The Heights Feb 16, 2015

The Heights endorses Napoli & Hussey for UGBC President, Executive Vice President. See A6 TENSIONS ABROAD

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A BC student studying in Jordan reflects on her experience amid regional strife, A5

BC’s jazz ensemble performed in Vanderslice before leaving for New York trip, B8

The Eagles entered an alternate reality with Saturday’s win, B1

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Monday, February 16, 2015

Vol. XCVI, No. 9

Climate group marches on Leahy’s office, sustains call to divest Organization fights for University to break up with fossil fuels in Valentine-themed rally

BY CAROLYN FREEMAN News Editor

DANIELLA FASCIANO / HEIGHTS STAFF

“We are going to conduct an intervention,” yelled Alyssa Florack, A&S ’17. In her background stood approximately 40 people, holding signs urging Boston College to divest in fossil fuels.

Friday afternoon, a group of students participated in a Valentine’s Day-themed rally and vigil organized by Climate Justice at Boston College (CJBC). The rally started at 3 p.m. in O’Neill Plaza. From there, participants walked across Stokes Lawn, up onto College Rd., and finally to the office of University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., on Mayflower Rd. While walking, participants sang environment-themed songs to the tune of popular music. Once the group reached Leahy’s office—where three BCPD cars were parked—one member of CJBC,

Erin Sutton, A&S ’16, read a prayer.

“We hope that in the near future Fr. Leahy and the BC Board of Trustees will take ownership of the Jesuit ideals which they represent,” she said. “Though the consequences of the fossil fuel industry hold over us is frustrating, we are here today because we have faith in a just, liveable future, and because we love one another enough to fight to make it happen.”

As they walked, sang, and chanted, participants held up posters emblazoned with messages on divestment. “Break up with fossil fuels,” and “It’s not me, it’s you,” they read.

The event, which was not registered with the administration, was meant to encourage the University to reconsider its stance on divestment. Richard DeCapua, associate dean for Student Conduct, was present at the beginning of the

rally. He urged students to walk carefully on the slippery sidewalks and be safe.

“If you are all here, you’re aware that climate change is the worst,” Florack said prior to the rally. “So now in the spirit of a healthy Valentine’s Day we are conducting an intervention … to help BC know that it needs to stand for justice. BC needs to stand for its students.”

In response to the event, University spokesman Jack Dunn said BC’s position is that the endowment exists to provide revenue for University initiatives and to serve its academics. He noted that it is not in place to serve any particular social justice mission.

“It is precisely because our endowment enables us to support financial aid, to support the academic programs that sustain the University, to support the student formation initiatives that make BC so distinctive, that we as an institution do not want to see it used as a political wedge,” he said.

See Climate Justice, A3

With Valentine’s Day, a talk on hook-up culture Kerry Cronin offers dating advice in popular lecture

BY ALEXANDRA ALLAM Heights Staff As most of Boston College sat still, waiting for the bomb threat warning to be cleared last Thursday night, Devlin 008 remained packed with students listening to Kerry Cronin, the associate director of the philosophy department, give her annual speech hosted

by BC’s St. Thomas More Society on relationships and dating and its place on campus.

After a trek down to Robsham Theater, and then a race back to Devlin, the group that had scrambled for seats and sat squished in the aisles quieted as Cronin spoke about the subject so many people are focusing on around this time of year.

“I hear the same things over and over again, and here’s the thing” Cronin said.

“I would say that students, with respect to dating and relationships, find them-

selves in one of three categories. We’ve got ‘pseudo-married couples,’ right? …

We’ve got people that are doing what we lovingly call ‘hooking up’ … And then there’s this third group of people, in this pie graph, who are doing something called ‘opting out.’”

Cronin continued by delving into the problems she uncovered through her research within each section. She explained that for the “pseudo-married couples,” there lies the problem of being disliked by friends and peers for the happiness that often streams from being in a relationship, as well as the sub-section within this group that actually is not happy with their significant other, but perhaps stuck. Moving on to address those “opting out,” Cronin stated that the individuals in this category are often just keeping themselves too busy to go on a date. Finally, she landed on the hook-up culture here at BC. “The problem with the ‘thing’ is, the more I talk to students, the more I hear from students, is how absolutely lonely they are, how absolutely sad and empty

See Cronin, A4

DREW HOO / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Bomb threat under investigation A reported threat targeting BC dining halls Thursday night kept students sheltered in place before eventual all-clear

BY CAROLYN FREEMAN News Editor AND

JULIE ORENSTEIN A1 Editor

BRECK WILLS / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Snowy with no chance of meatballs

Boston College students and faculty were urged to take shelter for a little under three hours on Thursday evening, this emergency state enacted after the BCPD received a muffled phone call from an anonymous caller about a bomb threat in the dining halls.

The initial University notification to evacuate Lower Dining was sent at 7:38 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, with instruction for students and faculty to stay in class buildings and residence halls. All University dining halls were evacuated half an hour from the initial notification.

The Boston Police Department bomb squad was called to campus to investigate the threat. Once the bomb squad had searched all of the operational dining halls and it was determined that there was no credible threat, an all-clear notice was issued just after 10 p.m.

The all-clear notice gave those on campus the go ahead to resume regular activities. University spokesman Jack Dunn indicated that there will be an ongoing investigation with local law enforcement regarding the bomb threat.

According to information released

by BCPD in its public blotter, an officer filed a report regarding the bomb threat at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday. An alert went out to the BC community at 7:38 p.m., over an hour after the reported time.

“The response to the scene, initial evacuation of Lower Dining, and searching the area by BCPD officers was the immediate priority,” said chief of BCPD and director of public safety John King in an email. “As the call recording was further assessed, decisions were made to make the alert notifications, as well as request resources from the Boston and Newton police.”

On Thursday, BC Dining employee Erin Ducey, A&S ’16, said that the manager at Lower told Addie’s Loft and catering employees to evacuate around 7:30 p.m., and that the managers were

Another foot of snow was added over the weekend to the over six feet already on the ground in Boston, with blizzard-strength winds and bitter cold rounding out the winter blast.

SEE UGBC ELECTION GUIDE, PAGE A8

not aware of exactly what was going on.

Employees remained outside of Lower for several minutes before moving to Hillside in Maloney Hall where they eventually received the emergency alert over text and email.

They were then also evacuated from Maloney, according to Ducey. She said that dining employees were told there would be no Late Night dining on campus Thursday night.

A live stream of the dining hall was available until just before 8 p.m., depicting the empty dining area still partially set for dinner. At 8:10 p.m., the University sent out a second notice from the BCPD, requesting students and staff evacuate all dining halls on campus until further notice.

A third alert sent at 9:01 p.m. requested that those on campus continue to avoid dining halls as a precaution as the investigation continued. This request remained in effect until 10:06 p.m., when the all-clear notice was issued. BC dining halls remained closed for the rest of the day Thursday, with

See Bomb Threat, A3

The Heights

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things to do on campus this week

Starting Monday, the AHANA Caucus presents World Social Justice Week. Clubs like GlobeMed, Charity Water, and R.E.A.C.T. will be hosting events across campus. The offerings will include film screenings and various talks.

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Monday, February 16, 2015

UGBC presents the second BC Ignites of the year this Tuesday. The topic will be the role that race plays at Boston College.

A keynote speaker will begin the event, and then undergraduate and graduate students will speak about their experiences.

The Center for Ignatian Spirituality will host an event this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Murray Room in the Yawkey Center.

The session will invite participants to look back at their lives to reflect on how God has been present for them.

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News Love in the time of the BC bomb threat Briefs Debate change Due to the snow, the presidential debates for the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) elections have been postponed until Wednesday, with elections moved back to Thursday and Friday, accordingly. The candidates seeking the presidency and vice-presidency, respectively, are as follows: Cassidy Gallegos, LSOE ’16, and Michael Keefe, A&S ’16; Thomas Napoli, A&S ’16, and Olivia Hussey, A&S ’17; and James Kale, LSOE ’16, and Jose Altomari, A&S ’16.

The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) opted to postpone the debate due to the weekend’s blizzard conditions as well as the cancellation of Boston College’s shuttle service. There was a blizzard warning in effect for the city of Boston until 7 a.m. Monday, per the National Weather Service. The area can expect eight to 12 inches of snow accumulation, as well as gusts of winds up to 65 mph.

The debate will tentatively be held at 8 p.m. this Wednesday. This will push final voting to Thursday and Friday rather than Monday and Tuesday.

“It’s an unfortunate situation but there is not much we can do about it,” said Dan Ahern, co-chair of the Elections Committee and A&S ’15, in an email to the candidates.

“Thank you for understanding.”

FACES panel FACES hosted a panel on love and race Thursday night, with Boston College students speaking on the trials and joys of being involved in an interracial relationship. FACES is a student run organization on campus that strives to raise awareness and promote conversation on race, power, and privilege.

“Like all our events, the panel and discussion was meant to generate dialogue about a specific issue related to race, in this case, interracial dating,” said Nanci Fiore-Chettier, leader of the panel discussion and A&S ’15. “We aim to challenge the audience to consider their own racial biases and interactions, as well as how interracial relationships actualize at and outside Boston College’s campus.”

To commence the panel discussion, each student talked about how he or she met his or her significant other. For example, Sean Haggerty, BC Law ’17, identifies as both black and white. He met his girlfriend through FACES. He joked that when they first met she told him that her spirit animal is a dog, and he told her that was a boring response. He explained how they got over their initial conflict and have been happily dating ever since.

“We definitely considered the panel a success because the majority of the audience contributed at least once, and, more importantly, attendees were driving the discussion,” Fiore-Chettiar said. “Even when the BC Alert text interrupted us, the audience still wanted to continue the conversation, which was a huge indicator to us that this topic was interesting and thought-provoking.”

Ryan Daly An hour before the bomb threat, hundreds of people were already running—to see Kerry Cronin. They moved in shifting packs. Staircases spilled over with students and ice and snow. But Robsham was locked, and within five minutes of this horrible frightening recognition, every student was digging their feet in to turn around and run back.

Cronin decided against going back up the Million Dollar Staircase she had just walked down— she, like the students, had been redirected to Robsham, too. She opted for the elevator. That was the joke she opened up with, and it got the crowd laughing—those who were able to make it back and get a seat, that is.

Something happened. Although Cronin’s Love Talk was scheduled for Devlin 008, and people were getting there over an hour early to secure a good spot, there was a last minute change announced to the room: since the concert that was supposed to take place at Robsham was cancelled, Robsham would become the new venue for the talk. And the people were off.

Forty minutes into Cronin’s talk, something else happened: a bomb threat was signaled by the University’s emergency notification system. Every single exit of the room and the rows between the seats were clogged with people.

No one flinched. Not even Cronin, who was made aware of the threat, and waited about a minute before continuing the discussion on the hooking-up process. No one left.

The procedure that was relayed through the first alert was to “shelter in place,” which is understandable. The alternative would be to tell students to flee, and that kind of mass panic wouldn’t help

anything. But more than a thousand people were scheduled to attend Cronin’s talk. All exits were blocked. Why plant a bomb in Lower—why not go for maximum casualties? (Stifle your questions of this author’s paranoia and picture sitting where he was, dead center of that lecture hall, with all of those people, all of that claustrophobia, no one reacting, everyone talking about dating and first dates and the hook-up culture. Add a second alert for the evacuation of dining halls campus wide. You’d feel paranoid, too.)

The night of Feb. 12 could be considered a prime case study of the human condition—say run, and we run, say stay, and we stay, no matter the odds—but it’s a lot more than our willingness to follow directions: it’s about the illusion of safety, The Good and The Bad. Save small outlying opinions like my own, two assumptions were made campus-wide when the bomb threat went out (the latter more distributing than the former, and the former leading into the latter).

“A bomb? If people wanted to kill us, they wouldn’t warn us first,”—the assumption that people looking to kill think rationally.

“A bomb? There is no bomb,”—the assumption that we are untouchable.

Like someone who doesn’t wear a helmet until they’ve taken a terrible knee-splitting fall off their bike, the latter statement’s thought process is: “I’ve never had a bomb go off in front of me before, so it’s likely that it won’t go off now,” which is simultaneously a fair and foolish assessment. No one should have the privilege of thinking nothing bad can happen to him or her—the Marathon Bombings of 2013 should bring into crystal clear view the horrors we face.

Why do we think it, then?

Something as horrible as a bomb going off is supposed to happen to someone else, not us. But, by thinking that it should happen anywhere else means that intrinsically

In 1925, Boston College acquired Bapst, and in 1984, O’Neill.

Now, in 2015, the University is creating a new kind of library. BC recently launched eScholarship, an online repository of faculty and student work. The digital collection was created in order to facilitate greater accessibility to scholarly material for BC students and faculty, as well as offer greater security in the preservation of these materials.

This online resource will ease research by allowing readers to specify searches to works by a certain author, collection, school,

discipline, and degree level. Readers can search for PDF versions of published and unpublished work, as well as submit theses and dissertations of their own.

“Open access allowed us to rethink what is it that our purpose is providing an international readership, a broader readership, and inviting a broader group to participate in the conversation,” said Dr. Michael James of the Lynch School. “This gave us a great platform for both access, a new business model, and appealed to our sense of justice and in terms of new scholarship and accessible authorship.”

Through eScholarship, BC is focusing on the digitization of its

POLICE BLOTTER Campus.

10:07 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a fire in Ignacio Hall.

7:10 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a BC student who was transported to a medical facility from Vanderslice Hall.

11:14 a.m. - An officer filed a report regarding an attempt to commit a crime off-campus.

4:38 p.m. - A report was filed regarding harassing phone calls in Stuart Dining Hall.

6:35 p.m. - A report was filed re g arding a b omb thre at in Corcoran Commons on Lower

The Heights Boston College – McElroy 113 140 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467

Editorial General (617) 552-2221 Managing Editor (617) 552-4286 News Desk (617) 552-0172 Sports Desk (617) 552-0189 Metro Desk (617) 552-3548 Features Desk (617) 552-3548 Arts Desk (617) 552-0515 Photo (617) 552-1022 Fax (617) 552-4823

Drew hoo / heights editor

Police officers monitor Lower Campus during Thursday’s bomb threat. we think that something bad could happen everywhere else on the planet except the one, small spot we are in, and to think a thought like that is neurotic and insane and asylum-white-straight-jacket worthy.

And, yet, here we are.

The illusion of safety: the very best things in life, The Good, will come our way, and the very worst things in life, The Bad, will stay out of our way. We believe love should be in our lives—this is why we go to Cronin’s talk in such force, and we listen to this very witty woman talk so bluntly, and we swoon over the lost art of dating and romance, and we hope for the our feelings of inadequacy, longing, loneliness and despair to disappear. The night of Feb. 12 lends itself to a literal description of this metaphor: 500 people crammed into a lecture hall remaining seated in the upright and locked position, begging for The Good, ignorant of The Bad. To be clear, Cronin was by no means supposed to instruct an evacuation—the alert clearly said to “shelter in place”—but to see so many people on autopilot simultaneously is something else.

“A bomb? Forget that. Tell me how to be happy again.” People so desperately want answers that they sprinted across campus to get them.

“You’re all here because you’re

a mess,” Cronin said at one point in her talk, and she’s damn right.

But we’re not a mess for any reason Cronin got at during her speech.

We’re a mess because we focus on the outward possibilities. If I get a date, my problems will be solved, we think.

Do the impossible—love inwardly. If you do not love you for all of you then going on an infinite number of dates will solve nothing.

Wake up to the realities of existence, your own Good and Bad. Pay more f—king attention to what is so obvious and right in front of you, something you sprint for at the wrong times, and shy away from at the right. Start thinking of love as impossibility—just like you thought that bomb going off was an impossibility. You must.

If love isn’t impossible then there are too many preconceived notions handed down in books and pop songs and romantic comedies to ever make it possible. Because if love is impossible then it can be nothing and if it is nothing then we can make it something. Don’t sit stagnant, following instructions.

Do not let these things just happen. n

Ryan Daly is an editor for The Heights. He can be reached at news@ bcheights.com.

hundreds of thousands of publications and records. The plan is to make this resources publically available free of charge.

David Quigley, provost and dean of faculties, said that open access of information connects well with the idea that the work a university does holds the power to make a global impact.

“The first thing that comes to mind is the ‘Light the World’ campaign and slogan for the University,” Quigley said. “The idea that a university and its mission to research, teach, and educated in service to making the world better for not just our students but for the broader community.”

Research has shown that liter-

ature and articles are more widely read the more readily available they are, according to head librarian Jane Morris. A system like eScholarship will also allow students to get their work published and more easily seen by prospective employers or schools.

“One important feature is that the work gets indexed better in Google scholar, so people will find it more easily using search engines,” Morris said. “For an academic, this is their life’s work, so they want it to be widely read and easily visible. This is another way to do it.” n

Business and Operations General Manager (617) 552-0169 Advertising (617) 552-2220 Business and Circulation (617) 552-0547 Classifieds and Collections (617) 552-0364 Fax (617) 552-1753 EDITORIAL RESOURCES News Tips Have a news tip or a good idea for a story? Call Carolyn Freeman, News Editor, at (617) 552-0172, or email news@bcheights.com. For future events, email a detailed description of the event and contact information to the News Desk.

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Clarifications / Corrections The Heights strives to provide its readers with complete, accurate, and balanced information. If you believe we have made a reporting error, have information that requires a clarification or correction, or questions about The Heights standards and practices, you may contact John Wiley, Editorin-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or email eic@bcheights.com.

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02/05/15 - 02/09/15

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Thursday, Feb. 12

A Guide to Your Newspaper

Editor-in-Chief (617) 552-2223

University launches site for scholarly work

By Laura McLaughlin Heights Staff

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Friday, Feb. 13 2:16 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a student in Cheverus Hall who was transported to a medical facility.

