Heights 9-30-10

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Vol. XC, No. 31

THE HEIGHTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

www.bcheights.com

Fences to enclose Dustbowl Construction of Stokes to close Dustbowl until 2012

BY PATRICK GALLAGHER Assoc. News Editor

A trio of construction projects that will cost a total of $100 million was approved by the Boston College Board of Trustees last Friday.

The preliminary stage of construction on the 183,000 square-feet Stokes Academic Building will commence on Monday, Oct. 4, with the preparations to erect a fence around nearly the entire perimeter of the Dustbowl.

“This is a significant first step for the University in terms of implementing the Master Plan,” said Executive Vice President Patrick Keating. “It’s not often that the University

makes a decision to invest $100 million in its future.”

Also approved at Friday’s meeting was a renovation of the University’s property at 129 Lake Street, formerly known as Bishop Peterson Hall, in addition to a renovation of portions of the Gasson Hall interior.

“The real work starts now,” said Keating, who has been one of the chief architects behind the University’s Institutional Master Plan, which was first announced in 2007.

The Stokes contract was awarded to Walsh Brothers Inc., a Boston-based contractor, for $62 million, and the 129 Lake St. contract was awarded to a second yet-to-be-named contractor for $15.8 million, Keating said.

Also included in the $100 million that was approved by the Board of Trustees is financing for various utility projects, interior work on multiple buildings, architectural contracts, and other construction costs.

Keating said that the renovation of 129 Lake

St., coupled with the future renovation of 2121 Commonwealth Ave., will clear the way for the administrative offices currently located in More Hall to be relocated to the Brighton Campus.

This in turn will allow for the razing of More HAll to make way for a residence hall.

“Those two allow us to tear down More Hall so we can begin the construction of the residence hall,” Keating said.

Walsh Brothers constructed 21 Campanella Way, 110 St. Thomas More, and the original Bapst Library. The contractor has also recently worked on various building and renovation projects at Boston University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Northeastern University, among other institutions.

All of the construction workers involved in the project will be unionized, Keating said, and all will go through a worker orientation program to avoid issues between workers and COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

See Construction, A4

The Fray concert cost UGBC $80 K

BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor

The student government’s non-budgeted losses from last semester’s Spring Concert amounted to about $80,000, administrators said.

The Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC), budgeted $50,000 for last year’s Spring Concert featuring The Fray and Steel Train. Because of low ticket sales, however, an additional $80,000 needed to be allocated to make up for losses.

The UGBC declined to release the concert’s final figures publicly until recently.

When planning concert events, the UGBC does not budget for a sell-out crowd, said Mark Miceli, associate dean of the Student Programs Office (SPO).

The total operating budget of the concert was about $160,000. The UGBC had budgeted $50,000 to subsidize

‘

INSIDE SPORTS

Kristie Mewis has the soccer team aiming at a championship, B12

THE SCENE

The Scene celebrates ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ 36th anniversary, B1

MARKETPLACE

Israeli West Bank construction freeze ends, B6 Classifieds, A5 In the News, B6 Editorials, A6 Editors’ Picks, B11 Forecast on Washington, B8 On the Flip Side, B9 Police Blotter, A2 Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down, A7 TV Close-up, B2 Weather, A2

student tickets. Ticket sales amounted to $30,000, falling short of covering the $110,000 needed to break even.

Some of the difference was covered by a reserve account managed by SPO and used for making up budgetary losses.

“The UGBC had an inactive reserve account to cover them just in the case of these events, and we used that money,” Miceli said.

“That had been built up over years of being under budget. It’s something that the University requires them to have just in case of these situations,” he said.

Some of the losses were redistributed from other departments within the UGBC that were under budget for the year.

Miceli declined to release information on how much money was redistributed from within the UGBC budget. But, he said, some of it could have come from the executive department’s discretionary fund or from other under budget departments, such as the AHANA Leadership

The orange line (above) represents the fence that will soon enclose the Dustbowl.

Stabbing victim released

Hegarty returns home, police issue warrant

BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor

The student victim in last weekend’s stabbing in the Mods has been released from the hospital and is currently at home. An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspected assailant.

Boston College Police Department (BCPD) officers detained four people

and arrested one individual in connection with the fight in which Hegarty was stabbed.

Twenty-one year-old Santos Carrasquillo of Cambridge was arraigned in Brighton District Court Monday on the charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, his shod foot, which

See Assault, A4

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

$50,000 of losses from The Fray were accounted for in the UGBC executive budget.

Conte Forum to host Ice Jam

Council (ALC).

“The total loss to UGBC was probably less than $80,000 because of all the other budgets that were under budget,” Miceli said.

Micaela Mabida, president of the UGBC and CSOM ’11, said the budget results from the concert allowed her to analyze some of this year’s executive

BY TAYLOUR KUMPF

See The Fray, A4

Asst. News Editor

The Boston College athletics department, together with the Undergraduate Government of BC (UGBC), has announced plans for the inaugural Ice Jam, a hockey and basketball pep rally, to be held in Conte Forum on Oct. 26.

Both the men’s and women’s bas-

ketball teams, and the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, will be participating in this unique event.

Many colleges throughout the country have what is known as “Midnight Madness” the night before their basketball team begins practicing for the season.

Ice Jam will be an opportunity

See Ice Jam, A4

Faculty promote diversity

BY PATRICK GALLAGHER Assoc. News Editor

The Council of AHANA Faculty at BC has been formed to help represent and support AHANA professors who are seeking promotion.

“The University – from the president through individual departments and faculty members – must be committed to the recruitment and retention of AHANA faculty at BC,” said Rhonda Frederick, director of the Council and a professor in the English department, who also serves as the director of the African and African Diaspora Studies Program (AADS).

She emphasized the important role professors of AHANA background play in a university setting, and the need for a more diverse faculty at BC. “AHANA faculty contribute more to this University than courses that fulfill the cultural diversity requirement,” Frederick said. “To list our contribution here is onerous,” she said.

She said that the need for such an estimation of value “speaks to the kinds of issues that must be overcome.”

At BC, 109 out of 760 full-time faculty members are AHANA. While that 14.3 percent is significantly higher than it was 10 years ago – when 10.4 percent of BC’s full-time faculty identified as AHANA

See Faculty, A4

CECILIA PROVVEDINI / HEIGHTS STAFF

Diplomats rubbed shoulders with NGO representatives at the Boston Symposium on the Arms Trade Treaty at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

Discontinued U.N. conference held in downtown Boston Student-organized event brings U.N. delegates together

BY REBECCA KAILUS Heights Staff

Delegates gathered in Boston this week to discuss technical details of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, which aims to regulate the international trade on small arms. The Boston Sym-

posium on the Arms Trade Treaty, which was originally scheduled to take place at Boston College, was conceived and organized by Leon Ratz, A&S ’11.

Ratz, who works for Amnesty International for seven years, had attempted to organize the conference at BC and hold it in early June. Organizational complications, however, forced Ratz to postpone the conference and seek the University of Massachusetts, Boston as an institutional sponsor.

The foreign ministries of the governments of Australia, Austria, and Luxembourg were also co-sponsors of the

event, which ran from Thursday evening to this morning.

Ratz said he has observed the Arms Trade Treaty process over the course of the last four years in his role at Amnesty International. “Last year I was at [the] U.N. when they adopted the resolution that launched negotiations for the Arms Trade Treaty. I was there for the vote,” he said.

“I came back to Boston, and I started hearing how there is not enough time in the process. Somebody calculated there

See Conference, A4

TopFive

Thursday, September 30, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

things to do on campus this week

Music in the Afternoon

1

Cindi Bigelow on leadership

Today Time: 4:30 p.m.

Location: Bapst Library

BC’s music department will be hosting an afternoon musical performance featuring Schumann’s “Fairy Tales’ and Bruch’s “Eight Pieces” performed on clarinet, piano, and viola.

2

Today Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Murray Room

Join Cindi Bigelow, BC ’82, president of Bigelow Tea, as she shares leadership advice that she has given to both CEOs and students on how to be an effective manager.

Faithful and Free

3

Chamber Lecture Series

Friday Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Murray Room

Yves Congar, Dominican ecclesiologist, will discuss the vocation and mission of the laity, specifically their marked influence on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.

FEATURED ON CAMPUS

Texting while driving banned

4

Friday Time: 12 p.m.

Location: Heights Room

The Chamber Lecture Series, hosted by the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, will feature Chris O’Donnell, renown actor famous for his role as Batman and BC ’92.

BC Football vs. Notre Dame Saturday Time: 8 p.m.

Location: Alumni Stadium Cheer on the BC football team as they face off against long-time rival Notre Dame. Support your Eagles in the Holy War against the Fighting Irish Saturday evening at Alumni Stadium.

5

IntheNews

FOUR DAY WEATHER FORECAST TODAY

75° Showers 68°

FRIDAY

71° Heavy Rain 52°

SATURDAY

64° Sunny

University Man commits suicide at the Univ. of Texas, students remain fearful According to a report by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Colton Tooley, a 19-year-old at the University of Texas, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, fired off several shots before killing himself on Tuesday in the University’s main library. No one else was injured when Tooley reportedly strode through the campus firing the weapon. Police pursued him into the library, where he shot himself on the sixth floor, according to the report. University officials sent text messages and warned students via outdoor loudspeakers of the immediate threat.

46°

SUNDAY

62° Mostly Sunny 46°

SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A Guide to Your Newspaper The Heights Boston College – McElroy 113 140 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467 Editor-in-Chief (617) 552-2223

Local News Heightened safety concerns result from several gruesome murders

AP FILE PHOTO

The state of Massachusetts is the 30th state to join a nationwide campaign to ban texting while driving.

B Y J EN S TEWART

Massachusetts is the 30th state to join the texting ban.

National campaigns limiting distracStarting today, Massachusetts drivers tions while driving have surfaced throughcaught texting behind the wheel will be out the country, and celebrities such as pulled over and will face large fines, ac- Oprah and the Jonas Brothers are speaking cording to a report by the Associated Press. out against texting behind the wheel.

The state joins the nationwide initiative to Both the Registry of Motor Vehicles limit distractions while driving.

(RMV) and AAA are workDrivers can expect a $100 ing to inform drivers of the f ine for their f irst texting texting ban. The RMC adverStarting today, offense and $500 for repeat tised the law through eight offenses. drivers in the state of large digital billboards on The new law also prohibits Massachusetts who highways across the state and scanning the Internet on a electronic road signs posting are caught texting similar information. AAA has phone or other mobile device while driving and forbids behind the wheel will put out two public service anyone under the age of 18 be pulled over and announcements and has sent from talking on a cell phone two million e-mails about the while driving, according to will face large fines. new law to its Massachusetts the report. members.

The state joins a Drivers who are 18 and Many Boston College stuunder will be cited with the nationwide initiative dents were supportive of the standard $100 fine, but they to limit distractions new law, and relayed personal will also lose their license for stories about their experiwhile driving.

60 days and will be required ences with drivers who were to take a driver retraining texting. “I was rear-ended course. by a girl who was texting,” Governor Deval Patrick signed the bill said Tom Regan, A&S ’14. “You shouldn’t earlier this year and said that it should help text and drive, it’s really dangerous. It’s a make roads in the state safer. really fair law.”

Last year, nearly 6,000 people were “I do not text and drive,” said Courtney killed in crashes reported to have involved Burke, A&S ’13. “It’s a big problem.” distracted driving. In the state of Mas“You don’t need to be talking to anysachusetts alone, there were 400 crashes one while driving,” said Amanda Digitale, in which cell phones were reported to be a CSON ’14. “Multitasking is especially hard contributing factor. for new drivers.”  For The Heights

Two 20-year-old men involved in the May shooting of 14year-old Jaewon Martin were ordered to be held without bail after their Suffolk Superior Court arraignment yesterday, according to a report by The Boston Globe. Timothy Hearns and Ramon Silvelo-Miles were arraigned on charges of first-degree murder in the slaying of Martin. This case is one of several murders this year that have heightened concerns about the safety of Boston’s streets. Investigators are currently probing another shocking case, the murder of four people early Tuesday morning in Mattapan.

On Campus BC continues its ascent in the ranks of top research institutions A recent assessment of doctoral programs shows that Boston College is continuing its ascent to the tops ranks of American research institutions. The National Research Council (NRC), which reviews the country’s top research institutions every decade, released its findings on Tuesday. BC’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the PhD program within the Connell School of Nursing both received high rankings from the NRC. The data from the findings indicated high faculty research productivity and competitive doctoral programs.

National One dead, several injured in bus crash outside of Washington, D.C. BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Maryland State Police said a commuter bus plunged off a highway outside the nation’s capital, killing one person and injuring several others. State police spokesman Greg Shipley said parents and children were aboard the bus that fell 45 feet off a skyramp of the Washington beltway and landed below on Interstate 270 in Bethesda. Montgomery County fire department spokesman Capt. Oscar Garcia said crews had to extricate four trapped people and that two had life-threatening injuries. Rescue workers had to prop up ladders to reach inside the shattered windows.

Editorial General (617) 552-2221 Managing Editor (617) 552-4286 News Desk (617) 552-0172 Sports Desk (617) 552-0189 Marketplace Desk (617) 552-3548 Features Desk (617) 552-3548 Arts Desk (617) 552-0515 Photo (617) 552-1022 Fax (617) 552-4823 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 Michael Caprio, News Editor, at (617) 552-0172, or e-mail news@bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the News Desk.

Sports Scores Want to report the results of a game? Call Zach Wielgus, Sports Editor, at (617) 552-0189, or e-mail sports@bcheights.com.

Arts Events The Heights covers a multitude of events both on and off campus – including concerts, movies, theatrical performances, and more. Call Kristen House, Arts and Review Editor, at (617) 552-0515, or e-mail review@ bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the Arts Desk.

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 Matthew DeLuca, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or e-mail editor@ bcheights.com.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Police Blotter 9/25/10 – 9/26/10 Saturday, September 25 1:56 a.m. - A report was filed regarding the arrest of Adam Hines of Williamstown, Mass. in Corcoran Commons for assault and battery. The party was booked at BCPD headquarters.

2:04 a.m. - A report was filed regarding the confiscation of a fraudulent identification in Corcoran Commons. A report will be forwarded to ODSD for review.

2:35 a.m. - A report was filed regarding BC police officers who responded to the Mods on a report of a fight resulting in injuries.

Arriving officers reported that one person had been stabbed. Emergency first aid was given to the party and he was transported to a medical facility by ambulance for treatment. Officers located and detained several individuals associated with the incident.

Detectives are investigating.

7:00 a.m. - A report was filed regarding several suspicious parties at BCPD headquarters. The parties were identified, issued written trespass warnings, and escorted off BC property.

11:23 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a party who was attempting to scalp tickets at Alumni Stadium. The party was identified.

1:21 p.m. - A report was filed regarding the arrest of a party for two active warrants.

The party was booked at the BCPD operations post.

2:28 p.m. - A report was filed regarding three parties who were ejected from Alumni Stadium for possessing alcoholic beverages. The parties were instructed not to return to the stadium for the remainder of the day.

Voices from the Dustbowl “What do you think the football team needs to do in order to beat Notre Dame?”

“Don’t throw interceptions.”

—Steven Dekeyser, CSOM ’13

3:17 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a party feeling ill at Alumni Stadium. The party was treated on scene and stated they would seek additional medical treatment at a later time.

8:28 p.m. - A report was filed regarding several people that were tailgating after tailgate hours had ended at Shea Field. The parties were advised and were cooperative in leaving the area.

Sunday, September 26 12:33 a.m. - A report was filed regarding the confiscation of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia from several parties in Walsh Hall. A report will be forwarded to ODSD for review.

—Source: The Boston College Police Department

“Change the quarterback.

I think they need to start Rettig.”

—Jeremy Bates, A&S ’13

“Improve their offense.”

—Rory O’Connor,

CSOM ’14

Delivery To have The Heights delivered to your home each week or to report distribution problems on campus, contact John O’Reilly, General Manager at (617) 552-0547.

Advertising The Heights is one of the most effective ways to reach the BC community. To submit a classified, display, or online advertisement, call our advertising office at (617) 552-2220 Monday through Friday.

The Heights is produced by BC undergraduates and is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year by The Heights, Inc. (c) 2010. All rights reserved.

