

47 Hearing requirements 48 Displaying buoyancy 51 Periodic table no. 52 Protrude, with “out” 55 High-octane fuel 58 Having all one’s marbles 59 Rotary phone feature 60 1988 film farce fish 61 School on the Thames 62 Bobbles the ball 63 Taboos

Down 1 Sulk 2 Each 3 Supermarket section 4 “Entourage” agent Gold 5 Bushwhacker’s tool 6 Congregation leader 7 Humanities 8 Mauna __ 9 Involve, as in a sticky situation 10 Morticia’s mate 11 Bid one club, say 12 “Project Runway” judge Garcia 13 Understands 18 ‘80s-’90s Serbian auto import 19 One-named Deco designer 23 Insinuating 24 Soon, to the bard 25 Fluorescent bulb gas

SARAH FISHER/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

College of Communication sophomores Randi Fuchs and Amy Gaiens speak to Boston University students about Omega Phi Alpha’s Bone Marrow Drive Tuesday afternoon at the George Sherman Union.

Suburban commuters depend on rail for work, commissioner says MBTA: From Page 1

Previous changes have also garnered savings for the system over the years — the MBTA expanded single-person train operation to the Blue and Orange Lines in 1996 and 2010, respectively, and initiated the CharlieCard system in 2007. “In addition to listening to the public at meetings throughout the state, MassDOT and MBTA officials have been talking with state legislators about possible solutions,” Pesaturo said. City officials stressed importance of the MBTA, especially to those working within the city limits. “There are many people who live in the suburbs who depend on the MBTA bus and subway systems to get to and from work every single day,” said Thomas Tinlin, commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department . “There will always be a high demand for the use of the MBTA.” One ride on the T with a CharlieCard costs $2 and includes a free transfer to a local bus, while fare for a CharlieTicket costs $2.50. Although thousands of commut-

ers in the city rely on the T, some Boston University students said another fare hike would deter them from taking public transportation. Manasa Kanneganti, a postgraduate BU School of Medicine student, said a potential increase in fares would definitely cut down on her T usage. “I would not take the T if it got up to $2.50 a ride,” she said. “I’m a student, I don’t have that kind of money. At that point I could probably take a cab for cheaper.” College of Arts and Sciences freshman Gabrielle Bull said she would probably not take the T if prices increased again. “I usually only go to Newbury on it anyway, and that’s not worth spending like $5,” she said. “I’d just walk more.” School of Management senior Jimmy Barry said he does not use the T too much, so another fare increase would not change his habits because he would be willing to splurge on the T once in a while. “If they kept increasing it though, to maybe above $2.50 or around there, I would probably never take the T,” he said.

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tortilla 41 Thornton Wilder classic 43 Spiced Indian beverage 44 Gold and silver 45 Shark flick 46 Part of NOW 48 Church recess 49 Toga party setting 50 Jay seen at night 51 Culture medium

52 Arabian folklore spirit 53 Reverse 54 43-Down et al. 56 Space station for about 15 years 57 Vientiane native Solution is on Page 7

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Campus & City City Crime Logs

Parking under the Influence By Regine Sarah Capungan Daily Free Press Staff

The following reports were taken from the Allston-Brighton D-14 crime logs from Nov. 8 to Nov. 13. At about 1:40 a.m. on Friday, officers responded to a call from a woman at the intersection of Bayard and Myrick Streets regarding an alleged drunk driver who allegedly struck her parked car from behind. The woman said when she asked the suspect to back off her bumper, she observed a beer inside his vehicle. Police noted the suspect smelled like alcohol, his eyes appeared to be glossy, and he seemed unsteady on his feet. The suspect told police he drank two beers. The suspect refused a sobriety test and stated, “I drank three beers and will probably fail.” Police noticed an open container of alcohol in the driver seat console, and arrested him for operating under the influence of alcohol. Three stooges At about 5 p.m. on Friday, a woman reported that three male teenagers approached her while she was walking to work at 7:30 a.m. near Long Avenue and Allston Street in Allston. The teenagers tried to take her laptop and cell phone, although she kept a tight grip on her possessions. The teenagers gave up and fled into Ringer Park. Mysterious butts Police responded to a radio call about a possible break-in at 24 Pratt St. in Allston at about 4:50 a.m. on Saturday. Three residents of the house stated that they heard banging noises around their apartment at about 12:30 a.m., as well as a strong smell of cigarette smoke. However, they assumed the smell was coming from outside and did not investigate the premises. At about 3:30 a.m., one of the residents awoke at about 3:30 a.m. to find the back door open and a discarded cigarette in the bathtub. Although no apartment items appeared to be missing, a resident contacted the apartment management, All-Bright Reality, to check and change the locks. In the face Police responded to a call on Saturday at about 4:10 p.m. regarding a woman who was robbed as she exited the Green Line trolley at Commonwealth Avenue and Linden Street in Allston. The victim said the suspect, a woman she knows, approached her and punched her in the face multiple times. The victim’s left eye was bruised from the attack, and she fell to the ground. The suspect then stole her cell phone and $200 before fleeing toward Packard’s Corner, possibly with another woman. When police knocked on the door of the suspect’s apartment on Commonwealth Avenue, a man opened the door and said the suspect was not present. Police searched the rest of the area but could not find the suspect. The victim was treated by paramedics but refused to be transported to the hospital.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Wall in Palestine splits homeland, speaker says BUSI examines media image of Iyad Burnat, a Palestinian leader in the struggle against the Israeli Israel, Palestine separation wall constructed through By Brian Latimer Daily Free Press Staff

his homeland, spoke to students from Boston University, Tufts University and Harvard University Tuesday night to spread his story. “The important thing is to know about the situation in Palestine,” Burnat said. “What we need from students is to support the Palestinian case and to use what has happened and what is going to help the cause.” Burnat shared the story of how the wall separated his hometown, Bil’in, and showed clips from a film his brother made about the struggle. He also answered questions from the audience in English and Arabic. “He is talking about his experience protesting the wall and has some footage of that,” said Zena Ozeir, a College of Arts and Sciences senior and president of Students for Justice in Palestine. “He talks about their adoption of the nonviolent method of resistance to the wall and the different tactics they have taken to protest.” Burnat said he had difficulties leaving Jordan, but eventually obtained a visa from the U.S.