2:48 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a student in Cheverus who was transported to a medical facility for underage intoxication.

What would you name the next inevitable snowstorm?

“Olaf.”

—Anthony Golden, CSOM ’17

“Olivia Pope.”

—Julia Martelli, CSOM ’18

“Leahy.”

—Alexandra Mills, A&S ’18

“Storm Not California.”

—Katie Lamirato, A&S ‘18

THE HEIGHTS

Monday, February 16, 2015

A3

Climate Justice continues push for divestment from fossil fuels Climate Justice, from A1 Robert Ryan, BC ’66, was one of the few adults amid the mass of rallying students. He found out about CJBC last October, when he attended a talk by environmentalist Bill McKibben hosted by the Lowell Humanities Series. He thinks environmental problems are the largest issue facing people today, and that change at an institutional level will need to begin with a small group of people.

“I think it’s just very hard to shake people up,” he said. “They haven’t gotten the results they wanted after a year, but they’re still staying with it, and hopefully the numbers will get big enough … I’m a supporter and I try to do what I can.”

CJBC changed its name from BC Fossil Free this past year. Member of the groups say the name change was partially in response to the University putting pressure on the organization because it is not registered. However, this name change was also meant to represent a shift in the group’s goals, according to those in the group. Bobby Wengronowitz, a member of CJBC and GA&S ’19, said divestment is just one piece of their goals. Wengronowitz has been active with the group since its inception.

Members of CJBC compared their leadership structure to that of the Occupy Wall Street. The organization operates on a horizontal power structure, with no singular head.

“I think Climate Justice at BC better represents the broad goals we have, not

just to get BC to divest but to have solar panels on every roof, to have efficiency be a priority, to have classes and programs for students who can engage in this really important area,” Wengronowitz said. “If you want to get jobs in the future, this is the direction of intelligent folks and strong willed folks and good hearted folks and institutions that want to be moving up in the ranks, like Boston College.”

BC is one of 19 private universities in the country that is need-blind and meets the full need of its students. Dunn says that the University is able to do that because of its $2 billion endowment.

He said BC does not plan to divest from fossil fuels.

Individuals have a moral obligation to support sustainability initiatives by reducing their own carbon footprints, Dunn said. He believes that the most effective way to make change is to individually embrace sustainability.

“Quite frankly, it seems like the notion of divestment is just a very convenient way to absolve ourselves of our own responsibilities,” he said. “‘If the oil companies just divest the problem goes away,’ is the notion. That’s not true—the best way we can effect change is to commit ourselves individually.”

Vice President of Student Affairs Barbara Jones argues that BC has the opportunity to make a larger impact by educating its students and helping them to understand the issues of sustainability.

Upon graduation, students will be able to influence the world on their own as well as

DANIELLA FASCIANO / HEIGHTS STAFF

Climate Justice at Boston College members rallied Friday in the ongoing fight against the University’s refusal to divest from fossil fuels. in their businesses, she said, adding that they will be better able to do that if they have been educated about sustainability.

Dunn noted that members of CJBC have met with several different administrators, including Leahy, Jones, and Chief Investment Officer John Zona, despite claims that the University is unwilling to work with the group.

“We admire the students’ passion—we

have great respect for the passion, the issue,” Dunn said. “And, they’ve certainly worked hard and are dedicated to it but it’s important that there always be honesty and a respect for differing opinions, and when that’s not the case I think it’s important in an academic institution to draw attention to it.”

Wengronowitz said he is hopeful that the group and the University will

be able to establish a better working relationship “It would really be to their benefit to really work with us and work with students who are excited about things that are really important,” he said. “If they treat us like adults, we’ll return that favor and we could have a great working relationship instead of this antagonistic thing that nobody really wants.” 

Investigation ongoing in reported bomb threat on Lower Campus Bomb Threat, from A1

DREW HOO / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Boston Police Department bomb squads joined campus police in investigating the reported bomb threat at Lower on Thursday night.

dining locations set to reopen according to regular hours Friday.

“We have well-trained police and administrators and an established emergency protocol and notification system that serves us well and positions us to address emergency situations such as we experienced last evening,” Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead said in an email to the BC community sent Friday afternoon. “Moving forward, we will continue to review our policies and procedures to make sure that we are as effective as possible in ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of the BC community.”

Kerry Cronin, a fellow in the philosophy department, was in the middle of hosting her annual speech on dating culture when the bomb alert went off. There were several hundred students at the talk in Devlin 008 when the alert was sent out, but very few people chose to leave. Cronin acknowledged the bomb threat, and then opted to continue

her talk.

The bomb threat destroyed the playful, humorous mood that was in the room during the dating lecture, Eric Zhang, CSOM ’18, said in an email. He said he immediately texted his family to assure them that everything was fine—he was then unsure about the truth in his comment. Cronin’s composure distracted the students from the bomb threat, and Zhang said that he admired her for maintaining an optimistic and positive atmosphere during the rest of the talk.

“The first thing I thought of was that we were all pretty far from Lower, but that wasn’t really too reassuring either,” he said in an email. “I stayed calm and remained in Devlin 008, feeling anxious and nervous as the rest of the room buzzed. Still, I was more just disappointed by the fact that this would hang like a dark cloud over the rest of Professor Cronin’s talk.” 

Metro Editor Bennet Johnson contributed to this report.

From Washington to Obama, a presidential battle of the ages CONNOR MELLAS “Who do you think is the best United States president of all time?” asks your simpleminded friend Jeff. “Uh, Abraham Lincoln, or uh, maybe George Washington,” you reply.

Wrong. The best president of all time is Old Tippecanoe, William Henry Harrison—he croaked before he could screw anything up.

Undefeated in office, except by colds.

That’s wildly unimportant right now, though. Here’s the question Jeff should be asking: If you were going to be snowed in for three days, which president would you want to be stuck with? To the bracket we go.

Note: This bracket was seeded by order of office, i.e. George Washington is No. 1 and Barack Obama is No. 44.

The Early Birds (1789-1849) A known stick in the mud, John Adams’ play-in game loss to Thomas Jefferson sets up a fierce first-round matchup: Jefferson vs. Washington. Nobody wants to see the grandaddy of our country go home this early, but Jefferson brings too much to the table. Remember the Louisiana Purchase?

After you bring him up to speed on modern geography, Jefferson could be the best Risk player of all time.

The rest of this time period’s hangout potential is weaker than John Tyler’s historical resonance. Andrew Jackson is too violent. Harrison would insist on standing in the snow until frostbite killed him. John Quincy Adams, James Monroe, and James Madison would make you do mock trial or watch the court scenes from Law And

Order. Jefferson breezes through to the Final Four.

The Presidents You Forgot About And Lincoln (1849-1889) The single biggest tournament beatdown comes when Lincoln meets Buchanan in a first round matchup. I don’t care if Buchanan shows up bearing a leaked copy of Star Wars VII and a full suitcase of White Castle—don’t let that guy in. Lincoln cruises past Millard Fillmore into the Elite Eight.

But then, Honest Abe stumbles. Ulysses S. Grant emerges with a 30-rack of Natty.

It’s a Union matchup of epic stakes, and the deadlock breaks because you know Lincoln would spend the entire time texting and trying to console an angry Mary Todd. Grant goes through to the Final Four.

The Best Of Times And The Worst Of Times (1889-1953) Teddy Roosevelt eviscerates his side of the bracket, burying Grover Cleveland and William Howard Taft, who DQ’d after falling in a snowbank (no Life Alert). In the Elite Eight, he meets and destroys his cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Bull Moose lives for snow days—there’s not a board game he won’t play or a cookie he won’t eat.

Cold War Kids And Modern Day (1953-2015) You can rule out Dwight D. Eisenhower on general grumpiness and communist paranoia immediately. Richard Nixon will get you arrested. That paves John F. Kennedy’s route to the Elite Eight after he sidesteps Lyndon B. Johnson purely on charm.

Ronald Reagan vs. George H.W. Bush— bros everywhere gawk at the magnitude of this Republican matchup. The battle decides itself—Bush decides he’d rather go fishing in the Florida Keys than endure the cold.

Reagan lights up a Chesterfield and smokes

his way past Jimmy Carter.

In the last arm of the bracket, George W. Bush’s loss to Bill Clinton cues up a Democrat duel: Clinton vs. Obama. Deep down, you know Obama would change the rules of Monopoly half way through. Clinton moves on, but gets too handsy and loses to Reagan.

JFK and Reagan duke it out for the final spot in the Final Four. JFK brings Marilyn Monroe and her friend with him. Camelot triumphs.

The Final Four Grant becomes belligerently drunk

and is yelling at the TV, but you suspect Jefferson is preparing to slander you tomorrow because you betrayed his truce on the Kamchatka-Alaska border. Jefferson mutters furiously over a notebook while Grant snores on the couch. You could use a nap, too. Grant to the finals.

Roosevelt is starting to drive you crazy.

The guy just won’t stop telling safari stories and complaining about Taft. Meanwhile, JFK disappeared into the bedroom with Monroe and her friend two hours ago.

Teddy snakes by.

Final Round Grant’s still asleep, you should probably check his pulse. On a whim, you introduce Roosevelt to the show Man vs Wild. Enraged, he declares “Bear Grylls is softer than that rogue Alton B. Parker!” and disappears into the snow, never to be seen again.

Grant wakes up with a burp and claims his crown, but no one really wins.

Connor Mellas is a senior staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at news@bcheights.com.

BRECK WILLS / HEIGHTS GRAPHIC

The Heights

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Monday, February 16, 2015

Cronin challenges students to date, have relationships in annual speech Cronin, from A1 they feel after hooking up, after having a ‘thing’ and then realizing the ‘thing’ didn’t go anywhere,” she said. “Because the problem is the feelings you thought you left at the door were never really left at the door. You just stuffed them down a little bit.”

Although her speech was briefly interrupted by the notification of the bomb threat, Cronin decided to continue her talk. After years investigating this issue, Cronin proceeded to regenerate her conclusion on the hook-up culture. She explained that, though many students are not actually participants, the number of people on campus who talk about hooking up is so large that it gives the

phenomenon power, and it creates this allure of acceptance and intrigue.

“It’s become a dominant social script here at BC,” Cronin said. “It’s become a thing that not everyone’s doing. In fact, I think a lot of people are opting out of hook-up culture here, but it’s definitely the thing that people talk about … I don’t expect you to change culture, I expect we all have to change culture together.”

Once each of the three groups had been tackled, Cronin offered those listening an alternative to the divide that has been created. Her pseudonym as the “Date Doctor of Boston College” derives directly from her advocacy of dating, which Cronin finds highly underplayed at BC, and this was just what the doctor ordered.

“A bunch of years ago, after listening to students talk about the way they were trying to resolve hook-up culture for themselves, I started assigning a date assignment in class,” Cronin said. “And now you have this dating assignment.”

Each person in the audience, regardless of gender, was prescribed the task of asking someone out on a date with specific rules. The individual had to ask another person of legitimate romantic interest out, in person. The person had to pay for the date and it had to be planned.

The date had to be during the day and needed to occur within two or three days of the asking, which had to be soon after the speech was over. Finally, the date had to be what Cronin referred to as a “Level One Date.”

“It’s 45 to 90 minutes long,” Cronin said. “If it’s going really well, I’d like for you to get out of there in 60 minutes.

Because in 60 minutes you’re still interesting. No one is interesting after three hours.”

Among the rest of the rules of Level One dating, there was no alcohol allowed and no physical interaction, with the exception of an A-framed hug. After this explanation, Cronin then told the members of crowd that they would need to write a reflection of the date and email it to her explaining how they asked the person out, how they planned the date, and how they picked the individual. She said the rules were important for a successful outcome, explaining that after going on these type of dates, 99 percent

of the reflections she reads desire more of them.

“You get to say who you really are,” Cronin said. “You get to ask for somebody to look at you and see who you are, not just who they saw at a party … But to actually see who you are and what you want to reveal to them, and that is what I’m asking you to try.”

Leaving the students with her dating assignment, Cronin said that it was not really about romance, but rather that it is mostly about courage. She noted how on a campus where hook-up culture is so prominent, sitting down face-to-face with another individual, sharing interests with them, and exposing vulnerability can be intimidating and scary. Cronin dared each BC student to be brave. n

Arthur Bailin / Heights Editor

Foreign affairs: BC student’s impressions of Jordan amid regional tension Brittany Keroack

Pulling into Logan Airport, I was nervous for my flight across the globe to begin my study abroad adventure. I said goodbye to my family and set off through security. Twenty-four travel hours later, I arrived in Amman, Jordan and knew that this was going to be a different study abroad experience.

After stepping out of Queen Alia Airport into a cloud of smoke, walking past Muslims praying in the street, and zipping down the highways with seemingly no road rules, we arrived at a local hotel to begin orientation.

During this introduction to Jordan, we were warned not only about the taxi drivers who will attempt to swindle more dinars out of unknowing Americans, but also about the intense sexual harassment women have been known to encounter.

Culture shock was setting in quickly

and we hadn’t even left the hotel. I was afraid I had made a mistake coming to the Middle East. In addition to adjusting to life in Jordan, I also was meeting all the people in my program for the first time because I am the only student from Boston College here for this semester.

On Jan. 23, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died. Saudi Arabia is a powerful country in the region, and every television station in Jordan was discussing his death since the Jordanian royal family is originally from the area of the holy cities in Saudi Arabia.

King Salman was named as Abdullah’s successor, and life was beginning to go back to normal. But then came the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

On Feb. 3, ISIS released a video showcasing the Jordanian pilot, who was taken hostage in December of 2014 after his plane went down in Syria during an airstrike, being burned alive.

ISIS will seemingly stop at nothing to achieve its goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate.

Typically, jihadists, as ISIS members are usually labeled, do not kill other Muslims to proselytize Islam, and killing Lt. Moath al-Kasasbeh has made it clear to Muslims, especially Jordanians, that ISIS is a much bigger threat to Islam.

Jordan had been negotiating with ISIS since his capture and was willing to trade the Jordanian hotel bomber, Sajida alRishawi, for him, but the country wanted definitive proof that he was alive before making the trade.

Instead, the Jordanian public received a gruesome video of his death, and in response, Jordan executed Sajida along with two other captured members of al-Qaeda.

Unsure how ISIS was going to respond, I began to feel truly afraid for the first time here. Angered by the murder, Jordanians began to protest. Middle East-

ern protests have a tendency to become violent, and both our program and the U.S. Embassy warned us not to go near protests and not to go out unnecessarily.

There was a large protest in Amman on Friday after evening prayers, and many more across the country, which, fortunately, were primarily peaceful and directed against ISIS. This event has been a large discussion point domestically, as every channel has been broadcasting Lt. al-Kasasbeh’s life, and also internationally, as President of the United States Barack Obama asked Congress for the use of force against ISIS. Even though this terrible event has occurred, however, I have not felt unsafe. There has been a heightened police presence, and people have become united against ISIS. From my experience of daily life, Jordanians have been extremely welcoming and willing to help, even when our Arabic is less than stellar. They

are passionate about who they are and want to see security in their nation.

Anyone who has studied the Middle East can tell you that identity politics is a major issue in the region. Ethnicity is one of people’s main identities, and many are discriminated against—particularly Palestinians.

From what I have learned from these protests, however, no matter where a person is originally from, everyone can rally around the idea that ISIS needs to be finished.

Queen Rania, a Palestinian, made this idea extremely clear when she led the main protest holding a picture of Lt. al-Kasasbeh.

Even though the Queen is Palestinian, and the pilot was from an influential tribe in Karak, she knew that this event affected all in the Arab world, not just Jordanians.

Banners that hang throughout the city read, “We are all Jordanian,” and for the next three months, I am too.

he said, she said

Who pays on a date?

Ryan Daly

In the beginning, whoever asks pays. So, if the guy asks the girl on the first date, he pays. If he asks her again, he pays. If he asks her again, the guy should consider whether or not the girl is just being nice and saying yes to him, or if she’s just lazy and using him for free food and movies. If the girl asks the guy on the date, she pays. (Change the use of “guy” and “girl” in the previous statements, and all of the following statements to fit your inclinations.) Since it is more common for the guy to ask the girl on the first couple of dates, then the guy will usually be the one paying in the beginning. Whomever is asked on the date should resist from trying to get the other person to let him or her pay or contribute, and just let that person pay.

Simple.

As the relationship progresses and becomes more serious, things should be split equally between the individuals. Relationships are two equal people engaging in something together, so paying for meals and such should be the same way. There will always be outlying situations, in which the guy might demand to pay for something and the girl might demand to pay for something, and the significant other should let the person have it. Problems only come up when one demands to pay for something all of the time and never gives the other person a chance to pay. Also, as a sidenote, I think it is a little off-putting when the girl expects the guy to pay for everything.

Too much time is spent fretting about who should pay for what on dates. Follow the instructions above, and make it easier on yourself.

Spend less time arguing about money, and spend more time actually looking at the other person, talking about important things that have some kind of emotional fulfillment and not some arbitrary value (and there it is, my hopeless romantic plug. Hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day, you lonely bastards).

Ryan Daly is an editor for The Heights. He can be reached at opinions@bcheights.com.

It’s the first date: everything has been going well, the conversation has been great, the food you haven’t touched was kind of good, this guy is maybe cute and seems normal … and then the bill comes.

It’s so awkward—the waiter tries to cordially decide whom to hand the check to, the two in question fumble to retrieve their wallets, weird glances are exchanged all around, credit cards are taken out, before one brave soul finally mumbles, “Oh, I got it.” First dates can be awkward enough, not even taking into consideration the age-old question of who the hell pays. Does the guy pay? Isn’t that the way things usually go? Wait, I’m a feminist—do I pay? When did the check for date in the North End become an issue of women’s rights?