CORRECTIONS - In the Sept. 27 issue, the article “Rhapsody at the Pops” incorrectly reported that the Pops played Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” as their finale. They played John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

A3

The Heights

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Research up in rankings

By Michael Caprio News Editor

Th e Na t i o n a l R e s e a rc h Council (NRC) has included Boston College’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GA&S) and the Connell School of Nursing’s (CSON) PhD program in its assessment of national doctoral programs.

The NRC reviews 5,000 doctoral programs at 222 of the nation’s research institutions each decade. This decade’s findings were released Tuesday.

Data from the NRC showcased the University’s excellence in doctoral education not only in BC’s programs in theology and philosophy, but also in psychology, economics, English, chemistry, and physics, said Candace Hetzner, associate dean of academic affairs for GA&S, in a statement.

“The NRC results indicate that Boston College is reap-

ing the dividends of its sound investment in doctoral education over the past two decades,” she said.

“The University’s investments in the mid-1990s in strategic funds for theology and the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, as well as economics and philosophy, contributed to high ratings on various dimensions of the new NRC report, especially with regard to faculty’s scholarly output and student GRE scores.”

CSON experienced similar success in its doctoral program, said Patricia Tabloski, assistant dean for graduate programs, in a statement.

“We are pleased with the success of the Connell School among the 52 nursing PhD programs included in the NRC analysis, and especially in the area of support for our doctoral students,” she said.

She said that since the data-

gathering period, the school has undergone continuous growth and has hired an internationally regarded nurse researcher and educator, Susan Gennaro, as dean.

She also said the school has recruited several new faculty, formed collaborative relationships with the Harvard Catalyst Consortium, enhanced research opportunities for faculty and PhD students, and increased the number of electives in its PhD program to enhance scholarship opportunities for students.

This year’s NRC study differs from its 1982 and 1993 additions. This year, the NRC chose not to rank institutions based on institutional reputation. The ranking measured institution’s strength by analyzing the numbers of faculty publications and awards, doctoral student funding, time to degree, and diversity of student population. n

Kevin Hou / Photo Editor

Allston-Brighton Crime Reports 9/21/10 – 9/23/10

Police investigate suspicious advertisement On Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 Boston Police investigated a suspicious Craigslist advertisement for “Eastern European Bodywork – Top Quality Massage – 4 Hands” on Mapleton Street, Allston.

After arriving on the scene, police found three males: one, age 49, naked and receiving a massage from two women, and two other males, aged 24, sitting on a mattress watching a laptop screen.

The police found two females, aged 20 and 21, and one male, aged 24, running the establishment.

These three were written up for operating an unlicensed massage business and keeping a disorderly house. Also, the police found condoms and “green vegetative matter.”

Intoxicated man causes a scene Near midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, Boston Police arrived at McDonald’s in Brighton. A 26year-old male demanded a McChicken from the drive-thru window and, when he was told they were not serving McChicken’s anymore, decided to climb through the drive-thru window and demand the sandwich from inside the store. The man was intoxicated and walked away with a warning.

Suspect in burglary case arrested Boston Police responded to a call at 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, regarding a suspected burglary in process. A witness across the street noticed, then video recorded, a suspect cutting open an apartment window screen. When police arrived, they found the suspect to have taken six pieces of jewelry, a guitar, a violin, CD’s, and sunglasses. The suspect was arrested. The suspect’s girlfriend was allegedly an accomplice and was also arrested.

- Courtesy of the Boston Police Department, District 14

Kevin Hou / Photo Editor

The National Research Committee included BC in its recent assessment of doctoral research programs.

Drug arrest in Cheverus

By Adriana Mariella

The police were notified after the all-male second floor had begun to smell of marijuana.

Boston College Police DeOfficers searched the stupartment (BCPD) officers re- dent’s room, which was the orisponded to a call gin of the smell. on the night of Upon the discovSept. 16 and arery of the subrested a resident Boston College Police stance and idenof Cheverus Hall Department officers tifying its owner, after the discovpolice arrested ery of a substance were notified after the the student for bel ieved to be all-male second floor possession of a marijuana.

D substance [of Cheverus Hall] class This was the w i t h i n te n t to first reported ar- had begun to smell of distribute. rest of a student In Massachumarijuana. for substance setts, being conpossession on victed of possesscampus this year. Only five stu- ing over an ounce of marijuana dents were arrested last year for can result in imprisonment. possession on campus.

Sources close to the student, For The Heights

who wished to remain nameless, maintain that he was not involved in selling, but rather intended to keep the substance for personal use.

“I had no idea that this was going on in Cheverus,” another student said in reference to the arrested student’s activities.

“I never really go on the second f loor, and so I hadn’t noticed the smell.”

In 2008, only five drug-law related arrests were made in BC dormitories.

“I would have thought that the number would be much larger,” said one student. “I thought it was much more prevalent.

And, since it’s not very common, I can’t believe it happened in Cheverus.” n

BC, Tufts start program B y M ichael C aprio News Editor

Th e Un ive rs i ty h a s a n n o u n c e d a j o i n t p rog ra m between the Boston College Law School and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University that matches students’ law degrees with a degree in urban and environmental policy and planning.

The degree program, which will begin this fall, offers a Master of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning and Juris Doctor degree, obtainable in four years. Five years are normally required to obtain such a degree.

Administrators said the degree plays on the strengths of the two institutions. Tufts’ Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers a program in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, but does not have a law school. BC offers no Master’s program in environmental science and policy planning.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer this new dual degree,” said Zyg Plater, a professor at BC Law, in a statement.

“It teams up two highly-

ranked programs in these two ments, social and environfields. No other graduate pro- mental justice, corporate regram in New England offers an sponsibility, and land use. All opportunity like this.” of these issues are guided by The proposal for the pro- constitutional, equitable, and gram was written by Jonathan pragmatic principles.”

Witten, a professor at BC Law Students applying to the and a Tufts faculty member. programs will apply to both “Planning and policy analy- schools independently, and sis guide future development will then take first year courspatterns, while es exclusively at the law frames one of the two t h e m e c h a - “[The program] teams s c h o o l s . T h e y nisms, capabili- up two highly-ranked will split their ties, and limits courses between programs in these the two schools of governmental roles in this two fields. No other i n s u b s e q u e n t process,” said years.

J u l i a n A g y e - graduate program in Courses in man, professor New England offers the program inand chair of the environan opportunity like clude UEP departmental justice, this.” ment at Tufts, urban planning in a statement. and design, and “There’s an water resources —Zyg Plater, important relap o l i c y. O t h e r tionship here, Professor at the Boston courses offered and we hope to through the law College Law School g i ve s t u d e n t s program are adwho enroll in the dual degree ministrative agency process, p rog ra m a m o re c o m p l e te environmental law, and real u n d e rs ta n d i n g o f t h e e n - estate finance. tire process,” Agyeman said.

A committee of advisers “Planning and law immerse drawn from both schools will students in broad debates and ensure that students receive critical thinking about the proper mentoring in their proenvironment, human settle- gram course work. n

A4

Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Heights

Project to begin Monday, continue for two years Construction, from A1

students passing around the construction site.

The fence encircling the Dustbowl, which is expected to take between a week and 10 days to completely assemble, will also block access to the parking spaces between McElroy Commons and Lyons Hall. Construction vehicles and supplies will enter campus through the Beacon Street gate.

Within two to three weeks, workers will begin relocating utility lines that intersect the site, after which they will begin the process of excavating and laying down the foundation for the north and south wings of Stokes.

The first phase of construction is expected to be the most disruptive, and will take two to three

months to complete.

The subsequent stages of construction will involve the construction of structural steel and masonry walls around the building, which is expected to take six to nine months to complete, followed by the exterior stone facade and interior work, which is expected to last about a year.

“This has been in the works for two-plus years,” Keating said.

“While it seems smooth and tidy at this point, there’s been a tremendous amount of work.”

He said that the challenge is now to keep the Stokes project on time and on budget.

University officials and the contractor have determined that construction hours for all three phases will be Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Keating said that while it will be impossible to mask the noise, the most disruptive work will be scheduled for non-peak classroom hours.

“There will be some serious digging and foundation work [at first],” Keating said. “We’re going to try to be cognizant of class times.”

Over the course of the past month, Keating and Vice President of Student Affairs Patrick Rombalski have made multiple appearances before student groups to gauge the student response to the impending construction of Stokes and to hear any concerns related to the project.

A Web site, www.bc.edu/stokeshall, has been created to publicize information related to construction.

A live Web camera will also serve to keep the campus aware of progress on Stokes.

“The students were suggesting a lot of these communiques,” Keating said. “I think things will come up and we’re going to have to continue to be responsive and adjust.”

Administrators have also been actively working with faculty, students, and neighbors to keep everyone up-to-date on construction proceedings and on what areas of campus will be available for recreational use due to the closure of the Dustbowl.

Locations under consideration for large, planned student events that would have otherwise occurred in the Dustbowl include the lawn in front of Bapst Library, O’Neill Plaza, and the plaza in front of Conte Forum,

Conference held under sponsorhip of UMass Conference, from A1

was only 120 hours designated by the U.N. to negotiate. Everything should be wrapped up by 2012. An Arms Trade Treaty can be a very complex treaty,” Ratz said.

Ratz was in a lecture at BC last fall when he came up with idea of bringing delegates to Boston to allow more time for negotiation between formal U.N. meetings.

It was then that Ratz began to talk to administrators about the possibility of the conference being held at BC. “Part of the reason why we couldn’t do it at BC was logistical reasons and the time frame,” he said. “It was on such a short notice, initially it was scheduled to take place in June. That schedule was quite tight, so we moved it to September,” Ratz said.

“UMass-Boston was thrilled to act as sponsors for the conference, and it was a delight working with them.”

Students from BC and UMassBoston then formed a conference organizing team. Claire Ruffing, a member of the student organizing team for the conference and A&S ’11, said the change of venue was positive. “I think it was a f luid transition,” she said. “We were able to invite more people, have a better date, and a better venue.”

Despite the change in venue,

many BC students were still affiliated with the conference. In addition to student volunteers from UMass-Boston, 10 to 15 BC students also volunteered their time and energy.

“There was a student organizing team, students helping me out in the spring, 10-15 students volunteering throughout the conference,” Ratz said. “Certainly since the idea came from BC it made sense to have BC volunteers.”

Padraig O’Malley, a professor at UMass-Boston and chair of the symposium, recognized both Ratz and the student volunteers for their contributions during a speech at the conference.

“The person who made this possible is an undergraduate at Boston College, Leon Ratz,” he said.

“He is a driving force for making this conference happen. We cannot underestimate the contribution he made. I wouldn’t call this the Boston Conference, but the Leon Ratz conference.

There are a lot of volunteers here, all of them are students working part-time and full-time. What they do will help the generation of tomorrow.”

More than 45 countries and organizations and a total of 90 delegates attended the conference.

Egypt, Iraq, Zimbabwe, the Ivory Coast, Israel, the United Kingdom,

Assault, from A1 allegedly occurred during the same incident as the stabbing in the Mods on Saturday, said Jake Wark, press secretary for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Carrasquillo allegedly kicked a 29-year old male in a fight, and is the only one who has been arrested in relation to the incident. Following Monday’s arraignment, he was released without bail and ordered to return to court Nov. 16.

The other three people detained were not arrested, but are due to appear in court on Oct. 14.

BC officials originally reported that four were arrested. Three of

Arts and Sciences (A&S) Honors Program, the A&S service center, the academic advising center, and the First Year Experience offices. Also included in the plans is a common area, a coffee shop, conference rooms, outdoor gardens, and a plaza.

Keating recognized the family of current trustee and former board chairman Patrick T. Stokes, BC ’64, for their $22 million gift to the University that helped launch fundraising efforts for the building. “The Stokes family spurred this,” Keating said.

“If not for them, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”

University Spokesman Jack Dunn credited all those administrators and contractors who contributed to the planning of Stokes. “It’s been a super effort,” he said. n

UGBC releases Fray numbers The Fray, from A1

France, and Germany were some of the nations in attendance, along with several NGOs. The General Assembly of the U.N. brought the concept of the treaty to the attention of the secretary general in 2006, requesting to create a group of governmental experts to look into the issue of small arm misuse.

Member states began negotiating the terms of the treaty in 2008 and they are to be completed by 2012. This intergovernmental conference allowed delegates to further discuss pertinent arms trade topics and resolve issues in the negotiations, Ratz said.

“The whole point of this project was to provide support and more time for diplomats to have the right and most difficult conversations in making sure things go smoothly as we go forward with the development of this important treaty,” he said.

The goals of the conference have been a success, Ratz said. “It has been a smashing success going through sessions today,” he said.

“I really have seen how these diplomats have taken the time to exchange ideas and how useful this was to support the formal process,” he said. “We’d love to do another one again in Boston if the opportunity existed. Several delegates have expressed excitement about having it again in Boston. But, who knows? We’ll see.” n

Cambridge man arraigned Monday for assault and battery the four, however, were released without being charged for lack of evidence.

“There was a story going around on Saturday that four people had been arrested, but this is not the case,” Wark said.

Jeremiah Hegarty, CSOM ’11, who was stabbed in the same altercation, is currently recovering from his abdomen surgery at his home and is expected to return to campus for the fall semester, his roommates said.

He underwent surgery while being treated at Beth Israel Hospital, where he spent four days in recovery after Saturday morning’s stabbing.

In light of the incident, which BC

Rombalski said in a statement.

McElroy Commons will have extended hours during the construction period, with the main entrances likely remaining open from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., Rombalski said.

Keating said that students have voiced concerns that the College Road bus stop should remain operational.

“Obviously we had some concerns about how McElroy would be impacted,” Keating said, adding that thus far, administrators have “gotten good reviews” from students with knowledge of the plans.

Once finished, Stokes will include 36 new classrooms, as well as faculty offices for a number of departments, including classical studies, English, history, philosophy, theology, the College of

branch budget.

“We did in-depth analysis of the budget for this year,” Mabida said.

She worked with UGBC Finance Directors Brendan Driscoll, CSOM ’12, and John Stanley, CSOM ’11, in creating a budget, which she submitted to the UGBC Senate in the summer. The Senate approved the budget two weeks ago in a 7-5 vote.

The executive department’s $63,021 discretionary fund, was an issue of contention during Senate debates in previous weeks.

“We’ve always had a discretionary fund and that’s what it’s for,” Mabida said, in reference to the use of discretionary funds last year to cover budget losses.

The Fray concert struggled to f ill Conte Forum despite having been organized partly as the result of a UGBC survey that showed a high demand for a Top 40 artist.

The survey received 600 responses. James D’Ambra, former executive director of campus entertainment for

Molly LaPoint and Tanner Edwards contributed to this report.

UGBC and BC ’10, said in a previous interview with The Heights that the UGBC is usually lucky to get a 10 percent response on surveys – making the one surrounding The Fray larger than usual.

Following the Spring Concert, the UGBC allocated an extra $1,000 to the annual Mod Stock event, featuring Motion City Soundtrack, in order to “make up for” The Fray, said Michael Joyce, vice president of the UGBC Senate and A&S ’12.

Costs for the Spring Concert included $26,000 for staging, equipment, lights, labor, a generator, and other

production costs.

Th e UG B C a l s o s p e n t $18,000 in fees paid to the Bureau of Conferences for furniture, chairs, labor, dressing room set-up, and catering for artists and laborers.

The UGBC also incurred costs for BC Police Department (BCPD) officers who patrolled Conte Forum.

It’s the policy of the UGBC and SPO not to report how much is paid to artists and the booking agents, who receive a percentage of the artists’ fees, Miceli said. n Chris Marciniac contributed to this report.

Ice Jam to welcome start of winter sport seasons Ice Jam, from A1

administrators described as “an isolated and anomalous event,” BCPD increased patrols in the Mods this week to allay student concerns.

BCPD Chief John King said the BCPD will continue to do so throughout the weekend.

“The BCPD has increased its patrols in the Mods and routinely collaborates with Residential Life on matters relating to safety and security,” King said.

“We encourage students to contact the BCPD if they should need assistance during campus and social events,” King said.n

alex trautwig / heights editor

Some of the budget short-falls from the Fall Concert were made up for using money from a reserve fund held by the Student Programs Office.

to introduce the players and coaches, and generate excitement for the teams.