By Shannon Nargi Daily Free Press Staff

consequences,” he said, “The pressure to get it right is enormous.” A number of BU students said they value the college rankings more than other assessments of BU’s performance. “They are very important because they are easiest and most standard way of judging a college on how good it is,” said Vishrut Jhawar, a School of Management sophomore. However, Lucas Stegman, a College of Arts and Sciences freshman, said rankings should not matter much. “They are not that important because if you listen to different sources, they will give you different information,” he said. Solberg said he does not believe someone was purposefully manipulating the statistics. “It’s hard to see that someone was intent on trying to misrepresent George Washington completely,” he said. “They were trying to solve a problem, but didn’t know how to do it. It was incorrect and not proper.” A number of students attending GWU said they do not understand why the university lied about the statistics. “Lying about our incoming fresh-

In a presentation Tuesday night, founder and CEO of Palestinian Media Watch Itamar Marcus told Boston University students the negative portrayal of Israel in the Palestinian media is an obstacle to peace. Marcus said he founded PMW in 1996 with the hopes of learning more about the media’s portrayal of Israel in Palestine. His organization has centered on the promotion of anti-Israeli sentiments in Palestinian youth with a focus on educational programs. “Peace needs promotion of peace among children,” Marcus said. “Peace needs to be preparing the next generation of peace.” BU Students for Israel hosted Marcus in the Hillel House Lounge. More than 20 students attended. Marcus said media as a means of education is a powerful tool that can be used in constructive ways to promote peace between the two nations. “There is a glorification of war and violence among Palestinians against Israelis and children are learning these types of messages,” he said. “That’s the great tragedy that is going to prevent any possibility of peace.” Marcus said the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation is the one official Palestinian National Authority television station in the state. He said children’s programs promote violence against Judaism and the complete absence of Israel’s existence. “What we’re seeing in Palestinian culture is that they [the Palestinians] are trying to create a very strong culture among themselves that there is a world where Israel doesn’t exist at all,” Marcus said. Kareem Chehayeb, a member of BU Students for Justice in Palestine, said Marcus’s comments were shocking. “To dehumanize ordinary Palestinians is a terrible thing,” he said. “Palestinian people aren’t alien people that live in this alien and violent sort of society. They’re people too. To make such a generalization is a horrible thing.” BUSI Co-President Rachel DuShey said the media portrayal is an issue that is important for people to learn more about. “It’s something that actively affects Palestinians,” DuShey, a College of Communication junior, said.

Ranking, see page 4

BUSI, see page 4

PHOTO BY JACKIE ROBERTSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Head of the Bil’in Popular Committee Iyad Burnat speaks of how the Israeli separation wall created a new border that caused conflicts over land with Palestinians Tuesday night at the College of Arts and Sciences building.

Once the monarchy of Jordan allowed Burnat to leave, he traveled to the U.S. to speak to university students, beginning in the northeast. “The wall destroyed everything,” he said. “There were many villages doing the same demonstrations before Bil’in.” The video showed soldiers removing men and women locked in barrels with their heads and arms exposed to the protests. Burnat said they put themselves

in cages and barrels in front of the Israeli constructed wall in nonviolent protest. “When there is media, there is propaganda saying these are violent demonstrations because they end violently,” Burnat said. “They send special forces to throw stones at battle stations. So they want to make the people seem violent.” After talking about methods for

SJP, see page 4

Students question rankings after GWU scandal By Kyle Plantz Daily Free Press Staff

In light of the revelation that for more than a decade George Washington University has been inflating class rank data for incoming students, Boston University officials said rankings remain a legitimate method of comparison. Scott Solberg, School of Education associate dean for research, said rankings matter to many people and allows universities to see how they compete with other institutions. “The ranking system itself is prestige,” he said. “... There is always a level of wanting to compare oneself to performance and value.” Solberg said while there are other factors in determining the quality of a school, higher institutions are under pressure to place highly in the U.S. News & World Report ranking. The class of 2015 class rank data was inflated by a margin of 20 percent, said GWU President Steven Knapp in a statement Thursday. Candace Smith, GWU spokeswoman, said this error grew over time. “At the time, a lot of high schools were reporting class rank, and over time fewer schools have been reporting rank, so the error became more

pronounced as the years went on,” she said. Smith said as a result of the reorganization of the Division of Student and Academic Support Services in July, a fresh look was taken at the admissions office enrollment practices. “This came to light then when the Board of Trustees asked for an audit and discovered the error in August,” Smith said. “In September, auditors came in and looked through all the data. They then gave a report to the Board of Trustees in October.” GWU met with U.S. News & World Report and gave them the correct data for the 2011–12 academic year’s rankings, Smith said. The individuals who were originally in charge of data collection, and reporting are no longer responsible for the task. Hardin Coleman, SED dean, said GWU as a whole should not be blamed. “George Washington University as an institution did not make the mistake, a unit within the institution did,” he said. Coleman said he understands how difficult reporting data can be. “Reporting data well is very, very difficult — how we report to the News & World Report has real life