Should I call the Uber? Where does Venmo come into play?

A lot of these questions really depend on the context of the situation. If it’s a first date, I do think that the guy should pay. In most cases, the guy actually wants to pay. Adamantly refusing this courtesy can come across as impolite, and most of the guys that I’ve talked to find it harsh or annoying. Ladies, if the guy you are on a date with earnestly wants to pay for the dinner that he invited you to, it’s not the end of the world—this is not a victory for the patriarchy, and you are not seceding all of your rights as a woman. This small act of chivalry does not negate the work of the entire women’s right movement. Let’s all just calm down a little.

In the context of a long-term relationship, however, I think it’s up to the couple to decide what works for them. I think it’s unreasonable and a little unfair to assume that the guy will always pay for everything.

As with anything in a relationship, it’s a give and take. I don’t think it’s necessary to make rigid boundaries wherein both parties must always equally split everything, but I do think it’s healthy for there to be some variation with which both feel comfortable.

Arielle Cedeno is an editor for The Heights. She can be reached at news@bcheights.com.

Arielle Cedeno

THE HEIGHTS

Monday, February 16, 2015

A5

Not enough is good enough MICHELLE TOMASSI

Eagle Date NAME: Josh Behrens YEAR: A&S ’18 Residence: Fitzpatrick

NAME: Lauren Clendennen YEAR: CSON ’17 Residence: 66

HEIGHTS: What did you order?

HEIGHTS: What did you order?

JOSH: I ordered a burrito bowl.

LAUREN: I got a quesadilla.

HEIGHTS: What did you talk about?

HEIGHTS: What did you talk about?

JOSH: We talked a lot about what we do at Boston College, the difference between here and our home states, and the crazy weather lately.

LAUREN: We covered the basics: where we’re from, what our majors are, what clubs we are involved in, and then we talked a lot about traveling and what cultures we are interested in.

HEIGHTS: How would you describe the overall feel of the date?

JOSH: I would say it felt very comfortable and fun—it was light hearted, not too serious.

HEIGHTS: Would you go again?

HEIGHTS: How would you describe the overall feel of the date?

LAUREN: It was very laid back; and it was all about getting to know each other.

HEIGHTS: Would you go again?

JOSH: I would go again.

HEIGHTS: What was your favorite thing about your date?

JOSH: My favorite thing was getting to know someone new that I probably would have never met otherwise.

LAUREN: Yes. HEIGHTS: What was your favorite thing about your date?

LAUREN: He laughed at my joke—something nobody else will do.

English professor discusses race dialogue in new book

BY MADELEINE LOOSBROCK Heights Staff In the wake of the Ferguson protests, conversation regarding race increased significantly. According to Min Hyoung Song, a professor within the English department at Boston College, society tends to avoid these important conversations, and this avoidance could ultimately hinder its ability to confront and solve challenges such as sustainability and wealth inequality. Song addresses this in his most recent publication The Children of 1965: On Writing, and Not Writing, as an Asian American.

His work received an Alpha Sigma Nu Award, which recognizes excellence in publishing in the humanities.

In his book, Song explores an emerging generation of young Asian-American writers and how they are pushing against the ways American society thinks and talks about race.

One of Song’s greatest concerns is what he considers a societal failure to address prominent racial challenges.

“I feel that right now many very wellintentioned people avoid talking about race altogether because it seems like one is always in the wrong somehow when one does,” Song said in an email.

Although his work sparks conversation regarding all ethnicities, Song concentrates his work on Asian-Americans.

For almost every year he has been at BC, Song has taught Introduction to AsianAmerican Literature.

The Children of 1965 seeks to prove how Asian-American writers in particular are contributing to open and creative conversations regarding race and society.

“Asian-Americans haven’t been known for their writing,” Song stated in an interview with University Libraries at Boston College. “They’ve been known for math or science but not really for creative writing.”

In the mid-1990s, this reputation for Asian-Americans began to change as a new generation of Asian-American writers surfaced and began to push the

previous boundaries of those who preceded them, according to Song. Many of these writers are children of Asian individuals who came to the United States after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was implemented.

This Act opened many doors for Asians as they were offered a wealth of new opportunities in America, and consequently, it allowed for new creative angles through which Asian-American writers could flourish.

In writing this book, Song pushes against the thought that race is always delimiting. In fact, he argues that such delimiting can foster creativity.

“One is often most creative when one has to be,” Song continued. “That is, how one does something ordinarily is blocked, and so one has to come up with a different way to do something.

That’s creativity: the doing [of ] something different.”

According to Song, an author’s race undoubtedly creates expectations and challenges in his or her writing. Not all ethnic writers choose to recognize these racial expectations.

Many do, however, inevitably affecting the writing that is produced.

“Writers who find that their race saddles them with all sorts of expectations about the kind of books they will write, what their worth will be, and so forth are faced with a formidable obstacle,” Song explained. “And the existence of this obstacle forces such writers to do something different with their writing.”

This different kind of writing is what Song explores more deeply in his book as he delves into the influence of race.

“I’ve become more and more interested in trying to make sense of how our concerns with race and class in particular can be put into dialogue with questions about how we relate to the physical world around us,” Song said.

His book explores changing demographics, worsening inequality, and persistent racism as well as environmental concerns. According to Song, to be influential, a writer does not have to

recognize his or her ethnicity outwardly.

Some of the authors discussed in The Children of 1965 choose to highlight ethnicity, while others choose to discount it.

“I don’t think it really matters whether a writer embraces ethnicity or not,” Song continued. “Writers are already going to be affected by who they are, and how others see them. They really don’t have a choice.”

Their race, whether they embrace it or not, influences their writing and the types of messages they send to readers.

Song refers to this “color blind thinking” as dangerous and outdated: Instead, he encourages society to find a way to

open up, rather than fear, conversations about race.

In The Children of 1965, Song hopes to show readers what these influential Asian-American writers have been contributing to this idea.

“The failure to talk candidly, and creatively, about race may prevent us from addressing even more pressing issues like the environment and extreme wealth inequality,” Song said. “We need to find ways to talk about race, and to address more directly and with greater courage how a history of white supremacy continues to leave an ugly mark on the way we live our lives today.” 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIN HYOUNG SONG

Professor Min Hyoung Song discusses issues of race for Asian-Americans in his latest book.

I anxiously waited in line, clutching my copy of Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home while contemplating the perfect way to introduce myself. Hand shake or no hand shake?

Should I ask her a question about the book?

Or just compliment her endlessly? “Thank you so much for coming, Alison (or Ms. Bechdel?). I’m such a fan of your work.”

Nah, too cliche. Obviously I’m a fan of her work—why else would I be here?

These are the questions I asked myself last Wednesday night, after cartoonist Alison Bechdel presented as part of the Lowell Humanities Series. Bechdel is known for her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, in which she coined a rule about gender bias in film and fiction, now known as the Bechdel Test. A film that passes the Bechdel Test must fulfill three criteria: it has two female characters, who talk to each other, about something besides a man. She has also published two graphic memoirs, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic and Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama. Most recently, she was awarded a 2014 MacArthur Foundation “genius grant.” You can see why I was struggling to find the right words.

Not only was I about to meet a writer/ artist who I admired, but this was also the first time I’ve ever had a book signed by a published author—a personal victory. I have listened to plenty of writers as part of the University’s Lowell series, but last Wednesday was the first time I had actually read and owned a book written by the speaker.

The Lowell series is one my favorite set of events that the University offers, but it can be frustrating at times. As a self-proclaimed lover of words, it’s hard for me to attend all of these lectures by various writers without having read their work. I go for the experience, for the words of advice, for the occasional writing jokes—but I can’t help but feel as though I’m a fraud at some of these lectures. If I’m not a true fan of their work—as I asked myself at Bechdel’s lecture—then why else would I be there?

This fear of not being “well-read” enough translates to many other moments of my college experience. It happens during class, when the professor poses a question to the class, and I don’t feel smart enough or brave enough to give my own response. It happens when I’m applying for post-grad jobs (shudder), and I don’t feel qualified enough for various positions. It even happens among friends—some of them will be intensely debating a topic, and I just don’t have enough knowledge to contribute anything. I can’t help but define myself by the people around me, and these moments lead me to ask myself: Why am I really here?

Surprisingly, Bechdel also had her “not enough” moments. At Wednesday’s talk, a projector stood at the corner of the room, onto which Bechdel showed her college lit essays (with lots of red pen markings and grades ranging from C’s to B’s) and rejection letters from various publishing companies.

Bechdel admitted that she may not be the best writer or the best cartoonist, but when she puts her words and images together, that’s when the magic happens. Bechdel’s story made me realize: we tend to focus too much on being great at everything, instead of combining the skills we do have—no matter how “not good enough” they may seem individually—in order to create something truly amazing. I may not speak up all the time, and my knowledge may be lacking, and I may not be well read. But I listen well, and I read well, which allows me to write—and that, my friends, is why I’m here.

As I stood in line on Wednesday, I was reminded why I’m at Boston College—to be among others who love words (and the people who create them) just as much as I do. I’ll admit that my “not enough” conscience threatened to surface: I was proud to own my copy of Fun Home, but it seemed meager in comparison to the person in front of me holding three of Bechdel’s books. For once, I didn’t let it get to me. Bechdel’s talk had renewed my confidence, and I was ready to make an insightful remark as she signed her name in my book.

“Is this for you?” she asked me, as I handed over the book without a word. I nodded and smiled—anything I had prepared completely escaped my mind. I told her my name, spelled with two l’s, not one.

“Ah, a traditional Michelle,” she said. “Yeah, I’m always suspicious of a Michele with one ‘L,’” I replied.

Alison Bechdel chuckled at my lame attempt at a joke. “Yup,” she said, handing my book back to me. “I’m right there with you.”

Michelle Tomassi is a member of The Heights’ senior staff. She can be reached at features@bcheights.com.

The Heights

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Editorials

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Thomas & Olivia for UGBC President, EVP

Each year, candidates for the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) offer an extensive list of platform items, ranging from convincingly tangible to regrettably vague. But this coming year, expectations for the leadership of our student government extend beyond the proverbial promise of new printers. Last semester, a series of high profile protests—grounded in criticism of the University—shook the infrastructure of a sleepy institution that had, in many ways, lost sense of social justice beyond the abstract. The high-profile resignation of UGBC executive vice president Chris Marchese also raised questions of institutional reform—in that case, of Boston College’s conduct system.

Thomas Napoli, A&S ’16, and Olivia Hussey, A&S ’17, have demonstrated a strong commitment to working with administrators toward change of BC’s most contentious policies. As chairman of UGBC’s Institutional Policy Review committee, Napoli has actively sought the opinions of students and faculty, embodying a pragmatic style of leadership sometimes lacking in UGBC’s self-concerned politics. His collaborative style of work with the Office of the Dean of Students in rewriting BC’s student guide has been promising, especially considering last semester’s concern that administrators could be overpowering UGBC’s advocacy work. Hussey’s interest on improving campus climate on sexual assault and working with the Women’s Center similarly marks her as a reformer. Napoli and Hussey have proven themselves the right choice for UGBC president and executive vice president, respectively, in the 2015-16 academic year.

The merits of the other two teams should not be overlooked—this 2015 election is unusual that all three options, if elected, could sufficiently fill UGBC’s highest offices. The team of Cassidy Gallegos, LSOE ’16, and Michael Keefe, A&S ’16, showcase an impressive background both inside and outside the UGBC community, which adds credibility to its platform. While both have been UGBC senators—which has allowed them to form strong connections with members of the administration, especially in the Office of First Year Experience (FYE)—Gallegos has involved herself greatly in student initiatives relating to mental health and Keefe has spent the last year running EagleMUNC. Gallegos would be a fantastic leader in continuing the necessary reevaluation of campus attitudes on mental well-being.

Some central items of their platform, however, would likely prove problematic in execution, including their proposed freshman year mentoring program, in which all freshmen who apply would get paired with what would need to be massive pool of qualified upperclassmen mentors. Their plan to block out a period during the day exclusively for student programming is similarly oversized in scale, and if enacted, could further exacerbate the scheduling conflicts student-athletes, PULSE volunteers, and nursing students have in picking classes around other commitments.

Coming from a background entirely apart from UGBC, the team of James Kale, II, LSOE ’16, and Jose Altomari, A&S ’16, has shown an exceptional effort in learning the ins and outs of the organization over the last few weeks. And more

importantly, they have brought to the election an extensive list of concrete student concerns that should be addressed by UGBC regardless of the election outcome. Both candidates have a sense of small things that can be done to remove barriers that undergraduates encounter, with proposals including the creation of gender-neutral bathrooms and the expansion of dining options to be more inclusive to all students, as well as being respectful of the nuance of cultural dishes. Their platform is also directed toward larger monetary issues on campus—the Kale-Altomari proposal stresses the importance of giving prepaid Charlie cards to those in the Lynch School of Education and Connell School of Nursing for their mandatory practicums and clinical trips into the city. One of the strongest points of the Kale-Altomari plan is a proposed increase in diversity of faculty, which would start with the hiring process and hope to eventually increase the feeling of inclusion among students of all backgrounds at BC. In implementing many of these changes, however, their platform lacks concrete ideas for where much of their funding for initiatives like new printers and reduced prices for laundry would come from. The Kale-Altomari ticket falls short in that the steps required to execute their broadly-focused plan mostly have yet to be hashed out. They offer a range of valid critiques of the status quo, but do not offer organize their goals beyond classifications of attainability. While “easy,” “medium,” and “hard” are instructive in thinking of objectives, Kale and Altomari will need to win the support of others in UGBC to live up to their platform, which will be difficult if there is not a sense of continuity in their goals.

The Napoli-Hussey team’s 42page platform offers detailed plans for implementing proposed policy goals—at the document’s forefront is a comprehensive free speech and expression policy. This proposal ambitiously suggests that the landscape of campus be redesigned physically to better allow for student activism. Napoli and Hussey hope this visible change will complement a more liberal, transparent policy on the approval of campus events, flier postings, and protests.

Napoli’s policy work on student rights over the last two semesters is the cornerstone of his team’s platform. Whether it is the rethinking of free expression or the student conduct system, this thread links together what otherwise might appear unrelated goals. Napoli and Hussey have taken extraordinary time to meet with students from organizations around campus, and in the process, they have aligned their agenda with the lived experiences of students from a range of backgrounds. Their proposals are also well-researched, benchmarked with successful policies and initiatives found in University across the country. It is our hope that if elected, they will continue to look outward, and recognize the clear limitations of developing ideas within our student government. If executed well, the ambitious agenda set by Napoli and Hussey could solidify UGBC’s transition into a powerful student advocacy organization.

It is for these reasons that we enthusiastically endorse Napoli and Hussey.

The views expressed in the above editorials represent the official position of The Heights, as discussed and written by the

Editorial Board. A list of the members of the Editorial Board can be found at BCHeights. com/opinions.

Heights

The

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 John Wiley, Editor-in-Chief Chris Stadtler, General Manager Maggie Powers, Managing Editor

Monday, February 16, 2015

Editorial

Magdalen Sullivan, Copy Editor Julie Orenstein, A1 Editor Carolyn Freeman, News Editor Michael Sullivan, Sports Editor Corinne Duffy, Features Editor Ryan Dowd, Arts & Review Editor Bennet Johnson, Metro Editor Ryan Daly, Opinions Editor Arthur Bailin, Photo Editor Joy Li, Layout Editor

“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”

-Tyler Durden, from Fight Club

Francisco Ruela / Heights Graphic

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to the newspaper.

Submissions must be signed and should include the author’s connection to Boston College, address, and phone number. Letters and columns can be submitted online at www.bcheights.com, by email to editor@bcheights.com, in person, or by mail to Editor, The Heights, 113 McElroy Commons, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467.

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THE HEIGHTS

Monday, February 16, 2015

A7

High expectations for friends and love

JULIA BOGIAGES

HAVING SCHOOL MONDAY - We feel like putting this in here could be a jinx, but we have faith that the snow will keep itself away by the time this issue lands on campus.

This is bloody brilliant because Saturday classes has actually just been identified as a threat, and we will have nothing of that sort happening. The first full week in four weeks—it should be interesting to see how it’s going to feel. We have a feeling longer than usual, but it will make more sense than a snow day where we wake up at one in the afternoon, stumble around our dorm for a while, look at the snow out our window, watch disgusting amounts of Netflix, and then go back to bed. Anything is better than that.

HOUSE OF CARDS - We had absolutely no idea that the release of season three was sneaking up so close. We have so much other crap to do all day that when got a text message saying “Can you believe they leaked all of the episodes already?” we were like, “Wait … what?” Sure, they weren’t leaked for long, and we didn’t get to see anything, but it’s just a little over 10 days now when we get back and see Kevin Spacey deliver another chilling performance as Frank Underwood. What’s so great about a show like this? Bad people never actually win at anything—it’s just about how long they can keep their balance on the house they precariously built. And that’s what we’re watching here—bad people struggle to stay bad. Quick, grab a beer and go watch the teaser online.

To quote one of my professors, the feast day of misery and pain arrived this past weekend.

That’s right, this Saturday was Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day brings many things, depending on who you are and how you view it. It can bring anticipation and joy of spending time with your significant other.

It can bring pressure to plan the perfect date. It can bring a painful reminder of your single status. It can bring the opportunity to remind those you love in your life just how much you love them.

This year, however, Valentine’s Day brought something else to Boston College: Kerry Cronin. Last Tuesday, the week before this fateful holiday, Professor Cronin assigned her Perspectives I class her dating assignment.Yes, the dating assignment.