“It’s been an idea we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Justin Robinson, executive manager of campus entertainment for the UGBC and CSOM ’11. “The new coaching staff gave us permission to do a Midnight Madness-type event.”

“Every school in the country has Midnight Madness, and now we have a unique opportunity to do this for a national championship hockey team and the basketball team,” he said.

In preparation for the event, Conte Forum will be transformed. One half of the arena

will be ice, and the other half will be set up as a basketball court. “It’s been a dream of the athletic department’s to have a half ice, half court set up in Conte,” Robinson said.

Popular sports commentator Bob Costas will be the “celebrity emcee,” and will lead the teams through contests, while interacting with the fans. As far as securing Bob Costas for the event, Robinson said, “His daughter goes to BC, and Gene DeFilippo talked to him.”

Men’s basketball coach Steve Donahue and men’s hockey coach Jerry York are both in support of Ice Jam, Robinson said. “Coach Donahue and Coach York have both agreed to do this thing. Their role has been the willingness to allow us

to do this.”

“The creative process is coming from [the UGBC], but we’ve been talking to athletes about what they want to do, as well,” Robinson said. “It’s been a collaboration of the UGBC, the athletes, and the athletic department.”

“We’re hoping for the buzz on campus to be there,” Robinson said. “We’re looking for national attention.”

Ice Jam will be open to the general public and admission will be free. “The event is on a Tuesday night, so everyone can come, not only from BC, but residents from the surrounding area, also.”

Coinciding with the event, a new lighting and shade system, allowing Conte Forum lights to be turned off and on in a matter of seconds, will be unveiled. n

AHANA faculty call for institutional commitment to diversity Faculty, from A1 – it still trails behind the national average of roughly 19 percent minority-based faculties, as was reported by The Boston Globe last February.

Frederick said that one of the primary motives behind the Council’s formation was the need to advocate for AHANA faculty members up for promotion or tenure. “[We] will work to support junior faculty seeking promotion to associate professor and senior faculty seeking promotion to full professor,” Frederick said, adding that the Council would also work alongside BC to complement its recruitment of AHANA faculty.

Patricia DeLeeuw, vice provost of faculties, attributed the lack of AHANA faculty members at BC to a limited number of AHANA PhDs, particularly in

the business management field.

“Lots of American universities are chasing a small pool,” DeLeeuw said. “Management tends to have a significant number of Asian-Americans, but very few African-Americans and Latinos.”

She said there is a need to attract a deeper pool of AHANA candidates for future hiring.

“We pay careful attention to making sure we have a diverse pool of candidates for every search,” DeLeeuw said. “For AHANA students, it is crucial that we have AHANA faculty.”

The need for greater diversity within BC’s various departments – and for a council to advocate on the behalf of AHANA professors – is magnified within the accounting department of the Carroll School of Management (CSOM), said Theresa Hammond, who was a member of the department for 18 years,

including three years as department chair.

She said that the department has not tenured an AfricanAmerican professor since 1990.

She said that the loss of diversity within the accounting department hurt the students who had previously benefitted from a greater variety of perspectives.“I think its incredibly important … that you want to have an environment that’s welcoming to all kinds of students,” Hammond said.

Hammond highlighted the case of Andrea Roberts, a former member of BC’s accounting department who was denied tenure in 2007. Hammond said that Roberts, who now teaches at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, should not have been denied tenure, and that Roberts had a solid teaching and research record.

“I had been at Boston College

since 1990, and I was just really shocked that it happened,” Hammond said.

According to BC statutes, tenure proceedings are kept strictly confidential unless a candidate who has been denied tenure makes an appeal to the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculties, in which case the candidate would be entitled to an explanation of what reasons contributed to the denial.

Roberts said that she did not feel comfortable discussing her personal situation, and only said that she was never offered an explanation for her denial of tenure.The dean of CSOM was not required by the University statutes to give her an explanation.

For the majority of the faculty at BC, tenure comes up in the sixth year. Each professor’s teaching and research records are closely examined by their

respective department as well as their respective school’s promotion and tenure committee.

Both the department and the committee vote on whether to grant tenure, and then the final decision is at the discretion of the president.

DeLeeuw said that roughly 50 faculty members are up for tenure each year, although she said the number fluxuates. Typically, two-thirds of those candidates will be granted tenure, she said.

Frederick said that she had not heard of Roberts’ case prior to her departure from BC, but that she hoped the Council could act as a voice of solidarity for professors in the position that Roberts faced.

“BC is notorious in keeping tenure decisions within departments,” Frederick said. “Once the [Council] is up and running, I hope that these situations will be more known and that a net-

work of supportive colleagues could advocate on candidates’ behalf.”

Both DeLeeuw and CSOM Dean Andrew Boynton defended the University’s decision regarding Roberts’ tenure candidacy.

Both cited the University statutes as preventing them from discussing specific details of the case.

“If we hire you in a tenure track position, then we fully intend that you’ll get tenure,” DeLeeuw said.

She said that Roberts didn’t just “slip through the cracks.”

Boynton said that Roberts’ case was treated in the same manner as any other candidate for tenure. “It’s a series of steps where each candidate is reviewed in terms of their service, teaching, and research.”

“In terms of her seeing me for an explanation, that’s not in the statutes,” Boynton said. n

CLASSIFIEDS

A5

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 30, 2010

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With gratitude, Roseanne and Tim. BABYSITTER NEEDED. Looking for an experienced babysitter on Thursdays for a 1 1/2 year old now through November. Hours approx.

8a.m.-1p.m. with some flexibility. Ten minute walk from campus in Newton Centre.

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BABYSITTER. Need mature and responsible older student or grad student to pick up two great girls, ages 15 and 11, from school, drive to activities and home (near football stadium), make easy dinner. Must be excellent drive (SUV provided). Hours approx. 2:00/2:30. until approx. 7:00 Mon-Thurs (hours vary). Some help

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MISCELLANEOUS Interested in blogging for The Heights? Contact Dara Fang at fangda@bc.edu for more information or to submit a tip.

“Some pig,” Charlotte wrote.

She rolled her eyes and went on with her business, scorning Wilbur more than ever.

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.

Answers to Crossword and Sudoku

A6

The Heights

Editorials

Etymologies

Pause for the Dustbowl With fences going up on the Dustbowl this coming Monday, students should spend this weekend enjoying all that it has to offer.

Monday, September 30, 2010

Elevade (el•e•vade) (v) 1: The use of an electronic device to avoid an awkward person or situation.

2: Using this technique in an elevator, in particular.

Example: I saw that guy from last Friday night in Campanella Way today, and totally elevaded.

This coming Monday, the Universi- tion on Stokes may well be of equal ty will begin work on Stokes Academ- importance to this University. Two ic Building. We encourage students to classes of BC students will enter the read our coverage of the construction University without knowing what the plans, and to look closely at the pho- Dustbowl should look like. They may tos and graphics depicting what the even learn to refer to it as the Univerfinal product is projected to look like. sity Green. Student Activities Day, Un t i l t h e fe n c e spontaneous kickgoes up, it will be ball games, the For two years, the diff icult for the pleasures of the Dustbowl, one of the student body, and warmer months – for the University centers of campus life, will they’ll know nothcommunity as a ing of this. And cease to exist. Since this whole, to fully apwhen our DustUniversity moved to the preciate the scale bowl reopens, it o f t h i s p ro j e c t . Heights from South Boston, will be different.

For two years, It will be framed the Dustbowl has been a the Dustbowl, one by an impres part of what it means to of the centers of sive new building, campus life, will one which unattend Boston College. cease to exist. doubtedly will do Since this Univermuch to increase sity moved to the Heights from South our University’s prominence. But Boston, the Dustbowl has been a part this campus is not just a projof Boston College’s legacy. Athletic ect. For many of us, it is a home. competitions were held there, Army Come what may over the next two cadets drilled there, students read years, we hope that students take under the trees. The Dustbowl has these last several days to enjoy the been as much a part of campus life space that 97 classes of Heightsmen as Gasson Hall, and now both, si- and women have enjoyed before them. multaneously and for the first time We challenge students to find ways in BC history, will be inaccessible. to enjoy the Dustbowl while we still In 1913, a group of students have it. It’s a performance space, an trudged up from Lake Street to what athletics field, a study area; it’s a would come to be named Gasson refuge for sunbathers, the occasional Tower. Father Gasson met them there, couple, and every student with a club and told the students, who would or a cause. And for two years, it will constitute the first class to graduate be gone. Historic moments come from BC at its new location, of the around infrequently, and must be historic importance of the moment. marked. Let’s take the next few days The commencement of construc- to celebrate the Dustbowl.

Drops of knowledge

Matt Laud/ Heights Illustration

This teaching program allows students to bridge the gap between academics and enjoyable weekend pursuits.

On Saturday, Nov. 6., class will be in session at Boston College. These classes, instead of being taught by University professors, will be taught by undergraduate students as a part of the Splash program.

The Splash program began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has since spread to Duke, Northwestern, and other universities.

We are glad that BC will now be placed alongside these universities. Education is hardly about sitting in a classroom or taking good notes. This program will offer students an opportunity to test the dictum that education is a flame to be stoked, not a vessel to be filled. Our generation has been tested, retested, and evaluated to a state of scholastic apathy. It is time to be excited about learning again.

We have encouraged student lead-

ers in past editorials to offer activities that not only spark student interest, but also bridge the gap between academic and social life, mediating the “work hard, play hard” paradigm that dominates on campus, but that sometimes impedes formation of the whole person.

The Splash program will do all of the above and then some. For that, we thank its organizers and all student participants in advance for their ingenuity in forming unique programming options on campus. We encourage all students with a deep passion and knowledge of a subject, and therefore all students at BC, to look into volunteering their time to show high school students that higher education can be more than mundane, and that college life does not mean the end of wide-eyed curiosity.

The friendly crusade The game on Saturday is part of a proud tradition, and if we would like to continue it, we should treat our rivals with respect.

As we approach the long-anticipated weekend of football rivalry against Notre Dame, The Heights would like to share our enthusiasm for the continuation of this longstanding “Holy War” tradition. We would also like to remind our fellow spectators to put their best Superfan foot forward to exemplify what makes Boston College the more sportsmanlike community.

It goes without saying that unless you have an extremely compelling prior engagement, this Saturday should find you donning your golden t shirt and embarking on a journey to Alumni Stadium’s student section.

The game will be aired on primetime television, meaning that our school’s fandom will be under scrutiny by the national public. A picture is worth a

thousand words (a live broadcast exponentially more so), and with that in mind, let’s make sure those words are singing praises of our student body, not giving anyone reason to doubt our class or upbringing.

This year’s “Beat ND” shirt has already put forth the right message.

Instead of touting a tacky slogan meant to take a cheap shot at our Midwestern foes, it chooses to focus on the rivalry itself. We’d like to see this attitude continue and encourage simple respectfulness toward our guests and the visiting team. Imagine how you’d like your mother or father to be treated at a Notre Dame home game if you’re struggling for some perspective on the matter. Simply put, you stay classy, BC. Leave the fighting to the Irish.

The Heights The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Matthew DeLuca, Editor-in-Chief John O’Reilly, General Manager Darren Ranck, Managing Editor

Letters to the Editor Smoking statistics inspires confidence I would like to commend you on the story in the last issue regarding smoking on BC’s campus. As a former smoker and editor of The Heights, I see it as one of the major health issues afflicting college campuses, along with the over-consumption of alcohol. I struggled with smoking throughout my college career. It became as much a part of me as the color of my hair or the camera I always carried around campus. Smoking was a sign of individuation and rebellion. As others quit or simply were less likely to socialize around me because of it, however, smoking instead became a kind of selfimposed isolation. I tried and failed to quit many times throughout college, but the addiction got the better of me.

Now that I’ve quit, and the smell and sight of people smoking is once again revolting to me, I look back at all the people who put up with my bad habit

and feel ashamed. I commend the BC community, for the most part, for being smarter than I was and not smoking. To those of you who still smoke, quit!

You save money, improve your quality of life, and severely lower your risk for long-term health problems.

One of the best things about youth is the body’s ability to repair itself quickly. Studies have shown that people who quit before they’re 25 can regain full lung capacity and health; the older you are, the harder it is to quit and the more damage you do that cannot be undone.

Today is the 316th day I have gone without a cigarette, and I look forward to this Nov. 16th and many in the future where I can start to count the years since I smoked. This article encouraged me to stick with it all the more.

Ian Thomas BC ’10

Fans this weekend should focus on support Erin Butler Boston College vs. Notre Dame is supposed to be a friendly rivalry – friendly being the key term. My freshman year, I was embarrassed to see my fellow students yelling obscenities or even throwing objects at Notre Dame fans. I’m all for supporting your team and having a great time at a football game. However, this does not need to come at the expense of the other team’s fan base. Any upperclassmen can tell you that the road trip to South Bend is

one of their favorite BC memories, and now that the contract has been extended, it’s certainly in our best interest to treat our neighbors from South Bend hospitably. So before you throw food at someone purely because they don’t go to the same school as you do, remember that he’s probably one of your classmates’ friends, brother, or dad and that they’re just here to support their team, as well.

All of the energy and passion for BC sports that you have can be much better served by directing them towards actually cheering on your team.

Contributors: Kevin DiCesare, Diana Nearhos, Alex Manta, Alyssa Shaffer, Fiona Tamburini, Jen Schiavo

Erin Butler is a junior in the Carroll School of Management

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submitted 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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Editorial Kaleigh Polimeno, Copy Editor Michael Caprio, News Editor Zach Wielgus, Sports Editor Jacquelyn Herder, Features Editor Kristen House, Arts & Review Editor Daniel Martinez, Marketplace Editor Hilary Chassé, Opinions Editor Ana Lopez, Special Projects Editor Alex Trautwig, Photo Editor Margaret Tseng, Layout Editor

Whether this is by attending the Pep Rally on Friday afternoon, or making Notre Dame fans jealous of our “Sweet Caroline” sing-alongs, there are plenty of ways to channel your energy in a positive manner. Plus, what better incentive do you need to get to Alumni early than a real bald eagle named Challenger flying through the stadium? (much to the dismay of Baldwin ...) So have fun, be hospitable, be loud, and help our Eagles defend the Heights. We are BC!

Michael Saldarriaga, Graphics Editor Christina Quinn, Online Manager Laura Campedelli, Multimedia Coodinator Brooke Schneider, Assoc. Copy Editor DJ Adams, Asst. Copy Editor Patrick Gallagher, Assoc. News Editor Taylour Kumpf, Asst. News Editor Maegan O’Rourke, Assoc. Sports Editor Paul Sulzer, Asst. Sports Editor Kristopher Robinson, Asst. Features Editor

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THE HEIGHTS

Monday, September 30, 2010

A7

OPINIONS

Thumbs Up Challenger – This weekend brings about the renaissance of a proud BC tradition: Challenger, the bald eagle, will be flying during the pre-game ceremonies this Saturday, and all BC Eagles should be sure to leave their pong games in time to see the majestic display.

Let’s just hope he isn’t on the warpath (ooh, ahh).

Chase Rettig – This is your moment (most likely)! The Eagles are counting on you (if Spaz follows through)! Sure, it’s your first game starting and sure, it’s without a doubt the most well attended game of the year, but TU/TD believes in you. So just go out there, do your best, and we’ll all just be happy you tried.

But seriously, don’t screw this up.

Holy War – The tradition marches proudly on, and despite last year’s less than stellar performance, TU/TD has every confidence that this year’s battle will end with those corn-fed yokels running home with their tails between their legs.

The Network - The hotly anticipated film is stirring up some serious backlash from the infamous Zuckerberg. The real shocker here? That Justin Timberlake gives a serious Oscar contender performance. Ah, it seems like just a few years ago he was undressing Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl.

Earth – Jon Stewart’s new book has now officially made all college classes obsolete by including all the necessary information on our planet and its species in one manageable tome. Sorry professors, we’ll no longer be continuing our studies in poetry or theories of economics. Snarky comedians always win in the end.

Macaroni Rascals – The Jersey Shore has gone global!

However, the guido-isms that power the show apparently don’t translate easily. The show will now be released in Japan under the moniker of “the New Jersey life of macaroni rascals.” All in favor of making that the official U.S. title say “aye”.

Thumbs Down Silly Bandz – What are they?