Lansdowne St., old Aerosmith apt. lay foundation for Boston Music Trail By Zoe Roos Daily Free Press Staff

Aerosmith’s old Allston apartment and the popular music area of Lansdowne Street in the Fens are just a two of the planned stops on the Boston Music Trail, a new cultural initiative launched by the Music Museum of New England. The music trail, which is expected to include sites within the greater Boston area, will lead residents and tourists through a series of locations important to musical history within Boston and the nation, said Harry Sandler, co-founder of the MMONE. “We have identified at least a dozen sites that we think play a huge part in the music world here in Boston,” he said. “We have been adding up content of about 500 artists, venues, DJs and others that have had a big

influence on the music scene here.” The Boston Music Trail, which is four years in the making, was announced after the Nov. 5 free Aerosmith concert in Allston, Sandler said. “We started working with Aerosmith on the location and their performance about three to four years ago,“ he said. “They thought it was a fantastic idea.” Sandler said the planning process of the trail is ongoing and could not estimate a date of completion. The City of Boston honored the apartment building where Aerosmith band members lived in the 1970s, 1325 Commonwealth Ave., before their concert on Nov. 5. The next site to be commemorated will be Lansdowne Street, home to The House of Blues as well as

Music, see page 4

GRACE WILSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Lansdowne Street, which includes the House of Blues, will soon accompany other historical music landmarks in Boston as part of the Music Museum of New England’s Boston Music Trail.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Palestinian youth trained to disregard Israel’s Nonviolent protesters in Middle East existence, media expert says during lecture cage selves to protest Israel, speaker says BUSI: From Page 3

“Therefore it affects Israel and the peace progress trying to be made.” Marcus said Palestinian children are taught to disregard Israel’s existence. He said Palestinian children are shown maps of Palestine where Israel’s borders do not exist. “If it could be taught that Israel is there and that children can recognize Israel as a neighbor, it would help to reinforce in children that there are people to be working with for peace in the region,” he said. “There is no way to make peace with a neighbor if you can’t even recognize that they are there.” Marcus said he is concerned with the censorship of state-run media, which does not allow opposition to

be heard. “Amongst the Palestinian population, there are many people who don’t want to go along with this, but they’re not given the publicity,” Marcus said. “They’re not given the mouthpiece or allowed to voice their opinions.” DuShey said she is optimistic about the future between Israel and Palestine. “I do believe there is hope, and I don’t believe in any way it is the fault of the Palestinians that they are being fed these images,” Dushey said. “A productive society is questioning the media and government and really seeing the other side, which they don’t get the chance to do.” Chehayeb, a College of Arts and

Sciences senior, said he does not support Marcus’s message. “This sort of rhetoric is actually the ultimate obstacle to peace and coexistence between the Palestinians and Israelis regardless of whatever settlement is made,” he said. Marcus said his organization aims to foster peace between Israel and Palestine. “We’ve reached out and presented our findings to the U.S. Congress and to members of Parliament in numerous countries, including the European Union, Britain, France, Norway and many more,” he said. “With the backing of these powers and foreign aid, we hope to start a more concrete path towards peace with Palestine.”

Music librarian concerned about how much Boston Music Trail’s will recognize classical music in city Music: From Page 3

many other clubs, Sandler said. Jay Anderson, marketing and public relations coordinator for The House of Blues, would not comment on the trail as the site has yet to be made official. Funding for the trail comes from the Music Drives Us Foundation, a New England nonprofit that supplies grants for music programs. “This is a project that came to Music Drives us over four years ago, and we are honored to be a part of it,” said Music Drives Us Executive Director Carla Tardif. The public can propose additional commemorative locations on

MMONE’s website. Kristine Sessa, the Boston University School of Music Curriculum librarian, said there were many potential sites for the trail, including Symphony Hall and the Hatch Memorial Shell. She expressed concern about how well the trail would commemorate the classical music scene that exists throughout the Hub. “If anything, I’ve witnessed a great decline in the classical music scene,” she said. “Hopefully, with proper guidance, the trail will represent the entire music scene in Boston, which is quite diverse.” The MMONE has worked closely with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s Office of Arts, Tourism &

Special Events to best prepare for the tourist aspect of this trail, Sandler said. “The city has the same vision we do,” he said. “We are meeting again next week to discuss the tourism aspect. We want to make sure we have a concentrated effort.” Sandler said the Boston Music Trail is necessary to commemorate Boston history. “There are tons of places in this city where there is an important musical history,” he said. “We have the Freedom Trail to honor that part of Boston history, and now we have the music trail to showcase Boston’s musical history. This trail is equally important in its own way.”

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SJP: From Page 3

protests and how the group makes noise, the movie played stories and experiences during the struggle. Kristen Martin, a CAS senior and SJP member, said Burnat’s talk was motivational. “I am walking away with inspiration to continue the struggle,” Martin said. “It gives me a lot of motivation and hope, which we don’t get that a lot in this movement.”

However, Sarah Close, a CAS junior and political programmer of the BU Students for Israel, said the wall has made Israel safer and reduced terrorist violence. “Not saying the people are terrorists, but the fence has done an incredible job reducing terrorist attacks and movements of terror into Israel,” Close said. “This is not in any way representative of what is occurring in the entire state.”

Student: Rankings seen as ‘standard’ Ranking: From Page 3

man’s statistics makes us look worse than if our percentage of students within their top 10-percent high school percentile is only 58 percent rather than 78 percent,” said Danielle Catalan, a sophomore at GWU. If this error happened at BU,

some students said they would be disappointed at the university. “I would be disappointed because you rely on the university to give you accurate knowledge,” Jhawar said. “I feel like it is unfair because this would give BU a name it does not deserve.”