The assignment seems simple enough—at its core, she assigns extra credit to her students who ask someone, in person, out on a date. It’s a Level One date, which means that it is 45 to 90 minutes at a location that makes you both comfortable and is reasonable for a Level One date (so no fancy dinners in the North End). This date is a lot of reconnaissance work, and has to strike a balance between getting too deep (“How many kids do you want?”) and staying too shallow (“Where are you from again?”). Yet this assignment only seems simple. It is not easy to ask someone out in person—to look directly at that person and say, “I would like to go on a date with you because I like you and want to get to know you better.” It is not easy to be vulnerable with someone—especially someone you don’t really know—even if it’s only for a few seconds.

The assignment comes with a lot of what-

CHRISTOPHE BERNIER

THE CHOCOLATE BAR BEING CLOSED ON SUNDAYS - We wake up on Sundays morning, and Fuel America is so far away, but we still need our coffee. Why does this school think that we don’t need caffeine on the weekends? Our days of rest are never actually restful.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY - The movie made a lot of money at the box office this weekend, which just goes to show that consumers will pay money to anything that gets the slightest bit of publicity, even something with a man stalking a girl until he can have sex with her and then get her to submit to some crazy bondage abuse. Like, really, that’s the plot of Fifty Shades of Grey. Can you believe that?

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But that is part of the purpose of this assignment. To push students out of their comfort zone.

Harvard professor and psychologist Robert Rosenthal examined how teacher expectations affect student performance.

To do so, he gave students a test that he said would identify the students with a bright intellectual future.

However, he lied: the test he actually gave the students was a regular IQ test, and the students that were distinguished by the test to have a bright intellectual future were, in fact, chosen at random.

But neither the students nor teachers knew this—the teachers still expected the students that Rosenthal identified to be on the verge on an intense, intellectual boom. And this impacted the student’s IQ. “If teachers had been led to expect greater gains in IQ, then increasingly, those kids gained more IQ.,” Rosenthal said. The teachers’ high expectations for these

students made the latter perform better.

When someone has high expectations for you, you perform better. When someone has high expectations of you, you become better. A person who expects a lot from you recognizes that you are capable of greatness and is not afraid to push you to achieve it. Ben Affleck was this person for Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.

Matt Damon, a mathematical genius, has the option to escape his current situation of working as a low-level janitor.

Yet, he wants to stay in South Boston with his friend Ben and continue the life he has lived so far. “Look, you’re my best friend,” Ben says, “so don’t take this the wrong way, but if in 20 years you’re still living here, coming over to my house to watch the Patriots game, still working in construction, I’ll f—king kill you.” When Matt protests and says he doesn’t want to use his talents, Ben continues. “You don’t owe it to yourself. You owe it to me … I’d do f—king anything to have what you got. It would be an insult to us if you’re still hanging around here in 20 years.” Ben sees greatness in Matt.

He sees in Matt the potential to do important things in the world and to be a better person. And Ben is not going to let Matt give up on himself without trying first. Ben is both willing to push Matt to take the first step, and support him on his journey.

A person like Ben cannot do the actual work for you. An assignment like the dating assignment cannot force you to actually undertake the challenge. These motivators will not be the sole reason for your success, but they can be the tipping point. If you can find these motivators and mentors—a person who is unafraid to push you to do better things and become a better person, because they recognize the potential in you and know you can do it—never let them go.

Julia Bogiages is a staff columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at opinions@ bcheights.com.

On choosing homosexuality

ALL THE VASES OF ROSES WE GOT ON VALENTINE’S DAY - Just kidding.

ANOTHER BLIZZARD - Enough already, please. We’re trying to live our lives and you show up every other moment. Soon enough it’s going to be April and May and we’re afraid that you won’t be all gone by then. We’ll still be taking finals in the snow. So please, pretty please, go away.

ifs: what if you can’t find someone to ask?

What if they hate the location you want to go to? What if they hate you? What if they say no? What if they say yes? But that is part of the purpose of this assignment. To push students out of their comfort zone and to do something they have never had the chance to do. To encourage students to be vulnerable and open with someone they may never have otherwise interacted with at that level. To move students to take on a challenge and, just in the effort to complete this task, to have them succeed.

The assignment has high expectations for the students who choose to undertake this project, which can be intimidating. The possibility of failure is terrifying and the path of not trying all the more appealing.

But when someone has high expectations of you, this can make you perform better. In a study conducted in 1964,

Meet Mike Huckabee: 2016 GOP hopeful, former governor of Arkansas, and former pastor. In one of his latest statements, he said that being gay “is akin to choosing to drink alcohol or use profanity.” He also managed to fit “Jew” and “bacon-wrapped shrimp” in the same sentence, which surely is worthy of mention. I don’t usually pay attention to outspoken homophobes like Huckabee. If I did, I wouldn’t have time to do much else. I usually laugh, to be quite honest. Not because I think it’s funny, but more because I think it’s ridiculous. But as I read through his comments, I actually realized that this guy might be screaming something immensely important, but no one is listening. Everyone is too busy laughing. What if he is right? Is homosexuality a choice? I never stopped to consider it, because it’s simply so unthinkable to me.

But after really thinking about it, I came to a different conclusion. I was wrong. I was wrong to laugh at these men and women, because they are right. Homosexuality is a choice. But it has nothing to do with genes or biology or any science really. It has to do with the society we live in.

Imagine a young high school boy, 16 years old, and gay. But he hasn’t told anyone yet. He hasn’t told his mother, father, best friend, or even his dog.

His most recent Internet searches have been about coming out—how to, whom to, when to. He’s scared out of his mind.

He’s scared of rejection. He’s scared of disappointing his right-leaning father.

He’s scared people will think less of him.

Every day he switches from, “I’m going to do it,” to, “There’s no way in hell I’m going through with this.”

This goes on for what seems like an eternity. He can’t think of anything else. He realizes that once he decides to do it, there’s no going back.

Does this situation sound foreign or unimaginable? I hope not. That’s what probably every single gay teenager goes through before coming out, if they do it. As a straight man, I’ll never truly understand.

I can simply imagine. So many decisions he has to make. Whether or not to accept who he is, whether or not to listen to politicians like Huckabee, whether or not to come out, and again, whether or not to accept himself as a gay man, what he’s going to do when people laugh at him at school.

Because it’s a choice.

And it’s one of the hardest choices a homosexual will have to do in his or her lifetime.

The list goes on. The saddest part about this story—about all the stories—is they don’t all finish with an open closet. Actually, a lot of people never go through with it, and live on their lives.

We live in a society where living a life of lies and denial is actually preferable to being openly gay. Now can you honestly say homosexuality isn’t a choice?

I know the science, I know how genes work, and you probably know a bit of it too.

But that doesn’t really change anything. It’s one thing to be sexually attracted to the same sex, but it’s another to be a homosexual individual.

The former consists of chemical reactions happening in the brain. The latter, though, is

more social and anthropological.

Being homosexual implies an acceptance of the self, an acceptance of the person that you are. If a woman lives her own life hiding her homosexuality, is she really homosexual?

I know she’s attracted to women and she fits the Webster definition, but she’s not allowing herself to be herself. If it is contained within her and never shared, never let out, never accepted, does it even exist? Let’s face it: She has to choose to accept it. Because it’s a choice. And it’s one of the hardest choices a homosexual will have to do in his or her life.

How is that even remotely acceptable? How have so many barriers been put between coming out and living a lie? If you think I’m exaggerating, look beyond your inner circle, beyond college, beyond your state.

The United States itself, the land of freedom and opportunity, is plagued by hatred and denial. When people say that homosexuality is a choice, they’re proving their own statement. Just the fact that it is common spread “opinion” proves that homosexuals have to choose to be whom they really are. The worst part is, it becomes truer every time anyone says it.

Every time someone claims that “gays choose to be gay,” they are making it more and more of a reality. And not just those words, but so much that we do. To consider all that we do to add to that burden of decision is simply scary to me. It should be to you, too, and to all of us.

So this is for you, Mike Huckabee. I sympathize with you, for no one listens to what you have to say. No one believes you.

But you’re right, Mike. You are so terribly, awfully right.

In the hopes that we one day prove the scientists right.

Christophe Bernier is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at opinions@bcheights.com.

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Email opinions@bcheights.com for more information.

The opinions and commentaries of the staff columnists and cartoonists appearing on this page represent the views of the author or artist of that particular piece, and not necessarily the views of The Heights. Any of the columnists and artists for the Opinions section of The Heights can be reached at opinions@bcheights.com.

The legend of Mr. Williams

JOHN MIOTTI Integrity is a word we hear all too often, a principle revered in our society, whether it is used to refer to athletes, politicians, corporate executives, students, or, in this case, news anchors. Perhaps integrity is so widely cherished because we live in a world where the quality seems nearly impossible to find. Turning to examples of Ponzi-schemes, steroid use, plagiarism, or bribery, it is easy to see the corruption that has become deeply integrated into everyday life. Although we are conscious of these instances of dishonesty, we are still culturally shocked to learn when persons of presumed integrity have been cheating the system–a shock I felt when I first heard about the Brian Williams scandal. On Jan. 30, 2015, Brian Williams “misrepresented” (according to NBC) the events that occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. Williams had falsely claimed for years that he had been in a helicopter hit by a grenade while reporting overseas. Instead, a nearby helicopter had been hit and Williams’ crew was forced to make an emergency landing as a consequence of the attack. The account, however misconstrued, has put significant pressure on Williams, who was recently suspended for six months without pay from NBC. Although criticism of the incident seems largely reactive, Williams’ embellishment of the story has nonetheless pitted him in, what I like to call, NBC’s very own “inflate-gate.”

Sure, the story’s inflation seems innocent enough given that Williams was present and endangered when the nearby helicopter was attacked. Yet the very incident has instigated an internal-fact checking investigation, questioning the legitimacy of various narratives throughout his career. Notably, the Huffington Post has pointed to one such narrative, inquiring about Williams’ claims of flying into Baghdad with SEAL Team Six. The issue I am concerned with, however, is not whether Williams should be fired or not, but rather, I am worried about the implications of a news anchor who believes he can bend the truth. In a world overflowing with violence, debate, and controversy, the media acts as intermediary, disseminating the most pressing information through an unbiased lens. While the system is not perfect and the neutrality of networks is at times ambiguous, the news remains a fundamental principle to the political structure of the United States. It calls attention to global and national events and provides a forum for conversations about reform. Especially when considering the foreboding surrounding the 2016 presidential elections, the media is needed to provide the background and political ideologies of our country’s future leaders—leaders that will undoubtedly affect the history of America. Whether the story be about war in the Middle East or what foods to eat, we depend on the media to provide accurate information. We are largely influenced by the news and therefore depend upon this accuracy so that we may develop factually concrete opinions. Without an honest media’s influence, how can we possibly hope to make the right decisions for the future of our communities and nation? Ultimately, the effectiveness of the press is rooted in both its transparency and integrity.

Most people, however, recognize that even the media is corrupt in its own respect and react to stories with some speculation.

Williams’ mistake could be seen as harmless, a slight exaggeration that changed nothing. Yet Williams is a news icon, a celebrity whose popularity makes him trustworthy.

The benefits of his popularity should subsequently increase his accountability, and any lie—no matter how small—must come under scrutiny. I am not arguing that Williams should be fired. But lying or “exaggerating the truth” sharply diminishes his credibility.

Inflating stories is useful when you want to talk about how crazy Friday night was or how badly you failed your stats test, but on national television, where the consequences of falsified stories become dangerous, lying cannot be tolerated. Williams’ actions also make me question how many other reporters have taken similar liberties with the truth. If we can no longer trust our news anchors, then the purpose of the media has therein failed. If the media has failed, then so too has the fortitude of our political system.

Integrity is a principle we all desire. Let’s make it a standard to live by.

John Miotti is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at opinions@ bcheights.com.

THE HEIGHTS

A8

Monday, February 16, 2015

Ca

UGBC Election Guide 2015

Student Life Create printing center on Lower

ssidy & M i k

Lobby for the creation of a non-academic, “student activities period” during the school day

Mental Health

Create Off-Campus Student Bill of Rights and lobby for “No More Than Four” Rule reform

Revamp “Be Conscious” blog to include programming initiatives with LGBTQ and AHANA

Implement UGBC-owned vacuum cleaners and expand swipe access within all residence halls

Provide mental illness education, training, and screening opportunities Lobby for increased University funding for University Counseling Services Mandate that mental health and selfcare training be provided to all RSO, RHA, and Orientation leaders

e

These are selections from each section of Cassidy and Mike’s platform. For the full platform, see: www. cassandmike.com

Additional Areas Diversity & Inclusion Outreach & Transparency Student-Athletes & Club Sports International & Transfer Students Women’s & Gender Issues Reactions to Free Speech Sustainability Academics

{“A Breath of Fresh Air”} 3

may take more than one year

2 1

1

Attainable and Realistic:

within first and second semester

Attainable and Realistic:

within first semester

Student Life

1

Provide communal vacuums in residential halls per 50 residents

2

Work with RSO to increase amount of funding and support for Montserrat students

3

Collaborate with BC Dining to bring Hillside and The Chocolate Bar back under meal plan

Advocate -Establish Free Speech and Expression Policy paired with physical campus change -Host IgnatianQ at BC -Improve A&S advising -Advocate for recruitment of additional AHANA and University Counseling Services staff -Hire VP of Diversity and Inclusion and lobby for inclusion of gender identity and expression in Title IX non-discrimination policy

Simplify housing process to prevent conflicts resulting from roommate reshuffling

-Raise awareness of sexual health, mental health, LGBTQ, and AHANA issues -Add additional routes to BC Shuttle Bus system -Increase awareness of and provisions for food allergies and dietary needs -Improve signage of changing accessibility routes on campus

-Create UGBC 101 and UIS fact sheets for freshmen and transfer students -Advocate for gender-neutral bathrooms to accommodate LGBTQ community -Increase printing and scanning accessibility in residence halls central locations -Make the Gold Pass more student friendly

“Including U in UGBC” These are selections from each section of James and Jose’s platform. For the full platform, see:

-Advocate for distribution of Charlie cards for Lynch (practicum) and CSON (clinical) students -Revamp EagleLink -Increase faculty and staff diversity through greater hiring and retention rates -Eliminate student fees for extracurricular activities after paying Student Activity fee

1

Break down and raise awareness of AHANA acronym meaning

2

Reform reporting system for hate crimes and biased offenses by implementing anonymity

3

w w w. vo t e jamesjose.com

Institutionalize “Dialogues on Race” and “Backgrounds” programs as academic credit courses

Improve

Unite -Establish HerBC Fund of $10,000 and create Women’s Caucus within Student Assembly -Spotlight sexual assault through “BC Unbreakable” and “4,000 in Solidarity” initiatives -Initiate dialogue and reflection on masculinity at BC -Create Mental Health Awareness Program similar to Bystander Training and host mental health week -Establish Culture Club Collaboration Fund -Institute EmbraceBC speaker series catered to freshmen

-Create “Party Rights” student guide to identification, search and seizure, and alcohol policies -Improve upon student-alumni network ease and accessibility -Extend dinner until 8:30 p.m. every night and late night until 2 a.m. during exams -Establish “What Club Are You?” survey to match students’ interests with applicable clubs -Install printers in main residential areas and increase printing hours on Newton and Upper -Enhance perception of UGBC within University community by providing transparency -Collaborate with CAB to publicize and expand upon Campus Voice -Host Executive Council member office hours in dining halls

Write and present proposal requesting physical campus modifications to VPSA and Board of Trustees

Dec. 20

Sept. 1 Nov. 1 Free-Speech and Expression Policy Timeline

Level Three

Diversity & Inclusion

James & Jose

Implement Free-Speech and Expression Policy from 2014-15 school year

“Back to Basics”

Create large-scale, low-key mentorship program for incoming freshmen

Level Two

Level One

Achievable in Longterm:

First-Year Experience

Host focus groups and conduct research on ways to increase on-campus dialogue, such as setting up poles by banners

Thomas &

Olivia

These are selections from each section of Thomas and Olivia’s platform. For the full platform, see: www.thomasandolivia2015.com

Sports

B1

Monday, February 16, 2015

Hot and Cold BC’s offense turned icy on Friday before coming alive on Saturday

just make up, was called off to the box for two minutes after tripping someone. Before I lose you with my new terminology, I’ll key you in on a couple of points.

“Chapter 2: Hockey Slang” Power Play: after a penalty when the penalized team loses a player for two minutes.

Faceoff: the resulting method to start the game again any time that the ball goes out of bounds, which sums up to a 1-on-1 battle for ball—I mean puck—control.

Hand Pass: using your hand to catch a flying puck and place it back on the ground.

For those of you who are wondering, yes, hands are allowed, but hugs are not.

Icing: similar to offsides, but when a player hits the puck across the mid-court line and past the goal without being touched by a player from the other team. This is resolved by a faceoff.

Shortly after, Vermont player Brady Shaw

See Texas Hockey, B3

See Column, B3

By Michael Sullivan

By Michael Sullivan

Sports Editor

Sports Editor

Don’t let the box score fool you. Only a glance over at Matthew Gaudreau can tell the real story.

The younger brother of last year’s Hobey Baker Award winner had his hands clenched throughout the second and third periods of 3 Vermont Friday’s game. He kept his elbows leaning on the edge 2 Boston College of the wall, arms upwards so that his head could rest on his fists. And he looked how most students do sitting through a 75-minute intro to microeconomics lecture: bored, uninterested, and wishing he was in the Mods or curled up with the ultimate bae, Netflix.

It’s hard to blame Gaudreau for feeling that way. So did most of the crowd.