More to the point, why are they? Please send explanations and / or commiserations to editor@bcheights.com.

Segway (part 2) - TU/TD would take it all back, if they only could. After our grievances were aired in the last issue concerning these slowmoving motorized vehicles, it was announced that the president of Segway had died some days ago ... while riding his Segway. This kind of dramatic irony only exists in the crazy world of Segway enthusiasts.

Hair and loathing in D.C.

JANINE HANRAHAN A disaster took place at the United Nations General Assembly meeting last week. The cause of the chaos was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

While dressing for the day, she made a catastrophic choice: pulling her hair up with a butterfly clip. “The clip, in that gleaming metallic silver, was distracting,” Forbes reported. As a result, the other diplomats could look at nothing but her hair. All business screeched to a halt, leaving floodravaged Pakistan (the subject of the meeting) to drown.

Hillary has an unfortunate history of doing things like this, something President Obama clearly should have considered when he chose her for the nation’s top diplomatic post. While serving in the Senate, she once wore a shirt that revealed a bit of cleavage. Her decolletage led to a riot in the streets of Washington, D.C. And as the nation’s First Lady, both her hair and clothing were so outrageous that the press was forced to sideline other stories and cover the wardrobe crisis.

Of course, I am exaggerating. In spite of the clip, serious talks were held at U.N. headquarters, there was never a riot as a result of the cleavage, and the media often managed to cover pertinent issues during the ’90s (even if there was a heavy focus on the enjoyment cigars in the Oval Office).

That being said, one wonders why anyone is talking about Hillary’s hair clip at all.

As Hillary’s number one fan (this is an undisputed fact), I must say

that I hated it. Her hair looked awful, and in my humble opinion, it is getting too long in general. I miss the bygone days of the Democratic Primary, when I could count on her to look amazing every time I saw her. But having a French hairstylist travel the globe is probably a bit too extravagant, so I guess I can live with the far-from-luscious locks. And yet, while I acknowledge the hideous nature of the clip ’do, I would also say, who cares?

According to Forbes, “The accessory lacked the gravitas required of the event and of the topics Clinton was there to discuss,” because these types of clips are commonly worn by “middle and high school girls.”

What does one do with their hair when discussing a floodravaged nation? Could Hillary have worn one of her infamous headbands?

Many young women at my high school wore headbands, so

probably not. Should she have gotten an updo, say, in the style of Sarah Palin? Well, Sarah Palin’s hair is the subject of much debate, too, so I guess that would not be a good idea either.

This argument that Clinton’s hair was not serious enough for the setting is a complete farce. Maybe some of the diplomats did find the clip distracting, but we all have had moments when someone’s appearance surprises

us, and we get over them after five minutes. Furthermore, I do not think the people of Pakistan, who have been left homeless and starving by a natural disaster, are concerned that Secretary Clinton did not give enough thought to her hairstyle when discussing the relief effort.

But let us examine other concerns surrounding the clip. London’s Daily Mail reported, “Mrs. Clinton’s hair was scraped back and clipped on top of her head, but looked lank and in need of some love and understanding,” and went on to say, “With minimal make-up, Mrs. Clinton’s 63 years came into sharp focus …”

While this is far more offensive, at least it is honest. This brouhaha has nothing to do with gravitas or decorum, because no one in his right mind should question whether our Secretary of State is a serious and respected individual.

This is all a matter of appearance. The hairstyle was ugly, and it made Hillary look older than she is. But again, why should that matter to anyone but her?

Humans are visual creatures, so it is natural for us to notice and talk about the way we look, but cases such as this, when the national media gleefully mocks one of the most prominent figures in the United States because of her hairstyle and then tries to justify the insults with lame excuses about it being a matter of propriety, are disgusting. If we, as a society, insist on being petty and shallow, at least let us acknowledge what we are.

Janine Hanrahan is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

Death in the desert HAYLEY TRAHAN-LIPTAK A request for a drop of water used to be easy to fill. In years past a weary traveler would always be given a cup of water, and to refuse would be rude, even immoral. In many other cultures, failing to invite a person inside to one’s home for tea is an abomination and a way of shunning a visitor. But today, people overturn the gallons of water offered to thirsting travelers, ban water from the trail, even arrest those who leave the life-giving offering in the desert.

In the long journey from Central American or South American countries, immigrants are forced to endure unimaginable conditions intended to prevent their journey and discourage them from entering the United States without documentation. Many people pay “coyote” guides to bring them through the dangerous routes, others set out on their own across the desert.

Many more are forced to trek over mountains and through the parching desert, enduring temperatures exceeding 120 degrees. Here they are quite literally hunted by border patrols on ATVs or horseback, or even detected by the modern technology of heat sensors.

Fathers, mothers, even children, carry all they can bring to their new home on their backs, as well as all the provisions they need for the journey.

Immigrants traveling through the desert require copious amounts of water to survive the arid conditions. Any miscalculation of how much water will be needed could be deadly. Imagine walking for four days carrying packs on your back without enough water for yourself or the children walking beside you. Humanitarian groups as well as individual citizens in Arizona and Texas have

Party Time

identified with the plight of immigrants and decided to take action. These groups have established water drop off points, areas that serve as bottled oases for people traveling through the desert.

Jugs of water are placed in the brush, often decorated with prayers for survival and good luck for the travelers. Most groups, such as the organization “No More Deaths,” based in Arizona, log the GPS coordinates of water sites and return to collect empty containers and refill the oasis. For many travelers, these water sites are the difference between life and death in the desert.

The placement of water jugs in the desert, however, is illegal. Such was the contention of Federal Fish and Wildlife officers when they ticketed individuals for littering and others were charged with defacing the refuge with the jugs. Although the appeals court has since overturned these convictions, others who perform the same lifesaving actions could still be charged. The crime is littering – but it reflects far more than the possibility of ruining an environmental site. The charges show the general attitude toward not only the immigrants, but life itself.

Law enforcement agencies are not the only ones who find the actions of groups like No More Deaths reprehensible. Civilians near the water sites have been known to empty out jugs they find or run over them with their cars. These actions show that for them, the debate is not about litter or trash in the environment – it is about undocumented people arriving in the U.S. Yet, by spilling out jugs filled with water, the people are doing far more than arguing for deportation of undocumented immigrants.

They are virtually giving dehydrated immigrants a death sentence in the arid desert.

The littering of jugs is a huge problem. According to a report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, during 2009, 51-82 tons of litter were left on the refuge after approximately 20,700 immigrants traveled through the area.

The trash, the Service claims, is harmBY BEN VADNAL

ful to the wildlife and natural environment the refuge protects. To combat the trash problem, the Service has set specific permitting guidelines for water distribution. All water must be located in two 55-gallon drums present at three locations in the park of 117,107 acres.

The sites, however, are heavily patrolled by border guards and see little traffic as a result.

Humanitarian organizations have petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow multiple sites with large water jugs attached to trees by chains to prevent littering of jugs, but the service has refused to issue such permits. The Service claims that such a setup would encourage immigrants not carrying their own bottles to break the chain and then throw the bottle away farther up the trail. Once again, the value of the environment receives precedence over the life and death conditions of people. The refuge insists that water not be placed in a location that would be a sensitive habitat or used by regular park visitors, such as camping sites or recreation trails. If you are dying of thirst near a popular recreational trail, don’t expect any sort of oasis – it might disturb the visitors.

Although some are arrested for distributing water, the group No More Deaths insists that all its activities are legal, though various agencies may dispute the legality. Not only does the group tag the water bottles with GPS locators and pick up the empty bottles, their motto, “Humanitarian Aid is Never a Crime,” says it all. By refusing to allow water jugs in the desert, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife is placing the visual beauty of a place and the perfection of the environment over human lives. Once that is done it is no longer about politics, immigration, or even law; it’s about life, but mostly death, in the desert.

Hayley Trahan-Liptak is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

The GOP’s demons

TIM O’CONNOR I’d love to spend an entire column telling you how absolutely crazy Christine O’Donnell – candidate for the U.S. Senate in Delaware – is. I could tell you about how she has stonewalled the media on the advice of her handlers and campaign managers, and how she announced last week during her appearance on FOX News that she will not talk to the media until after the November elections. I could tell you how she really, really, really doesn’t want you to masturbate, as she announced in an infomercial she did for MTV in the ’90s (YouTube it). Finally, I could tell you how this “fiscal conservative” who is going to reign in “irresponsible spending” has been living off misappropriated campaign funds for years without holding down a job. But all of that doesn’t really matter.

I’m more interested in the political microcosm that allowed somebody as unqualified, corrupt, and fanatical as O’Donnell to end up as a candidate for one of the highest offices achievable in government. GOP stalwarts like Rove and O’Reilly have already expressed their displeasure with Delaware’s choice, claiming that O’Donnell’s fervent support in the primary will be drowned out by moderates in the main election, and even our old friend Sarah Palin, an O’Donnell supporter, has started to distance herself from the polarizing candidate. If Palin thinks you are unelectable, you have some serious problems.

That aside, is anyone really surprised by the fact that someone like O’Donnell is on the ballot when the past two years of political discourse have consisted of nothing but rhetoric and name calling? A candidate like O’Donnell is the logical result of a GOP rallying call to “take back the government from the socialists.” The Republicans have made it clear that they do not want a government that works based on compromise and debate.

Instead, they’re betting on their fringe base, obstructionism and propaganda, and they’re betting hard.

In O’Donnell’s case, this has worked out splendidly. Her strategy of avoiding the media is effective in a political environment where people don’t want to hear your policy positions. It is a lot easier to pander to an audience of God-fearing, “average” Americans when they don’t know you are corrupt, incompetent, and downright crazy. The media, of course, doesn’t like that very much, and her obstinance has made her the latest punching bag for the 24-hour news cycle.

Even those on the right, however, have something to fear from O’Donnell’s candidacy. If she wins, the Scott Brown’s and John McCain’s of the GOP – the moderates – are, for a lack of a better word, screwed. There is no room for compromise with the demonic harbinger that Obama represents to the fringe right. Just ask Senator Lindsey Graham (R – S.C.). The Republican isn’t even up for reelection, and yet he still finds the Tea Party’s effect on the right “unsustainable” and “dangerous.” In an interview over the summer, Graham described the unchecked anger and fear that he encountered in town hall sessions and at campaign events, and expressed his concern over the long-term effects the movement may have on the party’s electability. For what it’s worth, Tea Party movements in South Carolina have vowed to take Graham down for his support of Elena Kegan. We’ll see how that plays out when he’s up for re-election in 2014.

Frankly, moderate Republicans do have a reason to be concerned. The Tea Party movement – funded by the likes of Rupert Murdoch (owner of NewsCorp) and the Koch brothers (owners of oil powerhouse Koch Industries) – is an election season tool designed to motivate populist anger in support of the party’s policies. The people who orchestrate and bankroll the Tea Party are not middle class Americans who have been “taxed enough already.”

They are business tycoons who don’t want to be taxed at all. The question that O’Donnell and her ilk pose, however, is, “Will the Tea Party go away?”

Once they’ve swept the Republicans to a congressional majority, how will the party leaders stem the anger that they’ve spent two years inspiring? Sitting Republicans had better hope they have a plan, or else they may be next on the chopping block come 2012.

Tim O’Connor is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

A8

The Heights

Thursday, September 30, 2010

FILM

FOOD

PECORINO AND PEPPER PASTA TRY THIS RECIPE FOR CALCIO E PEPE BCHEIGHTS.COM

A MATTER OF TASTE

FASHION

CAMPUS FIND

IS YOUR TASTE TOO HIGHBROW? DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN SNOBBERY AND GOOD TASTE PAGE B2

TWO BC SENIORS DISCUSS WHAT’S NEW ON THEIR TRENDY FASHION BLOG PAGE B3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

1,869 SATURDAYS LATER...

THE SCENE RAISES ITS GLASS TO 36 YEARS OF A COMEDIC INSTITUTION

BY KRISTEN HOUSE | AR T S & REVIEW EDITOR ZAK JASON | ASSOC. ARTS & REVIEW EDITOR A L L I S O N T H E R R I E N | A S S T. A R T S & R E V I E W E D I T O R

I

n a recent Rolling Stone interview, Lorne Michaels described one of his first meetings with Jim Beluschi, an attempt to hire him for the premiere season of Saturday Night Live in 1974. The conversation went as follows: Beluschi: “My TV is covered in spit.”

Michaels: “Why?” “Because I hate it.”

“Then why did you come here?”

“Because I heard you are going to do something different. “The conversation was loosely veiled in idealism and dirty jokes, and the essence that is Saturday Night Live was captured. Michaels’ experiment has definitely proven to be “different,” in that it is the most relevant comedy show on television, and has been for 36 years. The beauty of the show is that you can’t put any one person on a pedestal — it’s already occupied by comedic innovation.

In the past half decade, however, many have argued that the golden age of SNL has past. The Scene thinks otherwise. Yes, you have faltered. But you’re an institution, and institutions have the dignity and fortitude to rebound. So now, on your 36th anniversary, we present to you a reminder of where you were, where you now stand, and the glory you can reclaim.

SEE SNL, B5

Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Heights

B2

+Editor’s Corner

Spaghetti, Sedaris, and talk One day, when my main source of food stops being McElroy spaghetti and meatballs and Eagle’s Nest Caesar salads (with Kristen House no tomatoes), I will have a well-groomed apartment and I will host dinner parties.

I like to imagine these fiestas as warmly lit, rife with Italian food, flowing warm apple cider and wine, and the promise of cannolis for dessert. I eagerly await the moment when I no longer fumble around for my Eagle ID, as the person behind me contemplates shoving their chicken fingers in my eyeballs.

With the food and ambiance taken care of, that only leaves my ideal guest list to pull together.

At the top of my fantastical list would be David Sedaris. I choose Sedaris not only because I love his body of work – Me Talk Pretty One Day and When You Are Engulfed in Flames are two of my absolute favorites – but because he would inevitably bring his partner, Hugh.

Hugh, the myth, the legend, is the man who once asked for a real skeleton for a present, is well cultured in every facet of painting, music and language, and is portrayed like an aloof owl – wise, fascinating, and slightly off his nut. It wouldn’t hurt that I could probe Sedaris even more about his incredibly cool life and ask him more about quitting smoking in Japan and share in his hatred for French gendered nouns.

Sedaris, at least, is certain that he’d be the perfect dinner guest at any party. He has admitted, “I’m the most important person in the lives of almost everyone I know, and a good number of the people I’ve never even met.”

Beside Hugh and David would be Michael Buble, making eyes at a steadily brooding January Jones.

The tension would build to become too much and Buble would exclaim, “In this crazy life, and through these crazy times / It’s you, it’s you, you make me sing. You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything!” To which January would reply, “…”

Her impractical frock would lie stiffly in the chair until she unfolded a giant, brood-less grin. Jones, I’m sure, would turn out to be the gregarious talker of the group, utterly shattering her cigarette-laden stare-out-the-window image.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant would be welcome additions to the debate and would mingle well with the guests directly to their left, who would be Kanye and Chris Martin, who met whilst blowing trees together back in the day. I would probably end up rapping “Jesus Walks” word for word by the end of the night and / or kowtowing to Chris Martin because of his band’s unique ability to calm any woe that has ever crossed my path. Gervais, Merchant, and Chris Martin would be able to reminisce about the days when Martin was a guest star on Extras, having a laugh.

I would be remiss to exclude my ultimate favorite, Tina Fey. She is the brainchild behind everything from Meat Cat to Dr. Leo Spaceman, responsible for bringing 30 Rock into existence. Her wit could melt the entirety of Rockefeller Center, and perhaps Times Square.

One could probably pinpoint many of this world’s successes on the dinner party. It is an arena for utterly ludicrous things to be spewed, high-minded pretentiousness to be probed and pared down, collaborated upon and eventually become a brilliant piece of entertainment’s ethos. Legend has it that Donnie and Marie Osmond met at a dinner party. Same with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio and Hall and Oates.

I kid, I kid. The reason that considering this dream dinner party is so appealing is that these are the same people that make up the many facets of my inspiration. The least I could do is provide them with a free meal.

Kristen House is the Arts & Review editor for The Heights. She can be reached at houseka@bc.edu.