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SPOTLIGHT

Students channel humor into positive performances

Splitting sides, not splitting hairs over competition By Carly Hoff Features Staff

The comedy group, Sons of Liberty, preforms for students at Boston University Central.

ith an array of student groups on Boston University’s campus, it is easy for students in every college to find their niche. For students looking to make people laugh, BU’s comedy groups, which strive to maintain their own style while performing various types of comedy, provide many opportunities. From sketch to long-form, BU’s student comics said they are welcomed into the comedy community as long as they are willing to put themselves out there. Why Comedy? BU is home to five comedy groups recognized by the Student Activities Office, and countless stand-up comedian students. Each group stresses that experience is not important — as long as students are willing to try and are not too embarrassed if they make a fool of themselves, they will fit right in, members said. Before joining the groups, potential members are tested on their comfort level with acting silly through warm-ups during auditions. “Warm-ups and improv are always a little bit embarrassing — you have to look like a fool to do the warmups,” said Liz Arcury, a junior in the School of Hospitality Administration and a member of the comedy group Sons of Liberty. “We kind of do the warm-ups first to see if they are okay looking stupid. Can they swallow their pride and do this?” One of the more common ways students hear about comedy groups here at BU is through word of mouth. The three new members of Slow Children at Play, or more commonly Slow Kids at Play — College of Communication sophomore Evan Gott, College of Arts and Sciences freshman Jasmine Miller and CAS freshman Michael Sciortino — said they all heard of their group through friends of members or those involved themselves. “I did theater in high school, and I wanted to do theater here, but then one of my FYSOP group leaders was really passionate about Slow Kids at Play, and she kept telling us how great it was, so I decided why not audition?” Miller said. Comedy as a Competition? Although in most aspects of college life, students strive to be the best — beat the other team and get the highest grades, amongst the BU comedy community, “best” is a relative term, members said.

DANIELA ALMAYA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Competition is scarce between groups, with them choosing instead to cultivate relationships and support one another. While students test their wit and humor in contests such as BU’s Funniest Student, Sciortino said, BU comedy groups do not give in to the cutthroat nature of competitions — they are only there to encourage their fellow comedians. “You know, we have relationships with the different groups that we’re not really out to be better than them, unless it’s a competition,” Sciortino said. “For the most part, we are all looking to be funny people and help each other out as much as we can.”

The best that these comedy groups strive for is an internal task, members said. It is not so much that the groups are competing with one another, but more so that they are competing with themselves. To grow in comedy, the student comedians said they compare themselves to others, reflect upon what they have accomplished and examine what the next step is to decide how can they get better. “What keeps me really passionate about the group is that we have this really high standard, like number one is that we always want to get better,” Arcury, one of the veteran members of Sons of Liberty, said. What’s Next? If students are lovers of all things comedy, the logical next step might be getting involved in the craft. However, most students said they do not think far past their initial participation in a group or doing stand-up. But a number of them pursue opportunities elsewhere in the comedy arena. Besides from being an member in Sons of Liberty, Arcury said she has also tried her hand at satirical writing. She has been published on the website, Collegehumor.com, and participated in stand-up, competing as a stand-up comedian in BU’s Funniest Student. With all the time it takes to refine their skills, they are not without reward. The experiences and the friendships they create while at school contribute to the great comedy network group members will take with them even after college. “There’s like this huge Slow Kids network and it’s really cool being new on campus and getting to know so many people already,” Miller said. This Slow Kids network includes past members who are writers for Jimmy Fallon and the head writer for The Onion. Whether students plan on pursuing some form a career in comedy or not, getting to participate in such real comedy situations prepares them for some of what they might encounter in the actual world of comedy, students said. They also said that being a part of BU’s comedy community introduces them to people with a great sense of humor and provides a place to interact with the community as a whole. “The other day I was actually approached by someone who said, ‘Hey! You’re in Slow Kids — you were just in a show.’ And I felt like a celebrity, which was fantastic,” said Sciortino. “All of a sudden I’m this recognizable face on campus.”

Slow Children at Play preform at BU Central, complete with costume and hair.

DANIELA ALMAYA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

ednesday,

November 14, 2012

Opinion

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University 42nd year F Volume 84 F Issue 41

Steph Solis, Editor-in-Chief Sydney L. Shea, Managing Editor Lauren Dezenski, Online Editor Emily Overholt, Campus Editor

Amelia Pak-Harvey, City Editor

Kevin Dillon, Sports Editor

Meaghan Kilroy, Opinion Page Editor

Divya Shankar, Features Editor

Abigail Lin, Photo Editor

Cheryl Seah, Advertising Manager Clinton Nguyen, Layout Editor Shakti Rovner, Office Manager The Daily Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is published Monday through Thursday during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co.,Inc., a nonprofit corporation operated by Boston University students. No content can be reproduced without the permission of Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright © 2010 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Rating students on attractiveness Bloomberg Businessweek, formerly known as BusinessWeek, received sharp criticism for producing an online poll that ranked the attractiveness of men and women at multiple business schools throughout the country, according to an article in The Boston Globe Tuesday. Boston University was among the schools ranked and was tied for first place along with Michigan State University and the University of Virginia. Businessweek issued an apology on its Facebook page Monday acknowledging that the polls were in “poor taste” and that they had been removed from the publication’s website, according to the Globe. Businessweek’s decision to remove the content and issue an apology was appropriate and probably necessary. However, the polls never should have been created in the first place. Ranking business students on their looks not only reduces them to mere objects, but also takes away from the credible programs they represent. These are highly esteemed programs, and the students who belong to them deserve our respect. If a publication, especially one as well-respected as Businessweek, is going to rank college students at all, they should rank them on the qualities for which they were admitted, their academic prowess and integrity — not their appearances. To rank members of