In the first game of a two-game set against the No. 17 Vermont Catamounts (17-10-1, 9-7-1 Hockey East), the No. 10 Boston College Eagles (17-10-2, 10-6-2) looked hungover and sluggish. Although they fell in a “close” matchup—losing 3-2 in overtime—it really wasn’t ever much of a contest.

Throughout the game, Vermont executed more effectively than BC on offense, outshooting the Eagles 11-6 after the first, 24-11 through the second, and finishing overtime at 34-24. The Eagles consistently had trouble getting quality shots off, if they got any off at all—first liners Adam Gilmour and Zach Sanford didn’t.

Even more so, the Eagles simply looked slow on the ice Friday’s game, as if the zamboni hadn’t melted it well enough. BC’s forwards were lacking in their reaction time, either swinging through air, making errant shots, or not alertly receiving passes.

And for all the speed the Eagles lacked, the Catamounts came through—UVM looked right on point with each of its passes, getting off expertly timed shots on BC goaltender Thatcher Demko.

There’s an old episode of that famous thriller series from the 1960s entitled “The Parallel,” where an astronaut, Major Robert Gaines, crashes from his orbit around the Earth. When he lands, everyone calls him “Colonel,” his daughter doesn’t recognize him, and no one knows that John F. Kennedy is the 5 Vermont President of the United States.

6 Boston College Gaines realizes he’s fallen into a parallel universe, the likes of which he cannot recall how he came across nor how he can escape.

Everything about this eternal alternate world throws him into a fit of panic.

Boston College head coach Jerry York has felt trapped in this mystical world— The Twilight Zone—all season long. After leading the nation in scoring offense last year, the 2014-15 Eagles thrive on their defensive acumen. At times, the Eagles’ lack of offensive ability thoroughly haunts them, such as in the opening game of this weekend’s two-game set against the University of Vermont.

On Saturday afternoon, however, the Eagles briefly escaped this neverending hell to reclaim some of last year’s goal-scoring magic.

Less than a day after getting embarrassed by the No. 17 Catamounts (17-11-2, 9-8-1 Hockey East), the No. 10 BC men’s hockey team (18-10-2, 11-6-2 Hockey East) put on a clinic, matching its season-high offensive production in a 6-5 victory.

The Eagles teased Friday night in the early goings, putting some pressure on Vermont goalie Mike Santaguida before he stifled them for the much of the remainder of the game. Saturday, the Eagles received a plethora of scoring chances, many of which were the product of a little extra luck—luck that they lacked on Friday night.

“We got some opportunistic goals, some that [Santaguida] was screened on,” York said. “The power play clicked again for us, which has been a real work in progress

See Men’s Hockey, B2

See Men’s Hockey, B3

A Texan girl’s guide to the world of college hockey Mattie Mouton-Johnston Daring to venture from my sheltered Texan life, I travelled via the infamously slow T, participated in many snow ball fights, joined the notorious email list LAUSTIN, and ate a cannoli like a true Northeaster over the past semester. One experience I had yet to try was being a Hockey Superfan, which sounded like joining a cult. Determined to not be one of the girls who has no idea what’s going on in campus sports, I decided to take a trip to the Kelley Rink for the men’s hockey game between Boston College and the University of Vermont and see for myself whether hockey could live up to both the hype and to my expectations.

i nside S ports this issue

“Chapter 1: Things to Avoid Saying” Never call the puck “a ball” unless you’re looking for infinite shame, a moment that you will never live down, and the possibility of several dozen beverages being thrown at you by angry fans and their grandparents.

Apparently “controlling the ball” (even though you’re not supposed to call it a “ball”) is a more correct term than dribbling.

If you were wondering, the court is actually called the ice.

BC’s lineup looked strong (I think) with Zach Sanford, Adam Gilmour, and Alex Tuch starting as forwards, Ian McCoshen and Noah Hanifin on defense, with Thatcher Demko in goal. Only two minutes in, I witnessed my first penalty, which I would soon come to realize encompassed a range of body slams into the walls, belly flops onto the ice, and devised tackling, looking somewhat similar to the violent sport we call football. Scott Savage, whose name I did not

Women’s Hockey: BC sweeps Maine

The Eagles skated past the Black Bears for two easy wins at Kelley Rink....................B2

Michael Sullivan Ridiculous.

That’s the only word Boston College women’s hockey forward Kenzie Kent had to describe Alex Carpenter’s five-minute major penalty in the championship round of Women’s Beanpot between the Eagles and Harvard.

Normally, when a hockey player receives a five-minute major, it’s hard to argue. Majors often result from fighting or egregious minors, and its generally obvious when they should be enforced. On this particular play, BC’s superstar forward, Carpenter, hit Kalley Armstrong by pushing her arms forward and knocking the Crimson forward to the ice. Although replays show that Carpenter’s hit didn’t appear to have much force behind it—and thus was not worthy for a major—Armstrong fell hard.

The call? Body checking, something women’s hockey players cannot do whatsoever.

In the men’s game, however, players can check at will.

It seems odd that the only significant rule differentiating the male and female iterations of hockey relates to physicality. By including this distinction and denying women the ability to check, hockey’s governing body, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) discriminates against the women’s ability to handle a hard hit.

“It’d be one thing if we were playing against boys,” Kent said on Thursday. “With girls, we’re all on the same level, so it shouldn’t be as strict as they make it.”

This, in turn, makes women’s hockey more difficult to officiate, according to BC head coach Katie King Crowley. She believes that the lack of hitting in the women’s game “leaves a lot more grey area” for referees. It’s completely up to the refs discretion on what’s considered a flagrant hit, and thus worthy of either a minor or major penalty, rather than having more bythe-book examples like in the men’s game.

Women’s hockey formerly included checking. In the 1990 IIHF Women’s World Championships, European teams wanted to add checking to compete with the North American teams. In her book On the Edge: Women Making Hockey History, Elizabeth Etue wrote that these teams still couldn’t compete with North American teams because the players were stronger. Since North American players were bigger, they also never learned how to check properly. This led to a wealth of injuries, and the rule was changed in 1992.

Hayley Wickenheiser, a player for the Canadian women’s hockey team in 1998, told The Chicago Tribune that she, as well as several teammates, believes that checking should be allowed in the sport to give natural size advantages for certain players.

This debate on what women can handle physically extends beyond hockey—lacrosse and softball represent two other significant examples.

It would be unfair to analyze the discrepancies in physical rigor between softball and baseball, seeing as the two are completely different sports. But why is softball at the college level played for only seven innings—five innings in some cases— while baseball players get to play the full nine? This implies women can’t handle the full nine innings.

This extends even more to lacrosse, where aggressive stick checking and

Drew Hoo / heights editor | Arthur Bailin / Heights Editor

I talked to the head sports editor for The Heights, Michael Sullivan (AKA “Sully”), and he offered to accompany me to my first hockey game. Meeting me at the red-carpetlike entrance by Alumni Stadium Gate A, Sully gave me a press badge and my golden ticket to the game. I was ushered behind the scenes through the twists and turns of Kelley Rink to the media room, where we met Arthur, The Heights’ photographer. In a room filled with what looked like people who actually knew something about hockey, plus some actual athletes, I stood out as one of the few people who knew little about the upcoming game. While eating my fair share of popcorn, I listened to the boys chit-chat in what could have been a foreign language, but it was just sports talk.

As 7:30 rolled around, Sully and I headed up to the press box. With the help of my much more knowledgeable counterpart, I started preparing notes for my own version of College Hockey for Dummies.

Women’s rules out of touch

Lacrosse: Eagles win first game

No. 7 BC topped No. 17 Johns Hopkins behind three goals from Caroline Margolis..........B4

TU/TD...................................B2 Roundup......................... B4

THE HEIGHTS

B2

THUMBS UP THROWBACKS - In an attempt to hearken back to the glory days of the Big East, BC rocked gray, throwback jerseys against Syracuse, and we loved it. The cursive “Boston College” on the front was sleek, and we applaud any effort to out-gray our conference rivals.

GOALS  Over the weekend, men’s hockey scored eight goals in two games, highlighted by Tuch’s last-minute tally to bring the first game to overtime. After a tepid start to the season, the Eagles look to be regaining some offensive form. Even Ian McCoshen got in on the action, scoring twice on Saturday.

SPRING THINGS  While it may take a while before the birds are chirping and the sun is shining again, the baseball, softball, and women’s lacrosse seasons are underway. With a combined 10-5 record thus far, the spring season is already shaping up to be a good one.

THUMBS DOWN WINTER WEATHER  Another snowstorm pushed the men’s basketball game against Miami back another day. And at this rate, Shea Field is going to be wet for a long, long time.

America’s pastime just isn’t the same in the cold.

LACK OF EFFORT - Steve Addazio would be furious with men’s basketball for an embarresing and effortless end to the Syracuse game. The second half against the Orange exposed just how much the Eagles rely on mental toughness to stay in close games.

PURGATORY- We are slugging our way through February, which has been even more of a drag with the Beanpot loss. Far removed from college football, but still far away from playoff hockey and nice weather, February is no-man’s land. Only two more weeks, we can do this.

SPORTS in SHORT

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BC tops Maine, sweeps weekend series at Kelley

BY JOHN PUGH Heights Staff If the horn rang as much as the posts did, the Black Bears might have had time to catch up.

In their sec1 Maine ond meeting of 4 Boston College the weekend, Boston College (29-1-1, 19-0-0 Hockey East) and the University of Maine (10-163, 9-9-1 Hockey East) struggled to break a scoreless tie. But the Eagles ended the stalemate in considerable fashion, and continued their assault of Black Bear goaltender Meghann Treacy for a 4-1 win.

Despite a scoreless first period, the game was anything but even. BC dominated play from both ends of the ice, but kept the puck in its offensive zone for the majority of the first period.

After several unsuccessful runs up the middle of the ice, the Eagles played more established offense, keeping the pucks at the boards and the points where the majority of the night’s shots came from. While BC won

the game of possession, it still had nothing to show for it—the Eagles amassed 14 shots in the first frame but couldn’t slide any of them past Treacy.

That changed halfway through the second period, when junior Dana Trivigno brought the puck up the boards and made a SportsCenter-worthy move to get past the lone Maine defender. Instead of taking her own shot, she dropped the puck off to her linemate, Kate Leary, who drilled the puck into the net.

The next goal came from a point-hungry Alex Carpenter, who tallied a second goal for the Eagles just two minutes after Leary’s goal opened the scoring door. She added another in the third period. “They were pretty good plays from my linemates,” Carpenter said. “I got the easy part of just sliding them in.”

Carpenter is noted by her coaches as a team player and someone who gives credit where credit is due. She would probably agree that BC’s defense was a vital part of the win.

With eight blocked shots by the end of

the night, the Eagles’ defenders were keen on giving backup goaltenders Taylor Blake and Gabriella Switaj an easy night to mind the net. The two goaltenders faced just 13 shots between them, with the Black Bears’ Brooke Stacey scoring Maine’s only goal at 18:23 in the second period to make the game 3-1.

The Black Bears found more success at killing penalties than at scoring goals. Faced with five power plays and 10 combined minutes of 5-on-4 play, the Eagles could not score on the advantage.

“I feel like [the power play] has been struggling a bit,” BC coach Katie King Crowley said. “We get into the mentality of setting up a powerplay instead of attacking.” The Eagles firmly established a position in the offensive zone during power plays instead of outnumbering their opponents on the rush. They passed with ease and accuracy, but when it came time for a shot, the Maine defense was prepared.

“It has to get better,” Crowley said.

“We’re gonna have a lot of opportunities down the road and we’re going to need to

take advantage of them.”

BC also had some time to work on its penalty killing, after a pair of penalties from Trivigno gave Maine the chance to tighten the score. Trivigno was visibly upset following her first penalty, throwing her stick to the ground as she sat on the bench for two minutes.

“They play hard,” Trivigno said. “Sometimes it’s a little rough and you get a little frustrated. I have to do better to work on that, but hopefully next time I’ll be better.”

BC’s third period discipline notably improved since the end of January, but the real improvement came in the team’s view of Tuesday’s Beanpot Championship loss.

“We’re okay with having a loss on our record,” Crowley said. “You learn from a loss like that, and you have to know that every point in a game matters.”

The Eagles scored 10 goals and recorded a staggering 91 shots against the Black Bears over two days. Nearly 100 shots in two games is an incredible feat for any team, but for the Eagles, it’s just another reason why they’re number one. 

Lack of heart and toughness plagues BC in loss From Men’s Hockey, B1 Oddly enough, BC’s best offense came from several of the team’s lesser used players, through a makeshift line consisting of Austin Cangelosi, Destry Straight, and either Ryan Fitzgerald or Quinn Smith. The four combined for six shots, giving Vermont goalie Mike Santaguida his toughest tests of the night. The group’s hot streak extends back to each of the last two games— Fitzgerald and Straight `each had a goal in BC’s Beanpot opening round loss to Northeastern, while Cangelosi scored the game-winning goal in the Eagles victory over Merrimack last Friday.

Cangelosi continued that streak with a power play goal at 14:45 in the first, his fifth of the season. The goal knotted up the game at one in a first period largely dominated by the Vermont’s offensive weapons.

UVM’s Brady Shaw extended his team lead to 12 goals by putting the Catamounts up 1-0 after a power play at 6:09—sitting cleanly in front of the net without the knowledge of Demko, Shaw

received a smooth feed by Jake Fallon from the top of the right circle.

In the second, the Eagles’ special teams and goaltending haunted them. After 10 uneventful minutes, Ian McCoshen went to box for slashing.

One minute and 15 seconds later, Kevin Irwin lofted a soft shot on which Demko completely whiffed, allowing UVM to take 2-1 lead.

Here’s where the box score might deceive you: with 9.4 seconds left in the game, Alex Tuch knotted it all up with a goal passed Santaguida.

Noah Hanifin engineered the play with a beautiful feed—the superstar freshman defenseman lofted a pass behind him from beyond the red line right to Tuch, as he dropped it past Santaguida on the goalie’s right side.

For the first time all night, the Superfans woke up—the Eagles gave off a facade of happiness, an impression that they had done enough to deserve to send this game into overtime.

And just like that, the good times vanished, as Anthony Petruzzelli knocked it passed Demko at 1:47, giving the Cata-

mounts a 3-2 victory—only their second victory in 17 games against BC at Kelley Rink since joining Hockey East.

With a small crowd in the press box and a second game Saturday against Vermont, there was no press conference after Friday’s game. Realistically, there is nothing head coach Jerry York might have had to say about BC’s performance that everyone didn’t already know.

The power play didn’t go well—it was the first time the Eagles lost this season when they scored with a man advantage (11-1). Although the Eagles only gave up one goal on the power play, they still allowed themselves to be a man down for 12 of the game’s 60 minutes, including a crucial power play near the end of the third period that almost cost BC the game. And Demko must be partially at fault for the loss, given his weak atte mp t at

UVM’s second goal. The game, however, all came down to the offense. BC looked anemic and incapable of getting off any good shots.

If you look at the box score, it may seem like the Eagles did a decent job by coming back late only to lose in overtime.

But don’t be fooled. This team has a lot to figure out if they want to get back in the offensive groove. 

Eagles cruise in first game since Beanpot final defeat

BY ARTHUR BAILIN Heights Editor Every great empire has an end.

For the Napoleonic Empire, it was the Battle of Waterloo. The Soviet Union ended with a treaty signed 0 Maine in the Bialowieza 6 Boston College Forest, its memory held together by Eastern European unrest and elder Russian hockey players.

For the metaphorical empire set up by the 2014-15 Boston College women’s hockey team’s dominance of the collegiate hockey world, the end of the empire came in Harvard’s humble rink, the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.

Unlike the empires before them, however, the Eagles have an opportunity to pick up the pieces and continue the march towards the ultimate goal, a couple of trophies in March.

The march to Minneapolis’ Ridder Arena began once again as the Eagles (28-1-1, 180-0 Hockey East) picked up the pieces from the defeat and conquered the visiting army from the University of Maine (10-15-3, 9-8-1 Hockey East) by a 6-0 score.

The Eagles launched 45 shots on Meghann Treacy, the junior goaltender. While Treacy had failed to stop the three-quarters-of-a-shot clip six times throughout the game, the 39

Men’s Hockey East Standings

Team

Monday, February 16, 2015

Conference

Overall

Boston Univ.

13-3-2

19-5-4

Boston College

11-6-2

18-10-2

UMass Lowell

10-7-2

17-10-4

Providence

10-7-1

18-10-2

Northeastern

9-7-2

14-11-4

Notre Dame

8-6-4

13-15-4

Vermont

9-8-1

17-11-2

Maine

7-9-2

12-17-3

Connecticut

6-9-4

9-15-7

New Hampshire

6-11-1

11-17-2

Merrimack

5-11-2

14-13-3

Massachusetts

4-14-1

9-19-2

times Treacy stopped the BC attack continues a trend that has been consistent throughout this now-matured season: BC gets a lot of shots on net, but more often than not have nothing to show for it.

Head Coach Katie King Crowley stated that getting pucks on net puts pressure on the opposing goaltender to make saves in key situations.

“Sometimes shots can be deceiving; maybe they are from the outside and we don’t get a second chance on it,” Crowley said. “But that’s something we need to focus on is bearing down on the front of the net and putting them home.”

The number of penalties changed greatly from the game Tuesday to the game Friday.

The team received five penalties in the Beanpot matchup, including Alex Carpenter’s controversial checking major that resulted in the game-winning goal for the Harvard Crimson.

Friday, on the other hand, resulted in just two penalties assessed to the hosting Eagles.

“I think the refs were a little more critical on Tuesday,” Crowley said. “Our team has generally not been a team that gets a lot of penalties. I can’t complain for how hard our kids work and the little amount of penalties we do get. I think we’re a pretty clean team. I was surprised we got more on Tuesday.”