An independent frame of mind

arts events calendar, september 23–26 thursday

friday

saturday

sunday

Music in the afternoon Bapst Library, 4:30 p.m.

Chris O’Donnell Heights Room, 12 p.m.

Ancient inspires new Burns Library

Ancient Inspires New Bapst Library, 4 p.m.

Gaelic Roots Connolly House, 6:30 p.m.

Jeff Kreisler Cushing 001, 5 p.m.

Literary Lives Burns Library

Literary Lives Burns Library

Carbon Leaf House of Blues, 7 p.m.

Ra Ra Riot The Royale, 6 p.m.

The Life partners PAs Lounge, 8:30 p.m.

The XX The Orpheum, 7:30 p.m.

Menomena The Royale, 7 p.m.

Built to Spill Paradise Rock Club, 9 p.m.

Depreciation Guild TT The Bear’s Place, 11 p.m.

The Wall TD Garden, 8 p.m.

tv close-up

courtesy of allmoviephoto.com

Neil Patrick Harris goes all out to portray Barney, the quasi-sensitive, quasi-insatiable womanizer in the hit show ‘How I Met Your Mother.’

Hitting his stride on CBS

By Charlotte Parish For The Heights

hen is a complete womanizer completely lovable? When he’s Barney Stinson of How I Met Your Mother, played by Neil Patrick Harris. Between suits, legen- (wait for it) dary, and endless hookups, Harris has crafted a hilarious, memorable character with quotable catch-phrases. Yet, beyond the miraculously successful pick up schemes, Harris’ character grows in the comedy. Convinced that his black half-brother’s father is also his own, Barney spends most of this week’s episode in his usual, immature absurdity. But at the close, Harris believably gives Barney a softer side, appreciating the single mother who gave everything to her children, and forsaking knowledge of his real father’s identity. Harris’ ability to swing from the hyper, woman-chasing caricature to a convincingly emotional and sensitive man is a show stealing talent.

bc tube

‘Survivor’ is never too old for craziness For those of you who keep up with the Kardashians, idolize Americans, or pit man vs. wild, let me take you back to the summer of 2000 when Darren Ranck the reality craze all began with Survivor. The reality television touchstone is just starting its 21st season, and I’ve been glued to the screen for every episode, from the victory of strategist and trailblazer Richard Hatch to the emergence of detestable (and quite troll-like) Russell Hantz. Sometimes I even impress myself. I’ve always thought, “I should just apply. The time is now. I’m at the top of my mental game, I probably won’t get any more physically fit, why not just send in my application?” Judging by the current crop of contestants on Survivor: Nicaragua, though, producer Mark Burnett has no place for me in his tribal circus.

It’s completely understandable that casting picks vivid, interesting characters. They make or break the season.

For Survivor: Nicaragua, though, they just cut through the garbage and picked all crazy people. With a season gimmick of young, under-30 competitors versus the older yet wiser 40-plus set, the desperation and insanity is choice, and like a McDonald’s customer, I’m lovin’ it.

Let’s first consider the younger tribe, called La Flor. In Spanish, the native language of Nicaragua, La Flor translates to “the Flower,” an apt name for the tribe since everyone is pretty.

They are also extremely delicate. Take Jud, for instance. Jud is a student (re: model) from Venice Beach, Calif., who’s been gifted the nickname Fabio from his competitors. Sure, he has long flowing locks, but does he have the mental vacancy to live up to the moniker? Upon reaching the jungles of Nicaragua, he remarks how crazy it is to see all the animals running rampant. “It’s like a zoo, but, like, without … the bars, yeah?” Yes, indeed, Jud. At least Jud offers humor, though.

His other tribemates are simply illogical. P.E. teacher Na’Onka likens herself to the sun, a rainbow, rushing water, and a dynasty. I suppose she forgot about the many failed dynasties in history. She claims she doesn’t want to come off badly on television, but after causing fellow La Flor member Kelly, an amputee, to lose her prosthetic leg in a challenge, therefore providing reasonable grounds for voting her out of

Photo Courtesy flickr user alan light

‘Survivor’ has had an epic run of over 21 seasons, countless contestents and continents, but ‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ proves to be one of the feistiest yet. the tribe, I say she’s already failed.

Not so much as recently departed Shannon, who has to atone before the entire city of New York. In what must be one of the best tribal councils ever, Shannon took a simple question from host Jeff Probst and chose to share not only his unflattering perception of his tribe mates, but his opinions on women, marriage, and homosexuality. After accusing fellow contestant Sash of being a homosexual, he reasons with Probst, “He’s from New York. New York is full of gay people, at least more than Louisiana.” Probst’s face spoke for everyone.

“Am I ashamed to have cast this man or overjoyed?”

We can’t ignore the older tribe, because they err on the more lovable side of crazy. There’s Jane, a dog trainer, who started fire within the first five minutes of the marooning. She then ran around the rest of the time croaking, “I will survive.” Someone should let Jane know that no one will be ritualistically killed after the vote. How about Dan, who is Jersey Shore’s The Situation plus 30 years and additional abdominal fat?

Then we have Holly, who seeks revenge by weighing down her competitors’ shoes with sand and throwing them into the water. She adorably confesses, though, and somehow earns kudos for her honesty.

Something must be said of one of the biggest coups in reality TV casting, former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson. What is there to say, however, about a man who wears his polo shirt with pride, spouts off football metaphors, desperately searches for parallels between the competition and his Super Bowl victories, and implores everyone to find the champion within? Only that he’s incredibly affected, just like everyone else on this season.

Like I said, I love that Survivor: Nicaragua embraces lunacy. The season will be all the more exciting and comedic for it. Do I, a potential competitor, have the goods to deliver such crazy?

Let’s hope Mark Burnett thinks so.

Darren Ranck is a Heights editor. He welcomes comments at ranckd@bc.edu.

Drawing the line

On occasion, some of my closest friends have been known to call me an entertainment snob. I’ll bring up a not-soBrennan Carley obscure yet still indie band and, upon discovering that they don’t know who I’m talking about, people shoot me dirty looks.

I never know how to respond to their allegations of snobbery. I’ve tried to explain that I like mainstream movies and music just as much as unknown stuff, but it never seems to appease anyone.

What’s my new approach to addressing the movie snob debate, you ask? I like to say that I’m a “movie sponge,” one who has seen the best and the worst of the movies out there. I think I can reliably recognize greatness wherever it appears.

For instance, I saw Easy A last weekend and absolutely fell in love with it. Emma Stone was refreshing and bubbly as Olive and Amanda Bynes made a welcome return as Marianne, head of the school’s prayer group.

At the same time, I can appreciate the whimsy behind movies like the new Kings of Pastry. Technically an independent movie because of its relatively low exposure, budget, and star power, Pastry is like a French movie-adaptation of TLC’s hit show Cake Boss. Put something like this on TV, and it attracts a huge crowd on a niche television channel, but all of a sudden it becomes an “indie movie”

I don’t look down upon anyone for the entertainment with which they choose to spend their time. because American audiences won’t embrace it.

Thus ends my mini rant. Let me get back on topic. Sometimes I’m asked why I prefer independent movies to mainstream Hollywood, and I really appreciate the question. It means that people are curious rather than annoyed with my choices.

Here’s the thing: I don’t like any kind of movie more than another.

Read some of my reviews on The Heights’ Web site and you’ll see that I reviewed films like Remember Me, Date Night, and The Backup Plan.

“But you gave those movies bad reviews,” you might say. Look closer, I beg of you. I thought Date Night was trite but I loved Tina Fey and Steve Carell so much that it hurt to see them stumble through the film’s few lame scenes.

I thought Jennifer Lopez made a graceful and quite funny return to form in The Backup Plan. I think anyone over the age of 16 would be hard pressed to find anything good about Remember Me, but I was elated to discover a talented young actress named Ruby Jerins nestled among the cast, like a diamond in the rough.

Even just by writing this column about why I like indie movies makes me a target for people who think I’m a movie snob, but at the same time, I feel stupid about having to justify something that I don’t think requires any explanation.

I don’t look down upon anyone for the entertainment with which they choose to spend their time. At the same time, I don’t think it’s fair to deem people who like watching good movies “snobs,” and I also wouldn’t look down on anyone’s way of escaping (because that’s what the best kind of entertainment is sometimes) as “trash.”

Sure, I may recommend the new Maximum Balloon album to someone, but I would just as soon sit down and watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey with my very Italian mother.

Sometimes, I feel like reading a Jonathan Franzen novel; most of the time, the thought of nestling up in my Snuggie with the new book by Maggie Griffin (yes, Kathy’s mother) seems so much more appealing.

So please don’t hesitate to discuss movies just because I’m in your presence, and as Bette Davis once said, “Don’t take the movies so seriously … anyone who does is in for a headache.”

Brennan Carley is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at review@bcheights.com.

The Heights

Thursday, September 30, 2010

B3

+Fashion Chronicles of Campus Fashion

Blog ‘Revolution’

By K ailey kramer | F or T he H eights

s the blog world only continues to grow more influential, it seems only fit that Boston College claims a sphere within it. Savvy seniors Lesley Burr and Lucy McBride, both A&S ’11, couldn’t agree more, and began their final year of undergraduate studies with the launch of their new blog, Rusted Revolution (rustedrevolution. blogspot.com). Mainly focusing on fashion, RR covers a range of topics from music to National Yoga Month, and relates them all to the BC lifestyle.

KK: Where did the idea for RR come from?

LB: I actually intern at a fashion magazine and started my own blog a while ago (biasedcuts. blogspot.com) and so Lucy and I got to talking about blogging. Within a half an hour we came up with the concept. At BC, there’s not a lot of emphasis on high fashion, so a goal of the blog is to make it a bit more accessible and give a young person’s perspective on runway style.

LM: Lesley and I actually didn’t know each other very well until this year and within the first week of school, we instantly connected through our love of fashion, music, art, travel, and blogging. I had expressed my inability to maintain my personal blog and she suggested we do one together.

KK: In summation, how would you describe it?

LM: RR is essentially a blog of many colors.

While fashion is our primary focus, we want to provide our readers

with all things we find interesting and inspiring – all things that we ourselves would want to read in a blog.

Kailey kramer / for the heights

McBride and Burr’s blog brings the world of eclectic fashion, music, and yoga to the Heights.

KK: Care to share any upcoming posts?

LB: We’re actually going to the Ra Ra Riot concert on Friday, so we’ll probably do a review on that. I think we’ll go into the city soon, and that might include some street style posts. We’ve been hoping to do a post on thrifting soon, too.

KK: Any favorite Boston vintage locations?

LB: I love the Garment District. The dollar-per-pound pile is a total disaster and so dirty but I’ve stumbled on great things. Once I found a DVF sweater and this oversized leopard print t-shirt that was probably made for a 200-pound woman; it’s one of my favorite pieces.

LM: I adore a good thrifting excursion – growing up in NYC, I discovered the world of vintage shopping. New York is a goldmine in terms of used clothing.

In terms of Boston favorites, Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill.

KK: Favorite blogs?

LB: I’m obsessed with Fashiontoast and Knightcat. Bleach Black, too.

LM: Nitrolicious, Fashiontoast, The Sartorialist, and Pandora. I also can’t resist WhoWhatWearDaily.com.

Kailey kramer / for the heights

Lucy McBride, A&S ’11, and Lesley Burr, A&S ’11 have launched a fashion blog, Rusted Revolution.

KK: What are your first memories of fashion? Is there a story behind your personal style?

LB: I love Halloween, and my mom used to make all my costumes when I was little. So, I accumulated a lot of dress up clothes over the years. I’m not the best,

but I learned to sew a bit and I actually made my own Bjork costume last year.

[Note: Lesley had four designs in Slam Fashionation last spring]. Also, going through my mom’s old clothes from the ’70s and ’80s is a favorite pasttime of mine.

LM: I can remember going through my grandmother’s walk-in closet at age 5.

I was always conscious of what I wore, but I would say my personal style really developed in high school. I was really inspired by my surroundings in NYC. I had very eclectic influence from punks around St. Mark’s Place to the Park Avenue Princesses in their Burberry trenches.

KK: What about style icons? Who inspires your day-to-day style?

LB: Wow, it’s so hard to say. Kate Bosworth and Clemence Posey – she has really great street style. Alexa Chung, also.

LM: As for vintage icons, Brigitte Bardot. As for current icons, Rachel Bilson, Erin Wasson, Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, and Olivia Palermo. Also, I’m often inspired by the styles of my co-workers at Free People.

KK: Favorite designers?

LB: We both love Alexander Wang.

Alexander McQueen, too, he’s such an artist.

LM: Marc Jacobs, the Olsens (Elizabeth & James), Jeffrey Campbell, Zac Posen.

KK: What are some pieces you’re lusting for right now?

LB: I love Jeffrey Campbell shoes, especially wedges. I just ordered some from Urban Outfitters this morning so I’m so excited for them to come. Also, the Sam Edelman clogs.

LM: Jeffrey Campbell “Pixie” wedges, Alexa Chung for Madewell “Billie” velvet shorts and “Iris” blouse, Anthropologie’s camel cape coat.

KK: Favorite current looks in your closet?

LB: Maxi skirts – dark and slim-fitting.

Also, over-the-knee socks and military jackets.

LM: Maxi skirts, lingerie-inspired pieces, and the equestrian look. I also love my safari jacket with girlie dresses or just jeans and a plain tee.

KK: NYFW Spring 2011 highlights?

LB: I’m really excited for the ’70s revival. All the spring runways seem a lot more clean cut even though they’re still a bit grungy.

LM: Definitely check out Rusted Revolution’s post on NYFW. I like the Minimalism trend. You can create a stunning look with a single, well-tailored piece such as a body-con dress or a blazer.

Kailey Kramer is a Heights contributor.

She can be reached for comment at arts@ bcheights.com.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

B4

+Music & notes

NEW RELEASES

Folds and Hornby weave jazzy tales

T

BY KRYSIA WAZNY Heights Staff

he quest to find an album for adults that really says “angst” for adults is over. It comes from the collaboration of musician Ben Folds and author Nick Hornby, author of High Fidelity and Fever Pitch, among other works.

The pair has done with Lonely Avenue for their generation what I assume Simple Plan still does for 13-year-olds: tapped into emotions, desirable or less than, and put them into song. However, Hornby’s contributions to this album make it more than a repetitive string of heartwrenching rifts. He pulls at your heartstrings a bit more gently through narratives that are unique and often unexpected. The effect is pleasing, though often slightly disconcerting.

The rollercoaster of emotions begins immediately. The first song, “Working Day,” expresses the doubts that any artist must overcome. Initially, it is uplifting and inspirational, a sort of mantra to keep one’s head above water. However, it quickly becomes sarcastic, and then self-deprecating. Anyone who puts their work out into the general population to face criticism will understand.

The album goes on to deal with death, divorce, and infidelity, featuring such inspirational lyrics as, “Hope is a b—d.”

One of its high points, in “From Above,” tells the story of the soulmates we fail to see every day, which is hardly promising, but slightly less depressing.

Some of the sillier songs on the album do manage to tap into good ol’ teenage angst, though perhaps not of the most traditional sort. For example, the third track is entitled “Levi

TOBY KEITH BULLETS IN THE GUN

LONELY AVENUE BEN FOLDS AND NICK HORNBY PRODUCED BY NONESUCH RELEASED SEPT. 28, 2010 OUR RATING 7/10

BRUNO MARS DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS

CHART TOPPERS SINGLES

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM AND FLICKR USER DJDROGA

Singer/songwriter Ben Folds and author Nick Hornby form a great, if unusual, duo on their collaborative effort, ‘Lonely Avenue.’

Johnston’s Blues.” For those who may not be familiar with the ins and outs of political scandal over the past two years, Levi Johnston is the father of Bristol (daughter of Sarah) Palin’s child.

If you’re still drawing a blank, listen to the song. Its most hilarious part is easily the chorus, which was taken straight from Levi’s Facebook page. The tune is catchy and the subject matter innovative, but maybe not what one would jam out to in his or her spare time. Imagine singing, “You just knocked up the VP nominee’s daughter …” in the shower.