an academic program, especially one as serious as a business program, is inappropriate. This is not the first time that students have been ranked on their appearances. College Prowler, an online guide to college life written for and by students, ranks universities based on how attractive their student body is. However, their ranking seems more mild because it rates the student body as a whole. It does not single out one program. In 2010 a website called Rate BU generated heat for giving students the ability to upload images of their classmates and rank them on their looks.While ranking individual students is more intrusive than ranking members of one program or an entire student body, the motive is the same: judge these men and women on their looks. The backlash has centered on how the attractive females poll degraded women. However, males were ranked on their attractiveness, too. The media should address how the polls objectified both genders and not just one or the other. As degrading as the female poll is, it is important to recognize that the objectifying nature of the male poll is just as inappropriate. Perhaps Businessweek should stick with what it knows best — financial news and analysis.

Biking Boston The recent biking accident that involved a Boston University student reinforces the need for Boston to reassess its biking environment. While the full details of Monday’s incident have not been revealed, there have been enough accidents and near-accidents involving drivers and cyclists to indicate that the driver-cyclist relationship is shaky and needs to be addressed. Boston is recognized for its hectic traffic. People commute to work each day, and families travel in and out of the city. A number of cyclists are college students who live on their own and may not always realize the dangers this traffic poses. They weave in between cars and run red lights. Even when they are cautious, dangers emerge nonetheless. Drivers hit cyclists with their car doors or overtake bike lanes

without realizing it. In spite of all these dangers, the city encourages residents to opt out of driving and adopt bicycles time and time again. The Hubway program offers people an opportunity to bike around the city, regardless of their riding abilities. Even tourists, people unfamiliar with Boston’s traffic patterns, can hop on a bike and go. Since bicycles serve as a convenient mode of transportation, it is crucial that the city provide a safe environment for riders to travel. The drawbacks of traveling by bicycle might not outweigh the benefits. It’s a convenient and affordable alternative to being in packed subway cars and driving on city streets, but when biking becomes unsafe, the city needs to address that. While it is unclear what the solution would be, the city needs to focus more on this issue.

Winter wonderland RACHEL CHISTYAKOV

fter living in Los Angeles for 18 years, I have never experienced real snow. I have, however, experienced fake snow. When I was little, my dad would take me to Disneyland around Christmas time every year. At the nightly parade, they would shoot out white, glittery pieces of paper, and when I asked my dad what it was, he said it was snow. It wasn’t wet, and it usually got stuck on my clothing. I liked this kind of snow because it was shiny and never disappeared. Kids could roll around in it, and they wouldn’t get wet or dirty. My first impression of snow was a pleasant one. As I got older, my family began to take trips to the mountains of California. The most popular winter vacation spots were Arrowhead and Big Bear. My first trip to Arrowhead was only a few years after my first trip to Disneyland. It was distressing to hear that the snow that I first experienced wasn’t snow at all and that the mushy, wet and dirty flakes of ice up in Arrowhead were the real thing. But they weren’t the real thing, because Arrowhead and Big Bear produce their own snow. For the next few winters, I spent a lot of time in Arrowhead, attempting to ski and snowboard on the artificial snow and not progressing in any way. I realized that I’m not a girl who is fit for the snow. I can’t play any snow sports. I can barely understand how to wear the proper clothing for cold weather, and I just don’t appreciate the beauty of snow like many other people do. Plus, I had never experienced a real snowfall — Los Angeles is known for never getting any snow, let alone any rain during the year. When I applied to Boston University my family was confused. “You hate the snow,” they would tell me. “You can barely stand fake snow. Are you sure you’re ready for the real thing?” And honestly, I had never given it much thought. My friends from high school who moved to Boston before me told me that their first winter was a breeze and that they barely received any snow. I just assumed that a simple snow jacket and rain boots would get me through the winter. Recently, I heard that the upcoming win-

ter was going to be one of the worst winters Boston has had in a while. I was told that my puny, California coats would not protect me from the harsh winds and snow. And this time, I would not be faced with artificial, man-made snow. The first snowfall was not as bad as I had expected, and a number of my friends from California actually embraced the change. We went outside and experienced real snow for the first time, taking many pictures to document our experiences. Sure, my hair got wet, and my leggings were destroyed (I obviously don’t own any snow pants), but I thought it was worth it to experience this extreme weather change. When I called my dad and told him about experiencing my first snow, he laughed at me and told me that in a couple of days I would grow to hate it. I didn’t believe him at first. The next day, the snow wasn’t so soft and beautiful as it was the day before. It was mushy and gross, just like the artificial snow I first witnessed in Arrowhead. As I walked to my classes, I wished I could feel the Cali sun shine down upon me and make me feel warm again. I remembered how unaccustomed to the cold I was and realized it would take me years to get used to this type of weather. It’s difficult to make this transition because I still associate winter with light rain and foggy weather, just like it is in California. I have never experienced snow as a part of winter, and it is quite a shock to have to start wearing warm clothing in November. This time last year, my friends and I tanned by the pool on the weekends because it was scorching hot in the hills of Los Angeles. Snow never got in the way of our routine. Unfortunately, reality has hit all of the Californians living in Boston, and that reality is mostly made up of harsh winds and terrible snow. Rachel Chistyakov is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences and a fall 2012 columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at rachelch@bu.edu.

Want your voice heard? Submit a letter to the editor to: letters@dailyfreepress.com

Terrier Talk Reflections

The Daily Free Press asked students how they felt about a possible MBTA fare increase in 2013.

Here’s what some of them said.

INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY SARAH FISHER

CLARE EICHINGER

“Raising the fare will make it harder for [college students] to get around the city.” —CAS sophomore

MACKENZIE GIBSON “I use a CharlieCard so it’s cheaper, but because I take the T across campus, it adds up.” —SED freshman

PERRY STEIN

“I don’t take the T very often, but for students who are already paying for tuition and on a budget, getting around the city will be inconvenient..” —SAR freshman

CARL VAN REIS “If they’re going to raise the fees again, they should raise prices marginally — less than they did this summer.” —COM junior

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

MARASCO: Everyone can enjoy it Marasco: From page 8

than we are? I loved Zach Galifianakis when he was just an unknown comic. He got cast in “The Hangover” — suddenly everyone loved him. It gave me a weird feeling of indignation and pretentiousness. “I knew him before he was big,” I thought. I felt oddly possessive of his fandom. I looked down on people who called him the “guy with the beard in ‘The Hangover.’” “The Office” was my favorite television show from its inception. From episode one I was hooked. The characters, the style, the subtlety — couldn’t get enough. When it moved to the U.S., it only got better, but it lacked big ratings at first. But by season three, season four. Everyone was watching. People were constantly quoting the show — the lines that weren’t even the “real” funny ones in my opinion. I felt like most people didn’t “really get” the show. It miffed me beyond reason. Again, I looked down on those new viewers. Not only did I not bond over my love of the show with fellow fans, I stopped watching for a long time — I let it bother me that much. But, finally, I put that behind me. I recently watched the first seven seasons — the Michael Scott seasons — on Netflix and fell in love all over again. It was foolish of me to stop watching, foolish to feel that I was above others as a viewer. It’s my favorite show, why be annoyed that others enjoy it too? I’m not better than someone else just because I discovered it first, or because I view it differently. We’re all fans. We all love the show — we’re on the same team. Truth is, the show wouldn’t have gone on as long as it did without its mass following.

I wouldn’t have gotten to watch it in primetime all these years. It wouldn’t be all over various cable stations at 2 a.m. All that extra support saved a great show from being canceled after a season and half. Terrier fans, I know it’s hard. I know it goes against your impulse. I know it’s hard to not be annoyed when someone pronounces Wade Megan’s last name the way one would pronounce Megan Fox’s first name. But, don’t be like I was. Don’t be that guy. You’re only hurting yourself. You’re letting your own arrogance tarnish what you love — letting perceived entitlement detract from joy. The fans who show up just for the BC games and the Beanpot aren’t your equals in terms of dedication, but they’re not your enemy either. They’re your friends — you’re on the same team! You all want to see BU win. And don’t you want the arena to be as packed as possible? Don’t you want it to be as loud as possible? Every additional fan, diehard or rando, is only furthering the support of something you love. Would BU be a hockey powerhouse if it didn’t have a ton of fans? Sure, you’re the more sophisticated fans. You’re more loyal. You care more. You know what icing is. You get frustrated because you feel you deserve a greater reward for this. But don’t you see that you are rewarded? When BU wins your joy is exponentially greater. Do you really think that girl who asked you who “Steve” was is going to get as much joy from the team as you do? Don’t resent others because they aren’t as fluent as you are in something. Welcome them with open arms. They’ll learn, but they have to start somewhere. Don’t be arrogant. Don’t look down on people. Don’t be that guy. Just enjoy the game. You’ve earned it.

Senior guards leading BU offense Women’s basketball: From page 8

GRACE DONNELLY/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Senior guard Kristen Sims.

Fellow guard Kristin Sims tied Moran for the most steals. Sims also tied for the most 3-point shots made. The final senior guard, Chantell Alford, scored a career-high 30 points and led the team in rebounds with nine. So far, these three seniors have contributed 75 of the team’s 109 points and 26 of its 68 rebounds. “You really always hope for seniors who love playing, [to whom] BU basketball means everything. And, for [our seniors,] it really does,” Greenberg said. “They always take [every game] personally, like it’s their last game. “They play like they’re never going to have this opportunity again in their life. And so far, they’re 2-for-2 for being mentally prepared and playing at a really high intensity ... They’re playing thinking ‘we’re going to go out on top,’ and they’re really doing it.”

Men’s Hockey East Power Rankings

By Kevin Dillon Boston College (8–1, 7–1)

After last weekend’s wins over then-No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 11 Boston University, BC cemented itself as the top team in the nation. The Eagles have recovered from a surprising loss to Northeastern University in their first game and have won eight straight contests. Led by arguably the best top-two forward lines in Hockey East, BC leads the league in scoring offense with 3.33 goals per game. Thanks to three talented freshmen defensemen and strong play from goaltender Parker Milner, BC has the No. 2 defense in the league, allowing only 1.89 goals per game.

University of New Hampshire (6–1–1, 4–1–1)

UNH sports the best defense in the conference, allowing only 11 goals in its eight games this season. A big part of this is the strong play of sophomore goaltender Casey Desmith, who leads the conference with a .953 save percentage in his eight starts this season. However, the Wildcats have gotten the job done on offense as well. They are second in Hockey East with 3.25 goals per game. Senior forwards Austin Block and Kevin Goumas have been a big part of that effort, as they lead the conference in goals per game (0.88) and assists per game (1.12), respectively.

Boston University (5–3, 4–2)

The Terriers are coming off a tough loss to rival BC over the weekend. But for a team that has an average of seven freshmen in its lineup per game, they boast a strong 5–3 record. The team’s losses have all come against teams ranked among the top 10 in USCHO. com’s Division I rankings, including No. 1 BC, No. 5 UNH and No. 6 North Dakota. Freshman goaltender Matt O’Connor (.938 save percentage) has provided stability in goal for the Terriers while sophomore forwards Cason Hohmann (3g, 7a) and Evan Rodrigues (1g, 5a) have each made a big jump and stabilized the top line.