ARTHUR BAILIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Eagles threw 45 shots at goaltender Meghann Treacy in a 6-0 win over the Black Bears.

Going into the homestretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, many questions still linger for BC. Does this team have enough left in them to go the distance? How will the team fare in the Hockey East tournament? How will the Eagles fare in the NCAA tournament? Will the Eagles be able to get past the lost empire of the 25-game winning streak in favor of a 10-game

Numbers to Know

winning streak down the stretch?

It is not an easy road. After the Saturday cap to the two game series, BC has a homeand-home matchup with the second place Boston University Terriers. After that are the two postseason tournaments, where the Eagles will need to face teams that have played well against BC in previous contests this year. 

Quote of the Week

31

“We’re okay with The number of 3-pointers attempted having a loss on our

by Kelly Hughes, Emilee Daley, and L. Fulessedo, querfecta, nihilicii ineri fic Nicole Boudreau in a 75-74 Emily win Fahey over / Heights EditorCupicatuidet record.

You learn from Wake Forest. a loss like that, and 15 you have to know that The total number of goals scored by Boston College men’s hockey and every point in a game Vermont in their two-game series over the weekend. matters.”

EMILY FAHEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

1

The number of losses this year for women’s hockey, who suffered its first defeat against Harvard in the Beanpot final.

BC women’s hockey head coach Katie King Crowley —

The Heights

Monday, February 16, 2015

B3

BC matches its best offensive output of the year with six goals From Men’s Hockey, B1 for us over the course of the year, but now it seems like it’s producing a lot of quality chances, and we’re scoring some goals, too.”

Not only did BC get more chances, but the team got them from up and down the lineup, most notably defenseman Ian McCoshen. The sophomore bruiser, who has led the team in penalty minutes this season, scored two goals—the first of which was scored on the team’s first power play. His second goal—BC’s third overall—was even more impressive, as he fired a rocket up high from between the circles.

In an attempt to continue his offensive shake up, York also replaced all three of his top line starters from the previous night—Adam Gilmour,

Alex Tuch, and Zach Sanford—preferring instead to use Ryan Fitzgerald, Destry Straight, and Austin Cangelosi. Some may question the call, but given the former’s lack of offensive production on Friday night—Tuch’s last second goal being the only bright spot—York’s usage of his lesser-touted forwards made sense.

He wouldn’t be disappointed in their performance, as York’s second and third line forwards combined for three goals and four assists, highlighted by a power play goal by the piping hot Cangelosi midway through the second period. The sophomore forward received an easy feed from a wide-open Teddy Doherty right in front of Santaguida.

“Austin’s really stepped up his game,” York said. “There was a period in the winter where he seemed to have

lost his confidence, he was a step slow, and now he’s right back. He’s playing very, very well. Clearly he was our best forward over the weekend.”

That goal, the fifth of the night off Santaguida, sent him to an early shower, letting Brody Hoffman come in between the pipes.

A goalie change didn’t do any good for the Catamounts, as Tuch came alive by scoring his second goal in as many games—a rocket to the upper corner—one that ultimately resulted in the game-winner.

Even more impressively, the Eagles showed heart in a way they hadn’t on Friday. Although it’s hard to ask a team to play back-to-back games, especially with the second of the stretch coming in the afternoon, after a week off, BC showed an inexcusable effort in the first game

against the Catamounts—a majority of the team slouched and looked slow when skating. On Saturday, BC’s bench stood for the majority of the game, eyeing to get back onto the ice as soon as possible, an energy level York noted as an significant improvement.

With this win, the Eagles keep holding onto their second place slot in Hockey East, with eyes on a first-round bye with only four games to play, including a crucial home matchup against third place UMassLowell next Friday at Kelley Rink.

The game wasn’t perfect—Thatcher Demko’s goaltending left a lot to be desired—but the offensive production gives hope for future games.

Perhaps for BC, living in the Twilight Zone isn’t such a bad place after all. n

Drew Hoo / heights editor

The Eagles put up six goals in their game against Vermont, the most they scored since the team’s home opener on Oct. 24 against Colorado College. Austin Cangelosi (26) stayed red-hot by scoring another goal in this game.

Discouraging physical contact in women’s sports violates Title IX From Column, B1 body contact are illegal in the women’s game while they’re allowed in the men’s game.

Interesingly enough, there’s no justification for this difference in the official rules given by USA Lacrosse.

Mikaela Rix, senior lacrosse star for the Eagles, concedes that while she doesn’t want to be hit, it isn’t fair that lacrosse’s governing body doesn’t give justification for this disparity in the rules.

“I don’t personally see [a logical reason],” Rix said.

“Women in sports work just as hard as men do, we’re just not as physically—we’re not as strong or fast because that’s just not the way we’re built, but I don’t think that should hinder our ability to play a sport at all, no.”

Kent, a two-sport star in lacrosse and hockey at BC, finds that the amount of penalties called hurts the viewership of the women’s game.

“It’s a little much, the amount

of whistles—I think it totally slows the game down,” Kent said. “Obviously high school is a lot different, but whenever I’d hear that people don’t come to the game, I hear ‘oh, there’s too many whistles, too hard to watch.’”

The difference in treatment between male and female athletes extends beyond physicality. Four field hockey players at the University of Iowa have currently filed a complaint that the school violated Title IX in firing head coach Tracey Griesbaum. The players argue, according to ESPN’s Kate Fagan, that Iowa “generally holds female coaches to a higher or different standard than male coaches,” in how they can train and treat players.

Patrick Vint of Black Heart Gold Pants, Iowa’s SB Nation blog, also mentions that the four field hockey players reference the established double standard in treatment of male and female coaches. Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Pardo has already come under scru-

tiny for covering up a sexual assault by former player Cedric Everson, as well as allowing several football players to get injured under football coach Kirk Ferentz.

Some of the players and coaches agree with the lack of physical contact in the game, considering intense injuries in sports. BC lacrosse coach Acacia Walker notes the amount of concussions in the women’s game. “I think [the restrictions are] very necessary,” Walker said. “There’s so much discussion about putting girls in helmets because of all the concussions, and there’s so much question about who’s fault it is that there are so many concussions.”

Head injuries are still not well understood—the NFL is only beginning to analyze how CTE affects the brain. Walker believes other coaches are still to blame for many of the injuries. “In my mind, I’m saying: ‘That coach obviously teaches that and allows it every day,’ which is the only reason why

those girls will play like that,” Walker said. “My kids? We don’t allow checking. Period.”

In addition, Walker feels that, by adding more physical rules, girls will be deterred from playing lacrosse. “Right now, lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the country, and I think it would be a shame to change any rules drastically in order to allow more contact,” Walker said. “Our game is structured totally different, it’s not supposed to be full contact.

It’s more about finesse with your stick. They are completely different sports. Different rules, different amount of people on the field, the number one thing is the contact on the field.”

Crowley feels that removing an emphasis on the physical element of women’s hockey improved the quality of the game overall by making the sport more focused on the player’s skill set. “I like the fact that women’s hockey doesn’t have checking,” Crowley said, noting the pure ability and finesse of

her players. “When you get to higher levels, and people come to watch, they realize how good of a game it is.”

Rix puts it more simply. “I don’t really want to get hit, so I’m completely fine with us not having the same rules as the men’s game.”

But Rix and Kent can agree on one thing: no rule change will prevent them from playing the sports they love. “Definitely I’d have continued to play,” Kent said. “It would not have changed [my mind].”

Women’s lacrosse and women’s hockey will, in all likelihood, never change their rules regarding physicality. For the protection of players, that makes sense. But it’s also fair to note that removing physicality violates Title IX and discriminates against female studentathletes. In addition, we must stop allowing this double standard in how administrations treat and restrict coaches of female teams.

So we come to a crossroad.

More equal treatment or keep-

ing players safe: What’s more important in today’s game?

I feel it’s critical to properly educate players to prepare for a more physical game. Consider what Walker says about how other lacrosse players are learning the rules incorrectly from their coaches. If more physical rules are implemented for girls at a young age, along with educating players about head injuries, it might help cut down on trips to the disabled list by the time they get to college. In addition, re-instituting checking in women’s hockey (especially when the game is already very physical) or at least clarifying what referees can and cannot call may clear up the ambiguity of penalties.

And if those rules were in place from the beginning, maybe the Beanpot Championship would be returning to Chestnut Hill.

Michael Sullivan is the Sports Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights. com

Learning a little more about the game on ice, one shot at a time From Texas Hockey, B1 scored the first goal of the game.

BC countered by playing Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”—encouraging advice from one of my favorite singers in light of the disappointed sighs by avid Superfans.

The game continued with the refs constantly being in the way, adding to the commotion on the ice like blockades, but more obstructive.

BC soon caught up with Vermont, tying the game 1-1. I was caught off guard by the aggressive Sieve Chant, a chant directed at whoever has the misfortune of being the opposing team’s goalie: “You suck. At life. And goaltending. It’s all your fault. It’s all your fault. It’s all your fault. It’s all your fault.”

Still not sure whether to call the breaks between the three periods “halftimes” or “intermissions” (like in a play, I guess), but these games were surely entertaining, espe-

cially watching the starving college students forced to live with our dysfunctional meal plan (a disgrace to the word plan) fight for free food coupons. You can definitely tell you’re watching college hockey when the amount of cheers for free pizza exceeds the amount of cheers for your own team.

With four minutes left to the third period, “Devil Goes Down to Georgia” played, giving the Fiddle Boy his chance to shine. Having never missed a hockey game this season, Fiddle Boy might have earned a place in the Superfan Hall of Fame. BC entered the third period down 2–1, causing a lull in the arena. I didn’t hear any more of the catchy, but racy chants due to the lack of scoring.

The puck/ball moved back and forth between BC’s side and Vermont’s, with no real advancement in the game. As the last 30 seconds on the clock ran down, the end of the game seemed predetermined. People started to trickle out

of Conte, attempting to beat the parking lot rush, when Tuch scored with 9.6 seconds left.

There was momentary excitement that had been missing from the game going into overtime, which quickly dissipated once Vermont scored the golden goal and ended the game 3–2.

“Chapter 3: Conclusion” While my first game ended in a loss, one thing is for sure: if watching hockey isn’t worth the trip, listening to the club-like pump-up music is.

Even though I got tired of recapping because it’s hockey, I would still call the night an overall success. If I had to give one suggestion, it would be to figure out how to tailgate before hockey games. Be on the lookout for my next book, College Swimming for Dummies.

Mattie Mouton-Johnston is an editor for The Heights. She can be reached at sports@bcheights. com

Drew Hoo / heights editor

The Eagles had trouble mustering up any offense on Friday night, thanks to great goaltending by UVM’s Santaguida.

Monday, February 16, 2015

THE HEIGHTS

B4

Eagles add four wins over weekend as strong start continues

BY ALEX STANLEY Heights Staff While the men’s and women’s basketball games were postponed due to weather and travel conditions, the Boston College softball team (7-3) experienced very different conditions this Sunday at the Georgia Southern tournament. The Eagles had their final game of a five-game tournament on Sunday morning in Statesboro, Ga. They played a doubleheader on Friday against Tennessee Tech and Binghamton, another doubleheader on Saturday versus Campbell and Georgia Southern, and one final game on Sunday against Binghamton.

The Eagles won four out of five games in the tournament, which culminated in a 13-11 extra innings win over Binghamton.

BC started off with a 7-1 win against Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles were the first to get on the scoreboard, plating a run in the third inning, but BC quickly jumped ahead one inning later. Freshman Chloe Sharabba hit a triple to send in two runners and give BC the lead. The Eagles extended the score line in the sixth inning. A sacrifice bunt, a single, another single with two RBIs, and finally a Jessie Daulton single made it 7-1.

Jordan Weed started the game, and Allyson Frei closed out the last three innings, not allowing a single run.

The next matchup on the day was a bit closer, with the Eagles taking down Binghamton, 5-4.

The Eagles had a high-scoring third inning, begun by Daulton, who would eventually have three RBIs in the game. Daulton hit

a double, driving in two runs. Tatiana Cortez then hit a flyball that got her out, but not Annie Murphy, who scored to make it three.

Finally, Daulton returned to home via a hit

by Jordan Chimento, ending the scoring for the inning at four.

The Bearcats responded in kind with four of their own two innings later to level the score line.

The difference maker was Daulton, who bunted the ball in the seventh inning, skillfully sending Megan Cooley home for the win. Allyson Frei pitched all seven innings, with her only hiccup being the four-run inning.

The Eagles notched their only loss of the tournament the next day against Campbell, as they dropped a 6-4 game against the Fighting Camels. The Eagles never scored more than one point per inning, spacing

out their scoring and never overcoming the five-point lead that Campbell had starting in the third inning. The freshman contingent led the stats sheet for the Eagles as Sharabba had two hits and an RBI, Chimento had two hits and two RBIs, and Murphy recorded two hits and one RBI. BC went back to winning ways later on Saturday when the team matched up against tournament holders Georgia Southern.

Similar to the first game of the tournament, BC went down 1-0 at the beginning of the game.

It took the Eagles until the fourth inning to begin their scoring run. Cortez and Taylor Coroneos hit two RBIs in the fourth inning to put BC up by one. The next inning, Daulton and Chelsea Dimon both hit two sacrifice flies to put the score at 4-1. Finally, Coroneos and

Chimento both drew in runners off of hits, capping BC’s offensive push at six. Georgia Southern’s two late runs were not enough to best the Eagles, as the game ended 6-3.

The Eagles’ final game was against Binghamton, whom they had played two days prior. The game was once again close, with BC pulling off the late win. The game got off to a fast-paced start, as both sides ran in five runs in the first inning. The game continued that way, as back-and-forth scoring ensued, yet the Eagles found themselves with a onepoint deficit going into the final inning. In the seventh, Cooley hit a triple and ran home off of a wild pitch to send the game into extra innings. Chimento saved the day for the Eagles the very next inning, hitting a two-run homer in the eighth to send the Eagles back to snowy Boston with a win. 

Birdball brings hot bats and cold arms to S.C. in opening weekend

BY ALEC GREANEY Heights Editor Everything seemed to be clicking. In the bottom of the second, Boston College strung together a series of hits, eventually capping off a four-run rally with an RBI single from Gabriel Hernandez. After allowing a base hit to the second batter he faced, starter Nick Poore retired the next 12 in a row. Less than 24 hours after handing a Xavier a 14-7 loss, BC baseball seemed poised to pick up another early-season win against the Musketeers.

And then suddenly, the Eagles hit a wall.

After retiring the first batter in the top of the sixth, Poore allowed three consecutive batters to reach, loading the bases. Brian Rapp, a freshman who made his college debut on Friday night against Wofford, entered to neutralize the threat. Instead, a four-pitch walk, a baseclearing triple, and another single later, the Eagles found themselves down 5-4.

Xavier’s Greg Jacknewitz came in and shut the door, tossing five shutout innings to end the game. BC managed just two more hits in the contest, while the bullpen allowed another Xavier rally. This loss dropped the Eagles’ record to 2-2 on the team’s opening weekend.

Before being shut out for the final seven innings of Sunday afternoon, BC baseball had gotten out to a terrific start offensively. While BC put up a decent 20 runs in its four-game opener last season, the team burst out to 27 runs this weekend, highlighted by a 14-run performance against Xavier on Saturday.

Even more importantly, this production came from up and down the lineup. Five BC players tallied more hits than Chris Shaw, the Eagles’ batting leader last season. It may have seemed as though Shaw didn’t have an

especially notable weekend statistically—he hit just .250 with one extra base hit—but the pitchers this weekend never really gave him a chance.

He picked up a hit by pitch and seven walks on the weekend—four of which came from the intentional variety.

That’s worth repeating. Shaw was intentionally walked four separate times, all coming in the first three games. There is no better sign of respect opponents can offer.

On Friday night against Wofford, the strategy of avoiding Shaw proved effective.

The Eagles came out swinging, racking up 11 hits on the night, one more than Wofford’s 10.

Yet, BC struggled to get the big hit all night.

The Eagles put at least two men on base in six of nine innings, but plated just four. The team finished with 15 runners left on base in the 8-4 loss. Shaw finished 0-2, and though he reached base twice on two walks, he didn’t get the chance to take advantage of his cleanup role.

In Saturday’s doubleheader, however, all of BC’s bats came to life. Each member of BC’s starting lineup picked up a hit in the first game against Xavier, while Hernandez and Michael Strem combined to go 5-12 with seven RBIs. None of the Musketeers’ arms could quiet the bats, as BC tagged all four pitchers for at least three runs.

The second game of the day, coming against USC Upstate, took longer for BC’s bats to awaken. Shaw led off the scoring with a solo shot in the second, but USC chased BC starter Jesse Adams in the fifth inning after he allowed three runs and five hits. A strong relief appearance from Justin Dunn and a three-run rally in the seventh eventually propelled BC by USC 5-4, giving the team the doubleheader

LOUISE SHIMAN LU

Despite a strong presence at the plate for the Eagles, BC’s pitching struggled against Wofford in the opening game of the tournament. sweep on the day.

Possibly BC’s biggest issue from last season—getting production from someone not named Chris Shaw—seems to have been answered thus far, though the small sample size and not facing a ACC pitching would make any over-confident statement in the lineup unwise. Hernandez did a great job in the leadoff spot, tallying a team-high eight hits in the series. Toward the middle of the order, Butera, Strem, and Hoggarth combined for 21 hits (six extra-base ones), which could make some teams think twice about giving Shaw the free pass.

The performances on the mound were a different story. No Eagles starter made it fur-

ther than 5.1 innings, while each allowed at least three earned runs. The starting rotation finished the weekend with an ERA of 6.05, while the entire staff ’s ERA sits at a putrid 6.69. Not good numbers.