Blues are a reoccurring theme throughout Lonely Avenue. They appear in jazzy undertones and attempts at R&B (what won’t Ben Folds do?). “Doc Pomus” is named for blues songwriter Jerome Solon Felder, who was inducted

into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. In a parallel to Folds and Hornby’s own situation, Pomus was a great collaborator of singer Mort Shuman. Doc typically wrote the lyrics for Shuman’s melodies, though I doubt the end result was a quip about Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr (VP nominee 1960). Nevertheless, the jazz influences incorporated into Ben’s piano solos is a welcome addition.

Unfortunately, it seems that the melodies take a back seat in this collaborative work. Perhaps that is what happens when one gives a novelist free reign over the lyrics. There is certainly a great deal to learn in this album, and I would recommend taking a look at Hornby’s notes, but don’t be discouraged if all you’re hoping for is some Ben Folds. His presence is felt in every playful turn, and

his voice is just as ringing yet smooth as ever. From R&B to technologic, he is still experimenting and coming back with brilliance.

Relationships constantly impact our lives and create our stories. In Lonely Avenue, Ben Folds and Nick Hornby take some of those stories and create their own musical masterpieces. There is a rawness to them that is almost too close to real life for full enjoyment. Nevertheless, they hold emotional insight and border on profundity, which should be appreciated. Furthermore, the music is catchy and uplifting even when the lyrics fail to be. This work will more than fulfill your expectations of Ben Folds, while simultaneously giving you a decent dose of Hornby’s style and themes. 

1 Teenage Dream Katy Perry 2 Love the Way You Lie Eminem feat. Rihanna 3 Just the Way You Are Bruno Mars 4 Dynamite Taio Cruz 5 I Like It Enrique Iglesias feat.

Pitbull COLLEGE ALBUMS 1 Eternal War of Ages 2 The Powerless Rise As I Lay Dying 3 Horseshoes Disciple 4 When Angels Dance P.O.D. 5 Together New Pornographers SOURCE: Billboard.com & CMJ.com

Jimmy Eat World’s latest ‘Invention’ a hit

BY KATIE LEE

For The Heights Finally, three years after its last release, Jimmy Eat World is back with its sixth studio album, Invented. One thing is clear even after listening to the first few tracks: Jimmy Eat World has a focus on consistently creating quality, enjoyable music.

Throughout its career, the band, composed of both Jim Adkins and Tom Linton on guitar and vocals, Rick Burch on bass, and Zach Lind on drums, has, for the most part, put out respectable, solid rock INVENTED JIMMY EAT WORLD PRODUCED BY DAVID GEFFEN CO. RELEASED SEPT. 28, 2010 OUR RATING 8/10 albums. Invented is no exception to this trend. In fact, it may be its best yet.

Jimmy Eat World launched into the popular music scene with chart topping hits such as “The Middle” and “Pain” from the 2001 album, Bleed American. Since the release of these well-recognized songs, the band continued to progress musi-

cally and rise in popularity. Yet Chase This Light, an album released in 2007, while still solid in many respects, seemed to imply that the band was taking the direction of a stereotypical, whiny pop band.

Because of this, many Jimmy Eat World fans were hesitant to create excitement around their next album. However, Invented seems to retrace back to classic Jimmy Eat World elements while continuing to explore new musical realms. With this album, the band has reached new heights that will no doubt lead the way for further musical innovations.

The first track of the album, “Heart is Hard to Find,” is an upbeat, acoustic track that sets the stage for the entirety of the album. The song progressively picks up the tempo, with the eventual entrance of violins, chimes, and weightier drum beats. From the beginning, Adkins uses contemplative and solemn lyrics such as, “I can’t compete with the clear eyes of strangers, I’m more and more replaced by my friends each night.” Despite the dark and somber elements of the track, the band manages to embed a sense of hope in the music that makes it more enjoyable. Not unlike the album itself, “Heart is Hard to Find” only becomes more and more remarkable and enjoyable the more times you listen to it.

Another notable track is the single off the album, “My Best Theory,” which uses huge sounding guitars and a catchy melody that would be attractive to almost any listener. In opposition to the faster paced melodies of the previous two tracks mentioned, “Invented” and “Mixtape” are two

PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNA LOU MORGAN

After a short hiatus, Jimmy Eat World has found a new sound and respectability on their sixth album, ‘Invented.’ unforgettable acoustic songs that sound as though they would fit right in the track list of any previous Jimmy Eat World album.

However, not all of the tracks on Invented are praiseworthy, or even memorable for that matter.

“Higher Devotion” is a clear example. Although the beginning seems to hold promise for the rest of the song, it tends to not really go anywhere, and it is easy to skip over the remainder of the track with little impression made on the listener. In addition, “Stop” follows a similar pattern. Lyrics such as

“you want to make me mad, stop cause I am” don’t follow the contemplative pattern of lyricism found in other tracks, which makes the track seem dull and out of place. Tracks such as these act as fillers within a set of more meaningful songs that seem to be there just to complete the album.

As a whole, it takes more than just one listen to understand or appreciate Jimmy Eat World’s newest undertaking. The album is reflective, contemplative, and puts the band back on the plateau as a respectable rock group. 

A FRAME OUT OF CARDBOARD

Falling in love on a train ain’t easy to do, even abroad I fear that I am destined to live on College Road forever.

I had a dream the other night that I arrived to check-in for the Mod or Gabelli townhouse I selected (once KRISTIN CANFIELD the new housing-meritocracy system was put into place – hint) only to be told that I would be living in Williams with a freshman roommate. Don’t get me wrong. I had an excellent time on College Road last year. Not only did I have the best roommates one could ask for, but I also made myself at home as the reluctantly adopted ninth roommate in a group of eight that had found themselves in Roncalli. I will defend McElroy to the bitter end – it’s where you make all of your friends! – but I hate the commute from College Road to Lower Campus.

When I found out my housing assignment in Vienna, where I am now for

study abroad, the first thing I did was type the address in to Google Maps to get an idea of how far I was from my classes. I haven’t tested this estimate as of yet, but according to Google I should allow at least an hour and a half to walk the seven kilometers to school.

Instead, I take the train. And by the train, I mean a street rail, an elevatedcommuter rail, and an underground rail (also known as the Strassenbahn, Schnellbahn, or Ubahn). It really is not that bad. Unless I miss a connection.

Then I know I am going to be late, and it’s goodbye to any hope of grabbing a cup of coffee before class.

When I was in Poland a few weeks ago, I met a Lithuanian guy who went on and on about how romantic he finds train travel. The possibilities are endless. You never know who you’re going to meet. In Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Guy Haines encounters a stranger who he thinks will be an accomplice for the perfect murder.

Hitchcock romanticizes train travel, but he is not the only one. Gladys Knight waxes soulfully on in the song “Midnight Train to Georgia” about

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIPOVISUALS.WORDPRESS.COM

how she will follow her love back to Georgia on the midnight train, and the mid-’90s blockbuster, Before Sunrise, tells of a French student, Celine, and an American traveler, Jesse, who meet on the train from Budapest to Vienna.

Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train in Vienna with him and they spend the entire night walking around the city together before his flight back to the States in the morning. It is safe

to say that this movie played a role in my decision to come to Vienna for the semester, and I daresay I was hoping to meet Jesse in my travels.

You see, somewhere along the way I think we’ve fallen out of love with train travel. It’s become an unwelcome necessity of urban life. Time to plug in the headphones, don a pair of shades, and hope there are not bed bugs in the seats.

When Carrie and Samantha on Sex and

the City take the train to San Francisco, it is anything but romantic. In my mind, if HBO isn’t glamorizing it – think Sex and the City 2 and the Middle East – then the situation must be dire.

Nevertheless, I would like to step out in defense of trains. First of all, like it or not, riding the train is a part of my life in Vienna. When I look back on this experience, the time I spent on trains will figure prominently in how I imagine this city. The best part is that my time on the train each day is the only time when I can truly pay attention to my surroundings. I revel in the singsong announcements and admire the efficiency with which I am transported to my destination. I even giggle when I realize I have seen the man next to me before. I’m far too pessimistic to think I’ll ever fall in love on a train, but I think I will allow myself to fall in love with the mode of transport itself.

Sounds romantic, eh?

Kristin Canfield is a Heights contributer. She can be reached at arts@ bcheights.com.

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The Heights

Thursday, September 30, 2010

saturday night fever

photos courtesy of HULU.coom

a closer look at snl through the years (and where we think it’s going in the years to come) Comedians often straddle the line between parody and pure imitation. Last week, Saturday Night Live may have tumbled onto the side of simply copying.

During its season premiere, SNL screened a sketch called “Ladies Who Lunch.” The bit centered around two women who attempt to out-do each other with increasingly outlandish tiny hats. A mini top hat, a mini funeral hat – at one point, Amy Poehler, BC ’93 and host, even shrinks herself to wear a tiny hat within Kristin Wiig’s scalp. Funny as it was, the sketch seemed eerily similar to a 2008 clip from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, entitled “Tiny Hats.”

Many caught on to the similarities, so much so that a mini war has erupted on the Internet. Some assert that Tim and Eric should sue SNL, others claim that neither clip is funny enough to badger about. Regardless, you can’t look at the two scenes and not see striking similarities. Moreover,

Digital Shorts “Lazy Sunday” In one of SNL’s most memorable digital shorts, Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell team up for this faux-angry rap turned viral video. Also known as “The Chronic(what?)-cles of Narnia,” it is, to date, the most anyone has ever rapped about cupcakes, Red Vines, and pre-movie trivia.

“Jizz in my Pants” Andy Samberg, riding high on the acclaim from Lazy Sunday, teamed up with his Lonely Island band mates to give us the story of the easily excitable gentlemen who are especially – ahem – erudite at getting pleasure from the little things in life. The video eventually earned 89 million total online views.

Natalie Portman rap Sure, Natalie Portman is usually celebrated for her more serious work – the demanding and head-shaved role of Evey in V for Vendetta, or even her short but scarring moments in Cold Mountain. Let’s take a moment, though, to marvel at the particular genius of placing this usually composed and graceful actress into about the most bleeped-out rap tirade ever created.

Steve Martin’s King Tut If you’ve ever read Steve Martin’s book chronicling the early years of his stand up career, Born Standing Up, you’ll understand that “King Tut” brought him from a guy who occasionally appeared on Johnny Carson’s show to the man who could sell out Madison Square Garden predicated on the promise that he would, at one time, walk like an Egyptian.

“The Chanukah Song” Responding to the widely agreed upon fact that there are just too many songs about Christmas and not enough about Chanukah, Adam Sandler unites Jews everywhere with this acoustic number, in which he lists off prominent Jewish actors and characters. The song is said to be one of Sandler’s best moments and is a favorite on holiday radio playlists everywhere.

this isn’t the first time the show has “borrowed” material from other comedy shows. Even last week’s episode contained a second sketch, an advertisement for hair restoration via pubic hair. Hardcore TV, an HBO sketch series in the ’90s, did the same mock commercial. SNL isn’t completely original. Is that all right?

Yes and no.

Perhaps more so than any other profession in performance arts, comedians copy and model after each other.

If you think modern comedian X has a style and delivery reminiscent of past comedian Y, chances are X will say Y is his biggest influence. When your livelihood depends on making people laugh, your life can become very strenuous and lonely. So comedians (at least the vast majority of them) need idols and a support system to keep their tanks filled. If SNL had drained its gas and needed some inspiration from

Many Faces of Will Ferrell Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond “I’ll smack you in the mouth, I’m Neil Diamond!” shouts a leather clad Ferrell, bumbling about with a swagger that’s part pomp and part psychotic. Ferrell’s greatest asset is that he can play any half-wit egoist exceedingly intelligently.

Will Ferrell as George W. Bush In one of his best known roles, Will Ferrell takes on the persona of George W. Bush.

As Ferrell has said himself, Bush’s “poor decision-making” mixed with “the fact that he can’t speak properly” made for a “wonderful kind of comedic stew.” With that permanently smirking impression, silvery grey wig, and the use of words like “strategery,” his impression was solid gold.

Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek Ferrell’s stint as the beleaguered celebrity Jeopardy host was one of the best impersonations ever to hit Saturday Night Live. His success was due, in part, to his nemesis Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond). Connery, the unabashed weak link of the celebrity contestants, could always prod Ferrell’s Trebek to a nervous breakdown by the time the Daily Double came around.

Tim and Eric, then that’s flattering for Tim and Eric and beneficial to that SNL episode.

Also, humanity will always laugh at certain things. Flatulence, male nudity, skateboarders losing their genitalia in an attempt to jump a gap. Maybe we should place tiny hats on the list of Universally Funny Things.

But when sketches are so similar that even the punch lines are the same, you cross a line. Last Saturday, SNL crossed that line. Regardless of whether they had the “Tiny Hats” clip in mind or not, the people have spoken. So the question becomes, how does a comedian or comedy group redeem itself when it’s been caught stealing?

SNL should elevate the joke. If they directly spoofed Tim and Eric Awesome Show next week, they could turn their own mistake into a great moment. The ultimate appeal of a comedian is that he can turn his blunders into comedy. –ZJ

Botched Scenes

Best Hosts

“Debbie Downer” with Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Lindsay Lohan Debbie Downer is by far one of Rachel Dratch’s best characters, and in one particular skit, Debbie is bringing down the spirits of Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, and Horatio Sans in Disney World. As Dratch bums everyone out with talk of epidemics and train explosions, she simultaneously starts a laughing fit that spreads to the other actors and takes the scene to a whole new level of hilarious.

Alec Baldwin Before he was Tina Fey’s power-hungry counterpart on the NBC hit 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin was generating laughs as one of SNL’s most memorable hosts. Whether advertising genital herpes medication in a commercial with Amy Poehler or making passes at Adam Sandler in his “Canteen Boy” skit, Baldwin maintained his comic genius during each of his 15 stints as the show’s host.

“Stefon” with Bill Hader and Seth Meyers Seth Meyers described Stefon’s “family friendly” travel suggestions as “visions a dying gay man may have if he was under too many blankets.” Indeed, Hader’s night club aficionado was up to date on every club, including ones with Furbies, screaming babies in Mozart wigs, and throw up music. It’s no wonder Hader couldn’t make it through.

Steve Martin This “wild and crazy guy” is no stranger to SNL. He started as a cast member in the late 1970s and worked alongside the likes of Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner.

Martin, in his day, was a progressive comic who advocated the banishment of “punch-line” humor. To this day, he stays involved with the show, chalking up 15 host appearances to his name.

Christopher Walken A seven-time host of SNL, Christopher Walken won viewers over with his subtle hubtle and quirky mannerisms, with such favorites as the play-on-words Colonel Angus and in “Census Taker” as the world’s only citizen of the state of Florida.

Oh, and before I forget, can I offer you some cham-pan-ya?

Justin Timberlake Who knew the slick boy steeped in boyband glam would ever turn into what he has today? Timberlake has found an unexpected goldmine at SNL. He has done everything from digital shorts like the wildly popular “D— in a Box” to play Cornelius Timberlake – an immigrant heading to Ellis Island with big dreams for his great-great-grandson. Timberlake is one of the most pleasant surprises, and has been responsible for bringing funny back to SNL.

rachel gregorio / heights photo illustration

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MARKETPLACE

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THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Settlement freeze expires Eat no Different POLITICAL BELIEF

styles of leaders

A GREEN PIECE

Israeli halt on West Bank settlements runs out without agreement from both sides

meat? No problem

ELIZABETH BARTHELMES

OLENA SAVYTSKA The average American’s outlook today is as gray as a rainy day in Boston. Despite $787 billion in stimulus money, unemployment is still hovering around 10 percent, affecting many families and communities.

In the very recent past, financial institutions, which have been helped out by taxpayer money, continued to lavishly reward their CEOs, and it’s far from certain that Washington’s financial reform will revolutionize the corporate culture of Wall Street.

Many unknowns hover in the future – the full impact of the gargantuan health care reform package is not readily apparent, the environment is in dire straits, a situation symbolized by the BP oil spill last spring.

Nuclear weapons and terrorism on the international stage also weigh heavily in the balance. It’s a sad story indeed – the story which Barack Obama relates to the people.

President Obama’s executive style involves an honest and direct discourse with the American public. In his inaugural address, he has asked Americans to “put aside childish things.”