University of Massachusetts (3–4, 2–4)

The gap between teams 4–8 narrows in Hockey East, but UMass has been the best of the teams in the middle of the pack this season. It has had a very tough schedule to start the season, having faced BC and BU twice and UNH once in its seven games. However, it has kept six of those seven games within a goal, and even handed UNH its only loss of the season on Nov. 2. Its record may not be spectacular, but watch out for UMass to jump up in the standings during the next month when it has an easier schedule.

Merrimack College (4–5–1, 3–2–1)

Merrimack had been among the top teams in Hockey East until this past weekend. A surprising loss to the University of Connecticut after a loss to BU drops the Warriors in the power rankings. Still, the Warriors are tied for the league lead in goals on the season in part thanks to junior Mike Collins (5g, 8a). If goaltenders Rasmus Tirronen and Sam Marotta can continue to play well as a tandem, Merrimack could maintain its No. 4 spot in the Hockey East standings.

Providence College (4–4–1, 3–3)

Like the Terriers, the Friars are a very young team. Providence had nine freshmen in its starting lineup in its loss to UMass on Friday. Its entire second line consisted of freshmen. The Friars’ youth has made them one of the most inconsistent teams in Hockey East, but they took No. 4 Miami University to overtime twice early in the season before going on a three-game winning streak. Freshman goalie Jon Gillies has stood out early this season, sporting a .924 save percentage and a 2.05 goals-against average.

University of Massachusetts Lowell (2–4–1, 1–3–1)

Lowell has been the biggest disappointment of all Hockey East teams this season, as it was projected to be among the league’s best teams prior to the season. The Riverhawks have lost to some tough opponents, such as No. 1 BC and No. 2 Denver University. But they also tied the University of Vermont and lost to the University of Maine on Saturday. They are eighth in the conference in scoring offense (1.86 goals per game) and defense (2.71 goals per game). They will need more out of sophomore Scott Wilson (1g, 0a), who was last year’s Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year.

Northeastern University (4–4–1, 2–4–1)

After starting the season well with wins over Merrimack and BC, the Huskies went on a five-game winless streak. Freshman Kevin Roy (3g, 6a) has led the way for the Huskies in terms of scoring, and both Chris Rawlings (2.02 GAA, .929 save percentage) and Brian Mountain (1.92 GAA, .947 save percentage) have good numbers in goal. However, the loss of freshman forward Cam Darcy to the USHL could hurt Northeastern as the season continues.

University of Vermont (1–3–2, 1–3–2)

The Catamounts have only won a single game on the season, but they have tied twice and have been tougher to beat than expected before the season. However, the team has struggled to score goals, as it has only scored a total of 10 goals in six games this season. No Vermont player has scored more than a single goal on the season, and its leading scorer, senior Chris McCarthy, only has four points on the year. At this point, Vermont looks to be among one of the bottom two teams in Hockey East this season.

University of Maine (2–9, 1–5)

The Black Bears are in for a long season if the year keeps going this way for them. Maine has the worst offense (1.36 goals per game) and defense (3.18 goals against per game) in Hockey East. To make matters worse, senior captain and last year’s leading goal-scorer Joey Diamond was injured on Friday. Things look bleak for Maine this season, but freshmen Devin Shore (1g, 4a) and Ben Hutton (1g, 3a) have performed well early on.

“

Quotable

The games need to slow down for you. -BU men’s basketball coach Joe Jones

Page 8

The Empty Net

An open letter to diehards

Frank Marasco Sunday night was the main event, the big show, the burrito supreme — when is Boston University getting that Taco Bell? BU took to the ice against BC. “Oh. My. Gosh. You aren’t going to the BC game?” I heard freshmen girls say to other freshmen girls all week. “Why does everyone hate BC so much?” said one pal to another in the dining hall. “Because they suck, dude,” his friend replied. “Oh OK.” “Where’s section 119?” “Is BC good this year?” “Who’s Steve?” — referring to the banner above section 108. You heard these things as the game’s beginning neared. You more loyal fans surely spent a lot of time face-palming. In fact, I know you did because I saw you, and I heard your sighs. Your blood pressure doubled when you heard someone ask, “What does icing mean?” Those carefully timed chants you know and love were slightly off at times during the game. “Hit him!” “Get it!” “Shoot it!” These are the cries you heard coming from over your shoulder all game long. Steam came out of your ears every time the guy to your left yelled, “You suck number 12!” then high-fived his friends. I heard you whispering about the new influx of fans. You didn’t enjoy them. Fans, in all sports, look down on other fans. Red Sox fans who tune in for all 162 games call those more selective watchers “fair-weather” fans. Even fans in certain cities look down at those across the country. “Lakers fans are soft,” say the Celtics diehards. “They show up 15 minutes late. They don’t get in fights in the stands. They don’t yell expletives at opposing players. Soft.” Why does it bother us so much when we perceive others to be less of a “real” fan of something

Sports

By Michael Bagarella Daily Free Press Staff

The Boston University men’s basketball team has gone winless in its first two games, dropping a last-second thriller to Northeastern University before losing to Canisius College 83–75 on Monday night. BU coach Joe Jones said while those two teams do not boast a national ranking, they are each extremely tough opponents. “A lot of the times you have to look at the teams you play more than anything,” Jones said. “We played two of the better teams in their leagues. We could have played two lesser teams and be 2–0 right now and what does that mean? We are playing a schedule that’s more challenging than anybody else in our league.” The competition will remain tough when the Terriers play George Washington University (0–1) this weekend and then travel to New Brunswick, N.J., to play Rutgers University (1–1). Youth For a team that has no seniors on scholarship, the Terriers have relied heavily on the play of their freshmen thus far. Freshman guard Maurice Watson Jr., ranked 92nd in ESPN’s top national high school basketball recruits of his class, has started both games at point guard for the Terriers. He currently leads the team in assists with 11. Freshman forward Nathan Dieudonne has started the first two games down low. He was the team leader in rebounds against Northeastern, pulling down nine boards. Coming off the bench, freshman guard John Papale, has made big shots for BU from behind the 3–point arc. He is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in 3-point field goals.