Really, there were only a couple bright spots for BC pitching this weekend. One, the performance by two relievers: Mike King on Saturday Morning and Dunn on Saturday afternoon. King hurled the final 2.1 innings for BC, allowing Xavier just one hit and picking up the save. Dunn, a righty who logged just 12.1 innings all last season, put up an incredible effort against USC, allowing just one run on two hits in the final four and a third, while also striking out five.

The second: BC’s strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Starter John Gorman began the effort on Friday night, setting down a career-high eight men on strikes and walking only one.

The rest of the staff followed suit, finishing the weekend with 45 strikeouts and just nine walks, a remarkable statistic for a team just starting the season.

True, it’s early. True, this was BC’s first chance to get out of the constricting confines of the bubble and play on an actual field. True, new pitching coach Jim Foster has barely gotten the chance to work with his pitchers. But, no matter how hot BC’s bats get, the team will have to figure out its rotatiown quickly if it expects to compete in the ACC. 

No. 7 BC tops Johns Hopkins for victory in season opener

BY VICTORIA JOHNSON Heights Staff With another blizzard hitting Chestnut Hill this weekend, Boston will spend one more day digging its way out of the tundra.

Thankfully, with so much practice this month, the city knows just how to handle Mother Nature when she drops two feet of snow. In a similar manner, the Boston College women’s lacrosse team knew how to dig itself out on Saturday, rebounding after allowing its opponents to go on a 4-0 run: freeze their offense, plow downfield, and slip past the goalie.

This was the first meeting ever between the No. 18 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (1-1) and the No. 7 Eagles (1-0), and both teams were hungry for a win. The Eagles used their blizzard-fighting knowledge to storm past the Blue Jays, 9-5.

BC won the faceoff but immediately lost the ball. The team soon got it back after a JHU penalty. The Eagles stormed down field, allowing Mikaela Rix to cut into the eight-meter arc and fly one past Casey Emerson’s head to put her team up 1-0 early on.

BC continued to eat up the clock and wear down the JHU defense. Every time the Blue Jays had an opportunity to gain possession, they committed a foul, giving the ball back to the Eagles. After a penalty in the arc, Caroline Margolis was given an open shot from the eight. She ran in and fired a shot to make it 2-0.

The Eagles were then called for a penalty of their own. The Blue Jays’ Kristen Cannon passed to Alexis Maff ucci, who stutterstepped and ripped a shot past BC’s Zoe Ochoa to make it 2-1. The Eagles answered with a rapid transition goal by junior mid-

ROUND U P

fielder Sarah Mannelly.

Minutes later, Mannelly cut in and out of the arc before wrapping around and losing her defender. Wide open, she found the net once again. With a comfortable 4-1 lead with 15 minutes left, the Eagles slowed down. JHU took advantage of this and scored two rapid goals to get within one.

For the rest of the half the Blue Jays maintained possession. Even with a BC double team in her way, Dene DiMartino scored and tied the game with two minutes left in the half. Thirty seconds later, JHU headed back down the field. Haley Schweizer fired one past Ochoa to give her team the first lead of the game. Going into the locker room, the Eagles were down 5-4.

In order to dig themselves out, BC’s defense needed to ice out its opponents to give the offense time on the other end.

With a new goalie in for the Blue Jays, the

Eagles came out aggressively and slowly closed in on goal. The offense slowed down the pace and made careful passes around the horn. Covie Stanwick wrapped behind the goal and spun to ditch her defender.

After a rapid switch to shoot left-handed, she dipped and dunked by faking high and shooting low to tie the game.

Seconds later Margolis fired one in, making it 6-5. JHU received and maintained possession. The team slowed down the pace to give its midfielders a rest. The Blue Jays’ careful execution allowed them to break inside. Shots went wide and BC snagged the ball and head downfield.

Margolis wrapped around the net and Stanwick set a pick to help Margolis lose her defender. Margolis stuttered and faked to toss in another goal, picking up a hat trick and a two-goal cushion for BC. After the faceoff, the Eagles maintained

possession and stalled. Kate Rich cut through the arc and tiptoed the crease.

She flipped the ball to Tess Chandler, who ripped it past Caroline Federico to make it 8-5.

BC was not done yet. Seconds later, Laura Frankfield tallied another goal. At the time, the Eagles were out shooting the Blue Jays 24-17. After only having two shots in the second half with 10 minutes left, JHU called a timeout. The Blue Jays could not capitalize on any possession for the remainder of the game, even though their offense pressed hard.

With 1:10 left, Jen Cook received a yellow card, giving the Eagles a one-man, fourgoal cushion. JHU pulled its goalie but with one player penalized, the team struggled to pull through. Ochoa’s shutout second half helped the Eagles comeback and glide past the Blue Jays 9-5. 

BY JOHN PUGH | HEIGHTS STAFF

W. TENNIS

TRACK

SKIING

Boston College took down Syracuse over the weekend in a singles competition sweep, 4-1.

Pair Jessica Wacnik and Lexi Borr continued their recent doubles success, defeating Amanda Rodgers and Nicole Mitchell, 6-1. BC’s second and third pairs dropped matches and lost the one-point advantage from doubles play.

In a series of long matches, BC’s singles’ players all defeated their opponents. Wacnik, Borr, and Asiya Dair all snuck past in two sets and Katya Vasilyev finished her comeback victory in three sets. With the Eagles clinching victory, the remaining two matches did not need to be finished.

BC has a home doubleheader next week against Albany and Florida International.

Varsity track and field had a difficult time finishing in the top this weekend at the Boston University Valentine Invitational.

Sophomore Devaun Bovell had a big day, setting a school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.31. He also finished in ninth place.

Senior Pat Daly finished the 1,000 meter run in 12th place with a time of 2:26.59.

There was tough competition this weekend and the results show that Boston College was just another team in the middle of the pack.

BC hopes to make more of a presence in the ACC indoor championships later this month in Blacksburg, Va.

The ski team visited the Middlebury Sugar Bowl this weekend for the Middlebury Carnival.

Junior Chase Ryan continued to establish his consistency in the Giant Slalom event. Finishing in 42nd place with a time of 2:15.01 over two runs. Teammate Trevor Lennox finished in 51st with a time of 2:17.70.

BC also had three skiers finish the Slalom. Carter Robertson, Chris Keating, and Keith Schuman finished in 31st, 44th, and 52nd, respectively.

The women’s team was very successful in the GS with five skiers finishing the race, led by sophomore Bug Pech, who finished with a time of 2:22.45.

The team gets a one-week rest before travelling to Whiteface, NY for the St. Lawrence Carnival.

CLASSIFIEDS

The Heights The Heights

Thursday, January 17, 2014

B5 B5

Thursday, February 16, 2015

Community Help wanted $$ SPERM DONORS WANTED $$ Earn up to $1,200/month and give the gift of family through California Cryobank’s donor program. Convenient Cambridge location. Apply online: SPERMBANK.com.

THE HEIGHTS HAS A NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE, UPDATED DAILY

JUST FOR YOU. CHECK IT OUT. BCHEIGHTS.COM. Directions: The Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid. In each row there are 9 slots, some of which are empty and need to be filled.

Each row, column and 3x3 box should contain the numbers 1 to 9. You must follow these rules: · Number can appear only once in each row · Number can appear only once in each column · Number can appear only once in each 3x3 box · The number should appear only once on row, column or area.

Would you rather have $46,000 or a whooooole lotta take-out?

Cook your own dinner instead of ordering in. $9 saved a day x 5 days a week x 10 years x 6% interest = $46,694. That could be money in your pocket.

Small changes today. Big bucks tomorrow. Go to feedthepig.org for free savings tips.

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THE HEIGHTS

B6

Monday, February 16, 2015

‘Fifty Shades’ shamelessly details the notoriously twisted erotic fantasy

BY RHODA MORRISON For The Heights

In past years, a bunch of red roses sufficed. Maybe even a box of chocolates, a heart-shaped balloon, or a cheesy teddy saying, “I Love You.” In past years, yes.

But not this year. This year, on Valentine’s Day, couples flocked to their nearest cinema and forked over their cash, trading a FIFTY SHADES OF GREY romantic, canSam Taylor-Johnson dle-lit dinner for two tickets to see Fifty Shades of Grey—the “love” story that has, unfortunately, taken over the world. If you thought your faith in humanity couldn’t stoop any lower after Fifty Shades of Grey became a best-selling novel worldwide and was translated into 52 languages, this film adaption is sure to tip you over the edge.

Written by Kelly Marcel and directed

by Samantha Taylor-Johnson, the movie does not stray too far from the original novel written by E.L. James. When An-

astasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), a senior at college, goes to interview the young and powerful businessman, Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), it seems to be a case of (extremely awkward) love at first sight. But first impressions can be deceiving. In a sinister twist of fate, Anastasia instead becomes wrapped up in Mr. Grey’s creepy world of dominance and submission, in which she becomes what is effectively his sex-slave. He introduces this virginal, shy English major to his home dungeon where he plans to carry out his sick sexual fantasies which involve an “impressive” collection of handcuffs, whips and blindfolds. It is here that he somehow manages to use his distinct lack of charm and charisma to convince her to bend over while he abuses her verbally, physically, and mentally. Whoever said that romance was dead?

Thanks to this cheap storyline, there is nowhere to hide. The screenplay is an abomination and comes as nothing but an utter disappointment after having seen what Marcel is capable of with Saving Mr. Banks. The excessive sex scenes that bombard the movie

are actually welcomed breaks from the cringe-worthy dialogue. The characters are shallow, unlikeable, and downright annoying, while the acting is abysmal.

It would seem that Dakota Johnson bagged this role based solely on her tight, toned, cellulite-free body while Jamie Dornan crashes and burns. It’s not their fault—they have been given absolutely nothing to work with and quite frankly, it is heartening that neither of these actors could connect with such unattractive characters (in the non-physical sense, of course).

The worst of it, however, is the fact that Facebook and Twitter are actually going crazy with women, young and old, encouraging everyone to go and see this “amazing” film. Fifty Shades of Grey enters into the same territory as Sleeping with the Enemy, but this film suggests that every girl’s fantasy is to find a control-freak stalker who feels he has the right to show up whenever and wherever he likes, sell your car without asking, and limit how much you eat and drink.

What is more worrying is that the female creators have portrayed Christian

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Sam Taylor-Johnson’s film adaption of E.L. James’ erotic fiction fails to captivate audiences.

Grey as an abused, troubled individual whose difficult start in life has left him lost, alone, and forced to treat women badly. The cinema was filled with a loud, “Awww,” when he finally revealed his secret past, proving that Mr. Grey has the power to have just about any woman eating out of the palm of his hand. Yikes.

Releasing the film on Valentine’s Day was clearly a smart marketing ploy as it

has already managed to rake in over $30 million over the weekend. For those of you, however, who were not among the crowds of drooling girls or mortified boyfriends queuing outside Cineworld on Saturday, I urge you to avoid this film at all costs. Instead, put your money toward something worthwhile and submit to all of the half-priced Valentine’s Day candy that will be dominating the shelves for the next week or so. 

‘Kingsman’ adaptation far from gentlemanly

1 PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE REPORT TITLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

Colin Firth’s tailered suits cannot keep this espionage, comic book adventure afloat as it drowns under two dull, inexplored plots.

BY RYAN DOWD Arts & Review Editor In one of the first scenes of Kingsman: The Secret Service, a devastatingly gorgeous lady cuts a man in half with her bowed metal legs that obviously serve as her primary weapon. If that’s confusing, I get it. I’m still confused.

Director KINGSMAN: THE Matthew SECRET SERVICE Vaughn Matthew Vaughn specializes in a stylized violence—the raw brutality of Kick Ass or slick energy of X-Men: First Class. He never wastes an opportunity to smash, slice, or blow someone to bits. That talent, or obsession, is on full display in Kingsman.

Kingsman centers around a secret, independent, thoroughly British spy organization—a modern band of knights. All the spies are given code names like Arthur, Lancelot, Galahad—you know, King Arthur stuff. (It would be interesting if someone made a movie about that.) The film also centers around Eggsy, played by Taron Egerton—a rough and tumble lad from the wrong side of the London streets, compared to the uppity Kingsmen. To the generous, gentlemanly consideration of Galahad (Colin Firth) Eggsy enters into training for the hallowed gentlemen’s cult. And so the boys are

off to training and Galahad is off on his own quest investigating the mass disappearances of nearly anyone of distinguish on earth and a billionaire played by Samuel L. Jackson who is dumbfoundingly behind it all.

In Vaughn’s films , his attention to violence usually bumps against something else—the innocense of the kids in Kick Ass or the morality of the young Charles Xavier in X-Men. Here, he tries to marry it to being a gentleman—though in the film being a gentlemen seems to amount to dressing well and kicking the ass of anyone who disses your fine threads. So the violence isn’t grounded in or against anything.

Kingsman is part James Bond, part X-Men, but mostly the fantasy of a 13-year-old. The characters quip at times that, “This ain’t that kind of movie,” that movie being James Bond.

But the film has the wrong idea of what movie it is not. It is a comic book movie, not only because it is based on a comic book, but because of the action, how the film flips from scene to scene, the cartoonish action sequences.

It should be fun—Firth in his immaculate suits laying waste to foes in bars and even a church, Eggsy and the gang competing for Lancelot’s vacant seat at the table, and even Jackson playing with a lisp throughout the film. It’s not, though. Like Bond and all the other comic book movies to come out over the past years, Kingsman tries to build a world we would want to be part of—forever, hopefully.

The world has color—mostly blood red. The

world has style—the gentlemanly kind. This secret world, however, doesn’t have characters.

Returning to the lady with sword-legs.

What happened to her actual legs? Why didn’t she get, you know, normal prosthetics?

A legitimate answer to any of these questions might make us empathize with her, but, oh wait, she just sliced that dude’s arm off so who cares, right?

There’s no spark between the two young trainees Eggsy and Roxy. Both pretty, both brave, they strike something in the form of admirable respect. She stands up for him against the snide of the privileged recruits and he helps her overcome her fear of heights, but there’s no romantic spark. There’s no need for them to tear some clothes off and go at it Fifty Shades of Grey style, but the audience is left searching for something to care about.

Firth is the only actor who carries himself with any ease in the film, who takes the film’s larking tone with any of the required self-seriousness. He could have been a more homely Bond, back in the day.

The film could have settled into either of its freeway plots and found an interesting story to tell. It could have settled into any of the wide ranging questions that float comfortably above the surface. Should we be uneasy about technology? Have we poisoned our planet? Do Englishmen really love Guinness?

Instead, it goes at an idiotic mish-mash. It’s no gentleman at all. 

WEEKEND GROSS

WEEKS IN RELEASE

1. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

81.7

1

2. KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

35.6

1

3. THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE

30.5

2

4. AMERICAN SNIPER

16.4

8

5. JUPITER ASCENDING

9.4

2

6. SEVENTH SON

4.2

2

7. PADDINGTON

4.2

5

8. THE IMITATION GAME

3.5

12

9. THE WEDDING RINGER

3.4

5

10. PROJECT ALMANAC

2.7

3

3

2 PHOTO COURTESY OF20TH CENTURY FOX

3 PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

BESTSELLERS OF HARDCOVER FICTION 1. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Paula Hawkins 2. ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE Anthony Doerr 3. THE NIGHTINGALE Kristin Hannah 4. TRIGGER WARNING Neil Gaiman 5. PRIVATE VEGAS James Patterson

6. GRAY MOUNTAIN John Grisham 7. CRASH AND BURN Lisa Gardner 8. SAINT ODD Dean Koontz 9. FUNNY GIRL Nick Hornby 10. THE BOSTON GIRL Anita Diamant SOURCE: New York Times

Coolidge Corner offers insightful creative collection of Oscar-nominated shorts

BY LIZ HOLMAN Heights Staff

Need another reason to get off campus this weekend? Luckily, the arrival of the Oscar-nominated shorts is here and they are at Coolidge Corner. The showing comes in three parts—animated, live-action, and documentary—and theaters across the country are participating, as they concluded the animated portion this past Thursday and are now in the thick of the live-action mini-films.

These shorts films often go underappreciated, as they can be lost amid all the Oscars’ feature film hype, but that doesn’t mean they are not deserving. With a smaller canvas comes greater risk and less room for mistakes.

This year’s films nominated for the Oscars in the animated category certainly did not disappoint, so here is a glimpse into each of these creatively crafted nuggets.

“Me and My Moulton” started the show with a bittersweet account of growing up in mid-’60s Norway with slightly eccentric parents. Directed by Torill Kove, this short from the perspective of an ambivalent middle child raised by two modernist parents whose dining room chairs only had three legs—which led to a lot of accidents—runs through the woes and

triumphs of what it means to be a family.

The next one, “Feast,” a six-minute short by new director Patrick Osborne and Walt Disney Animation Studios is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his dog.

With each bite of food passed from plate to dog bowl, the audience gets bite-sized glimpses into the start of a relationship, a breakup, and an eventual marriage and new addition to the family. Winston, the dog, even gets the pair back together after the initial breakup, and in the most adorably heroic way possible.

“The Bigger Picture,” a film by Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees from the United Kingdom, showcases dark humor and blunt reality in its rehashing of the tale of two brothers caring for an elderly parent. The two are at odds over what would be best—one wants to put their mother in a home, while the other refuses and begrudgingly tries to cope with a brother who “doesn’t do anything.” The short ends with a funeral and some peace between the two brothers, who decide that they better “get on,” showcasing the fact that life goes on.