Supporters, such as journalist Jonathan Alter, author of The Promise, ascribe Obama’s straightforwardness to a disdain for Washington-esque political artifice. Yet the president, as Alter himself acknowledges, cannot effectively “sell” his reform programs to the public, and does not successfully engage his audience. Without a doubt, we can applaud the president for placing a premium on action, but by clearing the smoke from the Capitol’s back rooms, he has

See Reagan, B8

The end of the settlement freeze and an open refusal from Netanyahu’s administration to discuss possible extensions has left President Abbas in a difficult spot. Not only does he lack support from the electorate, but he is also supposedly in a deep rift with Hamas. Initially, Abbas claimed that if an extension for the freeze did not come to fruition, Palestine would pull out of talks for an indefinite time period. However, he has granted the United States another week to somehow come to an agreement with Israel and has deferred the decision making process to a 22-member Arab league. These moves have generated anger throughout Palestine and beyond. Al Quds, a London-

The tailgating began at 9 a.m. this Parents’ Weekend, signaling the arrival of elder Superfans and, with them, their abundance of food. It was not merely another game day, but one where they could compete among themselves to provide the best, and sometimes most, dishes for their lot, in hopes of gaining the title of the “parent with lobsters,” or even filet mignon.

I was served breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in convenient proximity to my Mod. Tailgating is a wonderful thing. However, among the excitement of unlimited free food, I was faced with a moral dilemma. Should I eat the meat? As a strong advocate for the environment, everything I stand for pointed against it, as well as facts related to my health. Why was I still fixated on having one savory burger, or perfectly grilled hot dog?

The answer is, I have grown up eating meat. It is part of my lifestyle, my culture, and my family’s recipes. I commend those who are able to commit to a purely vegetarian diet, but it is something I (and many others) have not yet been able to do.

What I have learned is that I can choose to eat meat on a less frequent basis and choose the quality, or where it comes from.

Some have labeled this diet as Flexitarianism, presumably because it is a more “flexible” approach to the real goal of being vegetarian. However, I believe that the issue is not with humans eating meat, but with the processes and quantities in which our society produces and consumes it.

Current data by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization

See Settlement, B8

See Environment, B8

ARIEL SCHALIT / AP PHOTO

The end of the settlement freeze has left both parties in a state of crisis. Above, a Jewish boy watches a bulldozer during construction in the West Bank.

BY KARN KHUNGER Heights Staff

“If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state. Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are committed to coexistence.” Thus spoke President Obama at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23. In the address, Obama implored the international community to rise above the concerns which have, for years, plagued the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

He went on to praise Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his “courage” during such trying times. More or less, Obama came out of the speech with a resound-

ing remark: the belief that he can deliver an agreement between the two within a year.

Of course, there are complications which could derail such hopes. Israel’s 10 month partial construction moratorium came to an end on Sunday, leaving peace talks in a tense flux. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to come out and publicly state that he will renew the agreement, leading many to believe that construction will proceed as planned.

This is not to say that the freeze has been a godsend for Palestinians. The halt put an end to new construction, but also allowed former projects to continue. While housing start-ups in the West Bank dropped to zero during the initial months of 2010, there are still 2,517

sites currently under construction.

Palestinian citizens, such as Mahmoud Issa, are still feeling the effects of Israeli settlement growth.

Three acres of Issa’s farmland have been taken due to spillover from prior construction in the Jewish settlement of Elazar. Incidents like these have made some claim that the freeze was merely an illusion and classic political maneuvering by the Israelis. Obama, however, believes that an extension in the freeze will lighten up the atmosphere for negotiations. A recent poll taken by An Najah University found that 58 percent of Palestinians support direct peace talks with Israel. If the freeze fails to extend, this percentage drops down to 15. Illusion or not, the freeze still serves a deep purpose for the Palestinian populace.

Opposition wins in Venezuela Chavez’s Socialists lose two-thirds majority in national election

REINALDO D’SANTIAGO / AP PHOTO

IN THE NEWS

Anti-PUSV Venezuelans rally in support of their opposition candidates.

In a surprising turn, Hugo Chavez’s United Socialist Party suffered many lost congressional seats in the 2010 legislative elections. And if United Socialist Party leader Chavez would like to rule by decree over the people of his native Venezuela, he better act quickly. When the legislative election results were announced early Monday morning, Chavez’s supermajority was lost, effectively stripping him of the ability to pass laws solely at his own will.

The PUSV’s (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) unexpected loss came after opposition candidates threw their support behind a unified group of candidates. Although Chavez’s party will still hold a congressional majority with 96 of the 165 seats, their ability to quickly and easily pass legislation will disappear without the critical twothirds majority. The opposition candidates, numbering 61 out of 165 seats, will now have the clout to influence the legislative agenda. The victory has pro-opposition

Venezuelans buzzing about the upcoming 2012 presidential elections and may provide the momentum their party needs to run an effective campaign against Chavez, who has been president of the country for 11 years.

Although the official congressional vote tally has yet to be released to the public, the opposition maintains it won 52 percent of the popular vote, a positive sign for the party and its hopes for 2012. “We are the majority,” said opposition director Ramon Guillermo Aveledo. Carlos Ocariz, opposition mayor of Petare, a slum district and former bastion of Chavez support, agreed. “A new cycle begins today,” he told the people of the city after the election of an opposition deputy in Petare was announced. “Chavez’s roller coaster is going down.”

However, supporters of Chavez have a different view of the election results. Aristobulo Isturiz, campaign chief for PUSV, declared the election results another victory for the Socialists. “We went for two-thirds and weren’t able to reach it, but we’re the majority,” he maintained. Despite these words, little joy was seen coming from the

POLITICS

ECONOMICS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel prepares to announce his resignation on Monday. Emanuel will run for mayor of Chicago immediately after he resigns.

AOL announces its intent to purchase technology news blog TechCrunch at a cost of $40 million. The move is part of a plan to bolster the company’s online news capability.

Google celebrated its 12th birthday on Monday. The company began as a search engine, but has expanded into the smartphone and television market.

Kim Jung Un, the son of North Korea dictator Kim Jong Il, is promoted to four-star general. He is expected to succeed his father once the elder steps down as ruler of North Korea.

U.S. officials recommend that fines levied on BP for the Gulf oil spill should go directly to the victims in the region. Total fines against BP could reach a maximum of $17 billion.

Amazon launches an online Kindle beta. The program will allow users to read the first chapter of any book with a Kindle edition online, though full books require separate software.

I NSIDE MARKE TP L A C E

THIS ISSUE

On the flip side

Socialist party headquarters in Caracas as the votes were being tallied early Monday. Before the election, Chavez assured his party that victory was on the horizon. He referred to its cause as “Operation Demolition” and emphasized that the purpose of this mission was to completely “demolish” political

See Venezuela, B7

FERNANDO LLANO / AP PHOTO

United Socialist Party of Venezuela leader Hugo Chavez

1000

Estimated number of people trapped under a landslide in southern Mexico. The disaster was triggered by heavy rainfall over the previous two weeks.

330

Meters a rescue drill has burrowed underground in the collapsed Chilean mine.

This week, On The Flip Side will explore both sides of the issue of congressional term limits....................................................... B8

“

IN QUOTES

Heights Staff

IN NUMBERS

BY MICHELA GACIOCH

I have pain in my heart. I’m afraid that my son, my own son will become a refugee one day.

”

– Hamid Karzai President of Afghanistan who unexpectedly broke down during a speech celebrating International Literacy Day.

Column: International Insights................B7 Column: Politically Speaking...................B9

Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Heights

B7

Politically Speaking

Sarkozy’s corruption adds to unrest Dan Ottaunick Throughout the month of September, French labor unions have led numerous strikes in response to President Sarkozy’s decision to increase the retirement age in France from 60 to 62. This proposal, which would raise funds to support pensions, is a component of Sarkozy’s recent attempts to alleviate the burdens on French taxpayers. On Tuesday, Sept. 7, about 2.5 million people took to the streets of France in protesting these labor reforms, and millions more have continued to fight the proposal throughout September.

The strikes, which are supported by 63 percent of French citizens according to a poll by The Liberation Daily, are part of a widespread rejection of Sarkozy and his right-wing Union for a Popular Movement Party.

During his election campaign, Sarkozy promised less corruption, improved ethnic relations, and reformed labor laws. By promoting these leftist policies from a right-wing platform, Sarkozy appeared as a bipartisan solution to France’s problems. However, his time in office has been marked with much controversy, and current polls show his prospect for securing a second term in 2012 to be dwindling.

One major controversy that has hurt Sarkozy is the recent Bettencourt Affair. Liliane Bettencourt, the richest woman in France and heiress to the L’Oreal empire, rewrote her will to give a friend much of her inheritance. Her daughter, Francoise, sued Liliane for inheritance, claiming that her mother was senile. Liliane fired staff members who supported Francoise, and Liliane’s former accountant reported to the media that her job was to pay French politicians, including Sarkozy and numerous members of his party, hundreds of thousands of euros. Making matters worse is that Lilaine has been accused of receiving help from corrupt politicians to evade taxes. Although Sarkozy denies accepting money and

French laws grant him immunity from prosecution, this huge national scandal has tarnished his image, particularly because he campaigned against government corruption.

Another scandal that has damaged Sarkozy’s image is the controversy surrounding a proposed ban on burqas.

Sarkozy, claiming that the religious scarves are not welcome in France, has been a staunch supporter of the proposed ban, which has been passed in the French senate. Although the ban, which is popular with French citizens, would prevent France’s significant population of Muslim females from wearing religious head scarves, numerous world leaders have condemned the ban as racist, thus tarnishing Sarkozy’s image worldwide.

Sarkozy has faced further charges of racism with his recent initiative to repatriate the thousands of Roma people currently residing in France.

The Roma, often referred to as gypsies, reside in camps in France. While this is legal under the European Union’s travel rules, French laws do not permit extended stays in the country unless those seeking residency acquire work visas, which the mostly unemployed Roma do not typically possess. Sarkozy has championed recent efforts to raid Roma camps, sending over 1,000 Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria. These anti-immigration policies, which are inconsistent with the laws of the EU, have unquestionably damaged France’s international reputation. Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship, derided the policy as “[giving] the impression that people are being removed by a member state in the EU just because they belonged to an ethnic minority. “I thought Europe would not have to witness again after the Second World War,” Reding added. As a result of these discriminatory policies, and despite Sarkozy’s futile efforts to defend the repatriation of the Roma, 71 percent of French citizens now feel that their nation’s image abroad has been significantly damaged.

Both the domestic and international images of France have unquestionably been damaged as a result of President

Sarkozy’s policies. By attaching himself to tabloid affairs, rejecting religious minorities, and expelling ethnic minorities from his country despite protests from the EU, Sarkozy has reneged on his promises to improve labor laws, mitigate corruption, and improve ethnic relations within France. By the standards he set forth, Sarkozy has largely failed as the president of France. Although his policies on religion and race have given him some domestic support, the strong international condemnation of his discriminatory policies is damaging Sarkozy’s international standing.

President Sarkozy’s term ends in 2012, and he therefore has time to redeem himself in the eyes of his nation and the world. The French people desire more transparency in Sarkozy’s labor policies. By consulting

with his citizens and remaining open to amending his labor proposals, Sarkozy can find a reasonable solution to the retirement debate. His proposal is not so extreme as to warrant the amount of protests that have arisen, and his willingness to compromise will certainly alleviate tensions.

From an international perspective, Sarkozy can improve his image only if he stops ceding to the demands of the majority and starts promoting racial and religious equality. It is not the job of the president to succumb to popular demand, but to defend the principles of his nation. By standing up for the rights of French Muslims and the Roma, Sarkozy can redeem himself globally.

Dan Ottaunick is an editor for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com.

Ariana Cubillos/ AP Photo

“Let’s go to victory,” reads a Chavez campaign poster placed above a busy street in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, prior to Sunday’s election.

Hugo Chavez loses legislative majority Venezuela, from B10

Claude paris / AP Photo

French citizens tote signs reading “Women! Double Day, Half Pension” to protest the pension changes supported by President Sarkozy in Marseille.

opposition. Despite his party’s loss, Monday’s results did not seem to worry Chavez. “We’ve obtained a solid victory,” Chavez published on his widely followed Twitter account, “sufficient to continue deepening Bolivarian and Democratic Socialism.”

Chavez seems to be handling the recent blow to his authority quite well, and political analysts do not seem to be counting him out of Venezuelan politics just yet. Many observers maintain that Chavez will not give up authority of the legislature easily, especially since the new congress members will not be seated until January. He may pass legislative changes before then, changes that members of the opposition would unquestionably veto but will have to deal with as they take their seats at the beginning of the new year.

Even once the opposition members take office, they may still have a very difficult time attempting to stifle the influence and power of the 56-year-old socialist. Chavez is unpredictable, and a true fighter. He has dealt with an enormous strike, a short-lived coup d’etat, and great economic uncertainty. He is not known to retreat when his opponents win. In 2008, after an opposition politician was elected

mayor of Caracas, Chavez reacted by stripping the office of its power.

That same year, after Carlos Ocariz won the mayoral election of Petare, 16 garbage trucks were removed from the district the following day.

Still, for many Venezuelans, Chavez can do no wrong. Despite high oil prices, a spike in violent crime, multiple electricity blackouts, food shortages, and inflation of 30 percent in the 12 months leading up to August, citizens such as Julio Agresott, a 46year-old afro-Colombian security guard in an upper class Caracas apartment complex, continue to support him. “I used to be disrespected here, treated as if I wasn’t an equal,” Agresott told reporters.

“Now, I feel like I can speak freely and that I count.”

Members of the opposition party wish they felt similarly. In 2005, the party sat out of the congressional elections, for fear that they were rigged. However, members of the opposition now see the error in their ways. “Voting is the way to change things,” Ramon Guillermo Aveledo said.

With the opposition preparing to claim its seats in congress this January, things will certainly be changing in the world of Venezuelan politics. n

Kim Jong Il’s inconspicuous son promoted to general Matt Palazzolo Kim Jong Il, the enigmatic dictator of North Korea, took another step toward announcing his successor this weekend, promoting his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, to the rank of four-star general and appointing him vice-chairman

of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission.

Kim Jong Il’s sister, who will likely advise Kim Jong Un when he assumes power, was also promoted to four-star general.

Kim Jong Un’s promotion came shortly before the long anticipated meeting of the Korean Workers’ Party. The group had not gathered for more than 40 years, since Kim Il Sun convened the body to introduce his own successor, Kim Jong Il. The

Modern Day Philosopher

Korean Workers’ Party is the only legal political party in North Korea, though it is largely symbolic, as real power rests in the hands of Kim Jong Il and his friends and relatives.

Little is known about Kim Jong Un, despite his place in the line of succession. He is 28 years old, and the youngest of Kim Jong Il’s three sons. He reportedly studied at an English language school in Bern, Switzerland, although he

By Gregory Kita

used a pseudonym. Until recently, Kim Jong Un was completely ignored by the state-run media. He was not mentioned in any news reports, and no photographs of him existed. He has not met with international leaders or made official statements, so no information exists about his political position or plans for government. His recent military promotion, though, along with the release of several pictures of him by the state media, suggest that

Kim Jong Il is beginning the gradual process of transferring power to his youngest son.

As a four-star general, Kim Jong Un joins a military that is on the verge of war with South Korea. Several months ago, a South Korean warship was sunk off the coast of the peninsula. Both South Korea and the United States conducted investigations and concluded that North Korea was the perpetrator. North Korea vehemently denied any involvement and vowed to take military action if also condemned by the United Nations.

The U.N. Security Council did condemn the sinking of the warship, but declined to name any suspects in the attacks. South Korea responded by staging military exercises with the U.S. off the coast of North Korea. Once again, North Korea vowed military retaliation, but apart from severing diplomatic ties with South Korea has not undertaken any further actions.

Experts believe that the sinking was an act of sabre rattling designed to provide Kim Jong Un with military legitimacy when he assumes power.

North Korea is ruled by an oppressive Stalinist dictatorship. According to the North Korea Constitution, citizens are given freedom of speech and the freedom to vote in elections. In practice, though, people can be put to death for criticizing Kim Jong Il, the press is entirely stateowned, and only one Partyappointed candidate is placed on each ballot. Internet access is forbidden, making an international phone call

is a capital punishment, and citizens need a government pass to leave their own town.

Children are taught in school that a puppet government installed by the U.S. controls South Korea. Thus, the North Korean leadership is vehemently against instituting any democratic reforms, as any public knowledge of the country’s backward status would undermine political authority.