[ www.dailyfreepress.com ]

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Freshman forward Justin Alston has seen action in both games, scoring his first collegiate basket Monday night at Canisius. “[The freshmen] are all doing very well,” Jones said. “They are all contributing. They are all great kids. They all want to contribute to a winner and they all want to win — that’s the most important thing to them and they play that way.” Jones praised the play of the freshmen, but also noted that time and experience will help them improve their play. “Sometimes when you are a young player you get quick feet and you start moving a little quicker than you want,” Jones said. “The games need to slow down for you. That’s something I think we can get better at. We just need some game experience and need to understand some things better, but I’m happy with their effort.” Speed and transition The Terriers are a team that lacks significant size down low. However, they make up for that shortcoming with two quick guards in Watson and junior captain DJ Irving. Irving, with his team-leading 38 points, and Watson have been leading the BU offense. “We have two great weapons on the perimeter in terms of Mo [Watson] and DJ [Irving],” Jones said. “Both those guys are really hard to contain off the dribble. So when they are in there and able to make some plays for themselves, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.” Improvement The Terriers have been less focused on their winless record and more focused on what they can continue to do well and what they need to improve on.

GRACE DONNELLY/DAILY FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Freshman guard Maurice Watson Jr. has taken on a large role of running BU’s offense this season.

“As a unit, we need to do some things that we clearly didn’t do in the first two games,” Jones said. “We need to take a hard look and say, ‘Okay, these are the things we did well in the first two games. Let’s continue to do those, but let’s also concentrate on fixing the areas that will give us a better chance to win.’”

Jones said the team needs to improve on its defense by bettering its positioning and getting around off-ball screens. The Terriers were a couple of big defensive stops away from gaining the lead against the Golden Griffins and potentially coming away with a win.

Women’s basketball enjoys home court early in season By Steven Dufour Daily Free Press Staff

With only 80 minutes of play under its belt this season, the Boston University women’s basketball team (1–1) is already showing trends. BU opened its season last Friday with a victory against Boston College (0–1) and then lost Monday night against No. 14/19 West Virginia University (2–0). The stat sheets show the Terriers’ inconsistency over their first two games. Certain BU players have shone on defense. Some have consistently been key starters, and others have set records. However, according to BU coach Kelly Greenberg, three major factors have played a part early on in this season.

The Bottom Line

No Games Scheduled Jose Reyes was traded from the Marlins to the Blue Jays in a package deal...

The Boston University women’s basketball team missed seven free throws in its loss to No. 14/19 West Virginia University on Monday. P. 8.

Notebook: BU winless after tough 2 games

Marasco, see page 7

Wednesday, Nov. 14

Freebies

The Daily Free Press

Thursday, Nov. 15

No Games Scheduled ...With Reyes’ track record in contract years, the Blue Jays are poised to make a run at the 2017 World Series.

Opening at home For the first time under Greenberg, the Terriers start their season with three consecutive home games. Case Gymnasium nearly filled for Friday’s victory over BC, and it echoed with “Go BU” chants Monday in the nail-biting loss to WVU. This Friday it will serve as the venue of the Terriers’ matchup with the University of Richmond (1–1). Even after the three games, BU travels to next-door neighbor Northeastern University (0–1). Greenberg said that for a team that only lost one game at home last season, the ability to start off with a positive atmosphere has greatly benefitted the Terriers. “We’ve always had a pretty big presence on our home court,” Greenberg said. “We don’t have to worry about travel plans and

who’s doing what ... [We’re able] to focus just on our opponents.”

Friday, Nov. 16

Saturday, Nov. 17

W. Hockey vs. Providence, 5 p.m. M. Hockey @ Vermont, 7 p.m. W. Basketball vs. Richmond, 7 p.m.

Free throws BU’s loss on Monday night was decided by three points. Had it converted on more of its free throws — the team missed seven in the game — it would have had a better chance to win. Even though they were 6-for6 from the line in the first half against WVU, the Terriers have otherwise struggled with free throws. In the second half of that same game, they went 11-for18. In the game against BC, they missed over half of their 21 free throws. In only 80 minutes, they have cost themselves 18 points because of missed free throws. “Friday night we won despite [the missed free throws] and

M. Basketball vs. George Washington, 1 p.m. Cross Country NCAA Championships, All Day

[Monday] night, we lost,” Greenberg said. “[Free throws] were certainly one of the reasons that hurt our chances … we beat ourselves a little bit.” With a field goal conversion percentage of 37.5 percent and a 35 percent 3-point conversion rate, the Terriers are still an offensive threat, but points at the line remain a problem. “We just have to keep at it,” Greenberg said. “It can become mental if you talk about it too much, so we’ll just get better game by game.” Seniors Against WVU, the three starting seniors dominated the floor. Guard Mo Moran led the team in assists, tied for the team lead in steals and was second in scoring.

Women’s basketball, see page 7

Sunday, Nov. 18

M. Hockey vs. UNH, 1 p.m. W. Hockey vs. Harvard, 3 p.m. Wrestling @ Keystone Classic, All Day (Philadelphia, Pa.)