In “A Single Life,” a two-minute short directed by Marieke Blaauw, Joris Oprins, and Job Roggeveen from The Netherlands, Pia is struck with the realization that her life is intricately connected with a vinyl someone

leaves at her doorstep. As she skips around the record, she finds herself at various points in her life, from a young child, to a soon-to-be mother, to an elderly woman with a walker, to eventually … an urn.

The last short, entitled “The Dam Keeper,”

by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi, tells the tale of a young pig with a very important job—keeping a storm of smoke away from his little town by regularly running a windmill.

While he works incessantly to protect his neighbors, the same can’t be said for himself, as his crocodile, hippo, and ostrich classmates harass him at school. Things seem dim until the arrival of a new classmate, Fox, changes everything and the pig no longer feels alone.

Following these five official selections are four “highly commended” films, some enjoyable bonus shorts selected by ShortsHD. These included “Sweet Cocoon,” the story of a caterpillar trying to undergo metamorphosis with one problem—her cocoon is much too small. Two other insects come to her aid and she turns into a beautiful butterfly. A beautiful butterfly who is almost immediately snatched up and eaten by a bird flying overhead—such is the cycle of life. The next one, “Footprints,” tells the tale of a gullible man who goes on a quest to find the horrifying monster who pecked a hole

PHOTO COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

Disney’s “Feast” tells a love story through a dog and his bowl in an adorable, simple short. into his door, only to come to the realization that he had, himself, done it all along.

In short (pun intended), these little films are an absolute treat that provide a glimpse into the human experience all across the globe, in its similarities and slight differences. Each of these films is packed with

funny anecdotes, universal truths, bittersweet revelations, all while being the perfect length to munch on the snacks and popcorn that viewers usually run out of mid-movie. Amid these freezing temperatures, a cozy theater is the perfect place to be, and these films provide a perfect escape. 

The Heights

Monday, February 16, 2015

B7

From ENCORE, B8

Clare kim / heights staff

Sexual Chocolate gave audiences exaclty what it expects on Valentine’s Day—some form of chocolate, but the SC boys even added a shade of comedy for all the lonely hearts in what was a soulful show in Robsham theatre.

O’Neill exhibit traces social movements in U.S. history From Power, from B8 Garcia-Ornelas describes as showcasing “the spirit and fight of young Black men and women, and their allies, exhibited by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the youth of today.”

The first in a series of graffiti-inspired pieces, Garcia-Ornelas’ “I Am” features his own poetry inscribed on a large red and black paint-splattered canvas. In the last lines of the poem, he conveys a sense of disconnect between his country and his own racial identity, stating, “I have faith I still believe, I want peace don’t misconceive / I am of a land that wants me no longer, / Not because I am weak

but because I am stronger.”

Perhaps one of Garcia-Ornelas’ most powerful pieces, “The Racial Caste” evokes the image of a black man behind prison bars. The inscription, “This is what the racial caste system looks like,” merges the physical incarceration of black Americans with notions of racial inequality in American society.

The Power of Youth Movements in Black History traces the trajectory of social movements in American history. GarciaOrnelas’ “Die in for Change,” places the image of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. alongside Oscar Grant, Michael Brown, and Trayvon Martin. Beneath the illustrations of the slain black teenagers,

BC Bop rocks jazz classics From bOp, from B8 ballad, but Mastellone quickly proved that the song belonged to him and him alone.

Mastellone had the crowd wrapped around his fingers with his stunning vocals and starstudded charisma. The big band build-up was unlike any rendition of the song, even rivaling the original.

BC Bop! trailed through an impressive set-list featuring jazz classics like “Blues In Frankie’s Flat,” “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing,” and “That Cat Is High.” Throughout the performance, members of the group displayed their versatility, switching between cello and bass or rotating through the percussions. One track resonated with the atmosphere of a roaring 1920s “Gatsby-esque” party, the next sounded like it was coming out of a Spanish salsa competition.

The show was filled with a barrage of sensational solo highlights from many members of the big band. It was also saturated with incredible energy from both the instrumentalists and the singers. Whether it was a trumpeter, saxophonist, pianist, cellist, or a combination of these, each track featured a chance for individuals to make themselves apparent to the crowd. Bop!’s seventh track, “Chu Cho,” showcased dynamic solo perfor-

Garcia-Ornelas overlays images of protesters staging a “die-in.” In another piece, titled “He Had a Dream,” Trayvon Martin is depicted in his now-iconic hoodie sweatshirt, with images of Dr. King and the words, “He Had a Dream,” superimposed onto the figure. By fusing images of 20th century civil rights activists with contemporary issues of racial discrimination, Garcia-Ornelas reconciles the legacy of Dr. King’s 1964 non-violent march with modern social movements.

The exhibit centers on several themes— racial inequality against black Americans, civil rights protests, and injustices within the current justice system. In one such piece titled, “And Liberty and Justice…,”

Garcia-Ornelas depicts the figure of a slain teenager alongside the famous words, “And Liberty and Justice for some.” Paint splatter, graffiti, and brick wall detailing represent, in what Garcia-Ornelas describes as “the toughness and fight that our youth have along with ‘hitting the streets’ mentality to protest these injustices.”

The pieces themselves principally employ black and white for two reasons. “The purpose of these movements is pretty black and white,” says Garcia-Ornelas. “People want equality and justice just like anyone else does. The second reason, and to be very blunt, these issues are almost always a black vs. white issue or a white vs. black issue.” He also utilizes the color red to

convey violent imagery and key mantras of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, such as “Stop don’t shoot” and “Tell them my life matters.”

The ultimate goal of creating The Power of Youth Movements in Black History is “to spark educated dialect around the reality of the current state of our nation,” according to Garcia-Ornelas. While the pieces themselves work individually, together they form a movement. With an emphasis on social justice, GarciaOrnelas hopes to provoke emotion and dialogue by merging the historic struggle for civil rights with modern social movements. It’s all about creating art with a message. n

Love Is ... a culture show

mances from several of the group’s brilliant saxophonists. Each solo had its own style, composition, and vibe. Nothing screams “Jazz band” quite like a dazzling display of both dynamic camaraderie and personal talent.

Thursday’s performance was, in part, a dress rehearsal for BC Bop!’s impressive trip this weekend. The group headed down to New York City for the weekend to work with two renowned jazz performers, Tony Kadleck (working with instrumentals) and Jessica Molaskey (vocalist). They also performed at the ShapeShifter Lab. For its Valentine’s Day performance, BC Bop! held onto most of the set that they performed in Vanderslice and added in a few extra hits like Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “September” (a track that would have fit in so well with their performance at BC).

BC Bop! Live! was an outstanding showcase of the jazz band’s varied talent. Its setting provided intimacy between the performers and the audience that greatly contributed to both the liveliness of the crowd and the displays of solos. Each song featured a unique tone that definitively mark BC Bop! as an originative jazz ensemble. Hopefully, BC Bop!’s well-placed time and talent transfered over to its big performance in the city Saturday night. n

Graham beck / heights senior staff

BC Bop swings to the beat in Thursday’s performance in preparation for its trip to New York.

amelie trieu / heights staff

Korean and Chineese Student Associations collaborated to put on the “Love Is...” culture show just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Stewart bids farewell to ‘The Daily Show’ after sixteen From Stewart, B8 satires—such as the wildly successful (and now successor to David Letterman) Stephen Colbert and John Oliver, whose Last Week Tonight is taking off.

Stewart’s show also sparked the rise of one of the biggest TV and movie stars of the last decade, Steve Carell. Stewart gave each of them their big breaks,

watching from afar as they blossomed while he observed as a proud papa from behind the same desk.

And his resiliency to keep his viewers satisfied is undeniable. That’s what I remember most about him. He kept going when few others did. The infamous 2007-08 Writers’ Guild of America strike stole away my favorite shows— Friday Night Lights, The Office, even

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody couldn’t survive. But he, Colbert, and Conan O’Brien returned to the air without writers, teaming up to create a wildly entertaining cross-program feud that begged to answer one burning question: Who made Huckabee?

It’s hard to say where The Daily Show will go from here. Its format is successful enough that to end it with Stewart

seems foolish. Picking his replacement represents more of a challenge. Could it be one of the long-serving correspondents, such as Samantha Bee or Jason Jones? Or will an outsider in the comedy world who now is looking for a job? (Not so subtle “hint hint” at Amy Poehler.)

But it’s even harder to say where Stewart will go. His talent goes beyond

the desk—he’s already ventured into the world of directing with his movie, Rosewater. Perhaps he has another project in mind.

I’m certainly excited to see what that place will be.

Michael Sullivan is an editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@ bcheights.com.

ARTS&REVIEW

B8

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015

THE DAYS OF SUMMER

‘50 Shades’ of abuse

BC bOp! jazz ensemble’s stylish Cabaret sendoff

BY CHRIS FULLER Assoc. Arts & Review Editor

SUMMER LIN During the summer of 2012, it wasn’t out of the ordinary to spot a middle-aged soccer mom alongside her 20-year-old daughter both reading the same romance novel on an airplane. In fact, E.L James’ erotic romance trilogy became so ubiquitous over a span of a few months that it was almost commonplace. Topping several national best-seller lists and selling more than 100 million copies worldwide, James’ Fifty Shades of Grey became a national phenomena. Known for its material on bondage, dominance, sadism, and masochism (BDSM), the film adaptation of the book came to theaters this weekend just in time for Valentine’s Day. Fifty Shades of Grey is about more than just sex, however. The series has come under fire as critics and domestic violence groups have derided the novels for glorifying an emotionally abusive relationship. And by abuse, they don’t simply mean BDSM. In fact, the film’s disregard for safe words and disrespect for boundaries has incited more backlash than its depiction of BDSM. By domestic abuse, they mean the manipulative way that Christian monitors everyday aspects of Ana’s life. When billionaire CEO Christian Grey first meets Anastasia Steele, he immediately becomes obsessed with her. He follows her to her workplace, tracks her cell phone, and lets himself into her bedroom without any notice. Nearly every interaction between Ana and Christian is marked with emotional abuse, including stalking and intimidation.

When they begin dating, Christian quickly assumes control of all aspects of Ana’s life. He sells her car and purchases a new one that he approves of, tells her what clothing she is permitted to wear, controls what doctor she sees and contraceptives she takes, and monitors her eating habits—all without her permission or consent. He also threatens to end all contact with Ana if she discloses their relationship to her friends and family, essentially isolating her from her loved ones. When Ana defies his rules by scheduling a trip with her mother, she sparks his violent outrage.

At the same time, severe childhood abuse renders Christian emotionally distant and unable to form relationships outside the context of abuse. When Ana reaches out to him, she doesn’t know if he’s going to be receptive or cold—he is kind to her one minute and pushes her away the next. This inconsistently keeps Ana under his control and fuels the belief that women can change an abusive man and make him love her back. Christian showers Ana with expensive gifts and takes her on lavish helicopter rides, all for the sake of convincing her to sign a BDSM contract stipulating sexual domination and lack of romantic love. These grand gestures lack emotional depth and reinforce the belief that sexual control over women can be bought with extravagant gifts.

The most unsettling aspect of Fifty Shades of Grey has nothing to do with BDSM or poor writing, but the fact that an emotionally abusive relationship was marketed as a sexual fantasy and Valentine’s Day fun. The BDSM angle has always been a thinly-veiled smokescreen to Christian’s manipulation of Ana outside of the bedroom. He takes advantage of a sexually inexperienced woman by forcibly removing her independence and making her solely dependent on him. By placing an abusive relationship under the context of a handsome, charismatic billionaire, the film portrays a man who uses his inexplicable wealth and broken childhood as someone who needs to be “fixed” and deserves our sympathy.

While I will defend the rights of fans to watch and enjoy this film and reject decisions made by bookstores to censor the series, Fifty Shades of Grey ultimately passes off negative gender expectations and domestic abuse as positive sexual empowerment.

The problem with Fifty Shades of Grey isn’t BDSM but rather that it lacks self-awareness of the emotional abuse perpetrated by its titular character. This February, don’t see Fifty Shades. Save the $12 and buy yourself cheap boxed wine and some chocolate.

Summer Lin is the Assist. Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. She can be reached at arts@bcheights.com

Last Thursday in the Vanderslice Cabaret room, Boston College’s renowned jazz band BC Bop! showed off its big brass instruments in formidable style—continuing even amid a campus-wide bomb threat. Delivering a melodic set of 10 bouncing, vivacious tracks, the band took time to highlight the individual talents of most of its members, while the band’s vocalists laid down fine-tuned, crisp ensembles and solos that stood entirely on their own as unique accompaniments to the performance. It was a hectic night at BC, and BC Bop! erased some of the tensity on Lower Campus, offering a necessary sense of comfort to many in the Cabaret room.

The show opened with “Take The ‘A’ Train,” a juicy romp that solidified the jazzy atmosphere for the entirety of the performance. Featuring a lovely trumpet solo, this track

rocked the room to whistles and cheers from the intimately situated crowd. Though the first track did not feature the vocal ensemble, that group enthusiastically launched off in the next track, “Landed.” The weaving set list, from big band tracks to those featuring the vocal ensemble, kept things diverse and refreshing. Most big band and ensemble members had a chance to really show off what they brought to the group personally and the rotating highlights really contributed to the dynamic of the whole show.

One particular high point of the show was the band’s performance of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” At first, when Mike Mastellone, CSOM ’18, strutted forward for his solo performance of the everlasting classic, it felt wrong that the entire ensemble did not get the chance to share the

See bOp, B7 BRECK WILLS / HEIGHTS GRAPHICS

Scenes from Sexual Chocolate’s fifteenth anniversary show

CLARE KIM / HEIGHTS STAFF

Notable dance group Sexual chocolate puts on its fifteenth anniversary show at Robsham this weekend, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The group performed a variety of skits and step dances alongside Synergy and Dance Organization of Boston College. Page B7

So long, Jon Stewart: ‘The Daily Show’ moves forward MICHAEL SULLIVAN This past Tuesday, late night in America permanently got a lot less funny.

Jon Stewart, the witty and innovative host of Comedy Central’s signature program, The Daily Show, announced he will walk away from his faux-newsroom after 16 years at the helm. Stewart reinvented satirization of the news when he took over the reins from Craig Kilborn as host, writer, and co-executive producer in 1999. Along the way, Stewart picked up 19 Emmy Awards as well as two Grammy Awards for audio readings of his books: America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction and Earth (The Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race.

By using his charming personality, Stewart dismantled every hint of ridiculousness he found in American political television media. He openly and candidly attacked political punditry on Fox News, MSNBC, and other (mostly conservative) networks by using material that was practically handed to him. Coupled with his wildly hilarious segments—such as the occasional feature with “Senior Black Correspondent Larry WIlmore”—Stewart simply uses the video clips from these news stations and calls them out for their, for lack of a better term, B.S. He rarely let his thoughts go unnoticed. Stewart became a firebrand, using his jokes to nudge forth his backhandedly liberal ideologies. These views are largely in line with those of our generation—the Millennials—who choose to ride the donkey into many elections,

INSIDE ARTS THIS ISSUE

even if it doesn’t lead to victory.

In many ways, Stewart shaped the Millennial generation just as much as his show reflected its views. Growing up, I received much of my political information from Stewart’s musings on The Daily Show. Sure, he made fun of the pundits. Some, such as Slate staff writer Jamelle Bouie, argue that his constant cynicism on the country, coupled with his sole criticism of the television media limits the creation of well-informed debate about politics. It isolates and ignores other forms of political discussion, such as op-ed pieces, and discourages the younger generation from talking about politics. Thus, it gives liberals as a whole a bad name.

I find it hard to criticize Stewart for focusing on what we see on TV. After all, that’s what is most visible to a majority of the country—realistically, how many casual Americans read about politics?

Plus, considering how many pundits sensationalize what happens in current events, it only makes sense that Stewart comments on this ridiculousness.

At the same time, Stewart informed his viewers just as effectively as any news outlet—I’d argue that he did so in a more effective way. He connected to his viewers by not directly talking at them but rather to them. And that helps The Daily Show with the audience it tries to connect to—liberals in the younger age bracket prefer to be talked to in this casual sense, while conservatives thrive off this sense of hostile debate.

That makes him seem biased toward one side, but that merely reflects the audience he wants to attract, along with

See Stewart, B7

‘50 Shades of Grey’

The adaption of the best selling erotic romance novel falls flat off the sheets, B6

ARTHUR BAILIN / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Garcia-Ornelas combines art and ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement in O’Neill exhibit.

Black youth power on display in O’Neill art exhibit

BY SUMMER LIN

Asst. Arts & Review Editor In the days since Michael Brown, an 18-year-old, was shot by a police officer named Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Mo., people in more than 170 American cities have taken to the streets in protest against state violence and police brutality against African-Americans and other minority groups. On Dec. 3, a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner, inciting further protest and shifting the conversation from the deaths of unarmed Black Americans to underlying social dynamics and institutionalized racism. What began as a vigil evolved into a sustained protest and now a movement.

The broad influence of social move-

‘Kingsman’

The comic book-inspired flick is dress in all the threads but is no gentleman after all, B6

ments has transcende d venues of creative expression, such as artwork.

As part of Black History Month and sponsored by Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, O’Neill is hosting the Power of Youth Movements in Black History art exhibit. Featuring artwork created by Frank Garcia-Ornelas, GSSW ’16, the exhibit fuses the historical legacy of nonviolent protest sparked by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and current issues of police brutality and state violence faced by the AfricanAmerican community. By combining visual art and pertinent social issues, Garcia-Ornelas aims to bring incidences of injustice to light.

The Power of Youth Movements in Black History is an art exhibit that

See Power, B7

Weekend Box Office Report.........................B6 Hardcover Bestsellers....................................B6 ‘Oscar Nominated Shorts’.............................B6