Kim Jong Un’s succession will be watched closely by the U.S. and European Union.

Relations between the West and North Korea have been strained lately by the nation’s nuclear ambitions and the recent sinking of a South Korean warship. Experts fear that after Kim Jong Il’s stroke in 2008, the military has asserted a greater role over foreign policy.

Unlike the bellicose Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un is a political unknown. He could resume talks with the West, dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program, or even pursue reunification with South Korea. On the other hand, he could adopt an aggressive foreign policy or become a figurehead heavily inf luenced by the military.

Members of the Six-Party talks have been frustrated multiples times by Kim Jong Il’s f lip-f lopping between nuclear enrichment and peaceful overtures. Kim Jong Un is a wild card that could drastically change the dynamic of East Asian relations.

Matt Palazzolo is the Asst. Marketplace Editor for The Heights.

He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com.

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Thursday, September 30, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

Meat production causes pollution DANNY MARTINEZ

MATT PALAZZOLO

HILARY CHASSE

MAEGAN O’ROURKE

Who will replace Rahm Emanuel?

I don’t know, but he probably won’t be as polite as Mr. Emanuel.

Another partisan Illinois politician, Rod Blagojevich is looking for a job.

No one can replace him in my heart.

Obama’s former chief of staff in the Senate, Pete Rouse.

If the Democrats win in November, will Pelosi remain as speaker?

No, if the Democrats miraculously win I think Hoyer will get the nod.

Of course. The socialist troika of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi must be preserved.

There’s zero possibility of that happening, but hopefully the Crypt Keeper will be banished by November.

On public opinion numbers alone, probably not.

Marketplace Editor

Will the Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s housekeeper controversy hurt her campaign?

Will Obama’s $42 billion small business bill have a noticeable effect on the economy?

No, all she has to do is write a check.

It’s a blip on the radar for the economy, but Dems hope voters will remember it come November.

Asst. Marketplace Editor

Opinions Editor

Assc. Sports Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF THERELUCTANTEATER.COM

She needs to manufacture a scandal for her opponent.

Draft-dodging is popular this year.

No! Gross hypocrisy hardly ever hurts candidates (see: Sarah Palin, Christine O’Donnell, et.al.)

You can’t win an election if you’re a hypocrite.

It was passed with bipartisan support, so it can’t be that good.

Did the Recovery and Reinvestment Act work?

That’s what I thought.

If it has a noticeable effect on small businesses, then yes.

Obama can learn a lesson from Reagan Reagan, from B6 inadvertently dispelled some of the theatrical magic of American politics and the American presidency. After all, the U.S. president wears two hats, or two crowns, as you will – he is chief executive, the man of action, and head of state, the symbol of American greatness and an inspiration to the people. Obama the chief executive certainly has a lot on his plate, but he is forsaking his stage presence at a crucial time for the sake of authenticity.

While Obama’s heavy load of domestic and foreign policy objectives can rival that of LBJ, he would be wise in taking some acting lessons from the president who was the ultimate master of the political stage, Ronald Reagan. Behind the scenes of the former star’s theatrics we observe the work of a powerful phenomenon often cited by economists – self-reinforcing belief. Reagan was, as it appears from his biography, a genuine and incorrigible optimist, largely influenced by the kind and charitable nature of his mother, Nelle Reagan. The power of this positive outlook, nurtured by years of acting, created a glittering persona during his presidency, casting himself as a man capable of inspiring confidence, optimism, and trust in the American public.

Obama’s admirers may balk at this comparison, and will likely point out the depth and wealth of experience which Obama brings to the presidency. Indeed, Obama is not a Main Street boy, and his ambitions were largely shaped by a very different role model – his dad, who lived in Kenya,

thousands of miles away from the typical American life. In reaching out to the hopes and ideals of his father, Obama reflects his broader tendency toward a global outreach in his presidency. His deep, analytical thinking combined with the diverse cultural threads which make up his identity make Obama’s outlook from the White House much broader and more complex. Alas, a grand presidential vision does not always give birth to presidential success, and may indeed stand in the way of that success.

Not unlike Obama, Reagan saw problems in Washington, although the nature of his criticism stressed issues of quantity rather than quality.

In another parallel to Obama, Reagan came to the helm of U.S. politics on the wave of a toxic dose of mismanagement and distrust, when change was inevitable. Yet the two men’s approaches are different – Reagan was willing to offer Americans a measure of reassurance, a sort of “blankie” that they were happy to embrace. Obama, on the other hand, felt it was his responsibility to expose America to the cross-currents of the multifaceted challenges it will confront in the future.

The story, for Reagan, started at home, on Main Street in a small town. His messages were simple and compelling: “It’s morning in America again,” and ,“Government is the problem.”

Reagan’s restructuring of the government was to monumental on the domestic front.

His administration’s assertive stance toward the Soviet Union would earn Reagan credit for the collapse of the Soviet

RACHEL GREGORIO / HEIGHTS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

regime. Without a doubt, the Iran-Contra affair was a stain on Reagan’s presidency, but one which did not stick – after all, both Nixon and Clinton got more severe consequences for less severe transgressions.

In the end, Reagan’s success would amount to the popular chant of the day: “I love Ronnie.” This is the lesson that Obama must internalize.

However grand his successes and however steep his falls as a President, no matter how far he reaches abroad and how wide at home, he is not just a janitor behind the scenes, “cleaning up the mess” left by his pre-

decessors. He is now the lead on the stage, and his goal is to make sure that the American audience lives his ambitions with him. He would do well to make his story simpler, more accessible, more heartfelt. It may indeed be dark in America today, but if Obama continues on his trajectory of relentless straightforwardness, morning may not be coming to America on his watch.

Olena Savytksa is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at marketplace@ bcheights.com.

Factory-farmed livestock is often housed together in unsanitary conditions.

Environment, from B6 (FAO) estimate that 70 percent of the world is agricultural land currently occupied by livestock, with 33 percent of our cropland contributing to their feed (www.fao.org/). One hopes that such a substantial investment of resources would result in substantial benefits of alleviating world hunger and promoting an accessible healthy diet, yet the opposite is found to be true. To top it off, these practices are worsening the environment that supports these systems, making it entirely unsustainable. So regardless of whether or not you care about the environment, which of course you should, these poor practices will negatively impact your life in more ways than one.

The largest issue with our current meat industry today is that it is exactly that: an industry. “Factory farmed” meat is livestock raised at the lowest cost in high density farms with the least sanitary conditions.

One might think these are the companies that produce your typical mystery meat, like hot dogs and bologna, but think again. Eighty percent of beef in the United States is produced by four companies, all of which rely upon these methods. Unless you know where your hamburger meat is coming from directly, chances are these big players are involved. That tasty rib eye your Aunt Sally makes might just be a bit less enticing after learning that the cattle it came from was juiced up on hormones, antibiotics, and living in knee-deep waste. Make it a burger, and you’re eating a meat with a mix of fillers.

Now, my point isn’t to ruin your experience with meat, but to wake you up to the reality of it all. Not all meat is equal, and it takes some research to find out why. Health is one concern and reason to avoid industrial meat, but it extends beyond that. Livestock is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions today. Factory farmers’ practices contribute heavily to land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Livestock might

naturally produce gas and waste, but in abnormally large quantities these occurrences greatly increase the production of greenhouse gases. In addition, the energy that goes into the feed, production, and transportation processes exacerbates this effect. As mentioned before, livestock also covers such wide ranges of space that it has begun to inhibit the land and water of other species, degrading its quality and diversity. Spinach with salmonella? You can thank the factory farm for that.

Some might steer clear from meat entirely after learning these truths, there is still a population that just can’t seem to shake the concept of eating meat. I’ve watched documentaries and read books about the subject, but still value the nutritional aspect.

I will not eat just any meat, however, and limit myself to eating meat products two to three times a week. Over time, I’ve learned that items labeled “free-range,” “grass-fed,” and “organic” can be misleading, and “natural” means almost nothing, so research on individual brands is necessary before purchasing. I challenge you to cut just your typical meat intake in half for one week, and see how you feel.

(When reducing the amount of protein you find in your food, make sure to replace it with other sources such as nuts and lentils.) Often, there appears to be no difference, except that in the long run you will be healthier and living more sustainability. So, this weekend, when we get ready to grill, take a second to think about what you’re serving from the back steps of your Mod, or from the trunk of your car.

While you’re cooking skills might make it indistinguishable, the meat doesn’t have to be. So do your research, and the right thing. Maybe someday you will even become … a vegetarian.

Elizabeth Barthelmes is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com.

With no freeze renewal in sight, peace talks put on hold Settlement, from B10

based Arabic newspaper, has labeled Abbas’ government a “tool” in the negotiation process. It is no surprise that much of Abbas’ inner circle is conflicted about what to do: some say to pull out, others are urging Abbas to continue.

Beyond domestic criticism, international opinion has been in opposition to Israel’s pro-growth stance. Prominent figures such as French Prime Minister Nicholas Sarkozy, U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon have all come out voicing their dissent. Disheartened by Israel’s actions, the United States has still tried to stay the course and, most importantly, positive. State Department spokesman Paul Crowley speaking on behalf of the Obama administration, told reporters, “We are disappointed, but we remain focused on our long-term objective, and we’ll be talking to the parties about the implications of the Israeli decision. We’ve still got a dilemma that we have to resolve, and there are no direct negotiations scheduled at this point but we will be in touch with the parties to see how we move ahead.”

Whether an agreement is reached or not, the current situation on the ground is not favorable. The tipping point between the Israelis and the Pal-

estinians is over the control of the West Bank. It seems that Israel plays such a prominent role in the West Bank that it would be very difficult for them to give it back to the Palestinians. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israeli infrastructure (specifically roads, military bases, etc.) accounts for 40 percent of the West Bank (Muslim Public Affairs Centre, Makdisi). Hundreds of checkpoints are spread out across the rest of the territory, impeding Palestinian movement and social interaction. As mentioned before, the West Bank is no different from Jerusalem, in that every Israeli settlement is in its place for a reason. These “strategic” tactics employed in the West Bank allow the settlements to merge at any time if necessary.

Due to the advancement of the settlements (housing, businesses, military operations, etc.), it is impossible for one to destroy all of them. Israel has also taken control of most of the water in the region, leaving many Palestinian wells high and dry. Furthermore, it is reported that in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights, there are a total of 230 Jewish settlements and 400,000 Jewish settlers. The population of the Israelis in occupied settlements is growing at a tremendous rate and will not be slowing down any time soon.

KHALIL HAMRA / AP PHOTO

Palestinian citizens express their frustration against Israeli defense forces near the border between the Gaza Strip and Southern Israel.

As the freeze expired on Sunday, parades flooded the streets, celebrating the return to Israeli settlement growth.

Danny Danon, a member of the Likud Party, gave a rousing speech with several

powerful lines: “Tonight we are returning the decision to the garbage heap of history. Tomorrow we will resume building.

With God’s help we will transform the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria

to multitudes.” For international observers and those who would like to see a peace accord, this seems like a dangerous proposition which could derail any chance for an agreement.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

Seniority, experience needed

ON THE flip side

JANINE HANRAHAN

THE ISSUE:

The U.S. Congress currently has no term limits. The presidency has a two term limit, and numerous state legislatures and governorships also have term limits. Proponents of term limits argue that long term incumbents can become corrupt and subservient to corporations and Wall Street. Opponents argue that the frequent turnover of congressmen will hinder legislation and bipartisan compromise. Should term limits be enacted?

Limits would create efficiency DAVID COTE If a sample of Americans was asked, “Will Barack Obama be president in 20 years?” most would be able to respond with an unequivocal no. What is questioned far less often is the status of our legislative body. Why should representatives not be similarly limited to eight years? Why should senators be able to serve for decades? Imposing term limits on congressmen is a necessary step for the United States in order to eliminate petty careerist objectives and put an end to the “same old, same old” politics our country is forced to deal with, year in and year out.

The cost of a Congressional campaign is massive, both in dollars and time. Congressmen are public servants and are paid by the tax dollars you and I contribute every year. Yet, with reelections every two years in the House of Representatives and every six years in the Senate, these government-paid employees waste months campaigning for reelection when they should be working. Hundreds of thousands of dollars and long weeks on the road waste resources and prevent these officials from completing the work they were originally elected to do.

Term limits would stop these wasteful practices by limiting each candidate to only two campaigns (or whatever the limit imposed) while at the same time putting the representatives’ time in office to better use.

Imposing term limits would drastically change the dynamics of a congressman’s tenure.

Instead of giving the speeches and signing the legislation that work best to get them reelected, congressmen would be able to focus on doing what is best for the country. They would go from their current, personally oriented goals to a more open perspective, concentrating instead on doing as much as they can with their limited time to benefit the nation. Careerism and selfish politics plague the upper ranks of Congress and must be eliminated for the legislative branch to work as best as it can. Some members slyly campaign and please their districts for decades, surviving 40 years in office while collect-

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ing the hefty annual salary of $174,000.

These congressmen, who spend almost their entire professional lives in Washington, become more and more subject to corruption and the influences of corporate America. Big name Wall Street traders work hard to influence congressmen, and in many cases, are successful. The more times a candidate is reelected, the more subject he or she is to this sort of corruption. With no term limits, Congress becomes full of subservient representatives who sign off on financially beneficial legislation, not for the country’s sake, but for the sake of wealthy investment bankers. These corruptors, in turn, donate large amounts of money for campaign purposes and work hard to get the representatives they prefer reelected.

Opponents of Congressional term limits argue that the so called high turnover rate would result in broken compromises, hindering important legislation and bipartisan compromise.

Senators serve for six years each term. If a two term limit were imposed, similar to the presidential limit, they could still serve for 12 years. Is 12 years really a high turnover rate? Senators would be left plenty of time to compromise and work on important legislation. Though a two term limit in the House of Representatives would limit representatives to only four years, perhaps an alternate limit of four or six terms could apply to the House, also allowing ample time for debate and bipartisan cooperation.

Another argument against term limits is that they are not directly spelled out in the Constitution, and adding them would limit the democracy of the legislative branch by eliminating potential candidates (e.g. those who have already served) from office. Constitutional amendments have been critical to our country’s history and should not be underestimated or avoided.

The presidential term limit, now considered an ancient and typical portion of our politics, was itself installed as the 22nd amendment only 59 years ago.

More than anything, Congressional term limits would constantly invigorate our country’s legislative body with new ideas and fresh blood from

excited politicians. New up and comers would not be jaded by the frequent failures and disagreements within the Capitol building, but would instead be eager and ready to face new challenges as our country encounters them. No longer will congressmen grow cynical and senile, yet still get elected merely due to tradition.

Often, when a presidential election occurs, the new president is gladly welcomed and seen as an influx of change that will work hard to fix our nation’s problems. Why shouldn’t the same logic that is applied to the chief executive be applied to our chief legislative body?

One of the biggest issues with the U.S. government today is stagnation. Lack of compromise, long filibusters, and endless stalemates are more common in our legislative body than the actual creation of legislation. Term limits would end this theme and get our government back on the track of productive, helpful, and efficient lawmaking.

David Cote is a Heights staffer.

He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com

When employers are looking to hire, the potential candidates are usually asked to present a resume detailing their prior work experience. Experience, defined as knowledge or skills acquired over time, is typically thought of in a positive manner. In fact, Thomas Hobbes writes in Levianthan, “But this is certain: by how much one man has more experience of things past than another, by so much also is he prudent, and his expectations seldomer fail him.” In essence, those with experience are more apt to accurately anticipate events and discern a course leading to a good outcome.

But why does experience really matter if prudence really just makes one a better “guesser?”

As it turns out, Publius takes up this issue in Federalist 53, where he defends biannual elections in the House, and a lack of term limits. He states, “No man can be a competent legislator who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment a certain degree of knowledge of the subjects on which he is to legislate.”

He then goes on to say, “The period of service, ought, therefore, in all such cases, to bear some proportion to the extent of practical knowledge requisite to the due performance of the service.” Lawmaking for a nation as vast and diverse as the United States demands a great degree of knowledge. Not only should a representative have knowledge of the laws in each state in the union so that legislation will be coherent, but he should also have knowledge of foreign affairs.

RACHEL GREGORIO / HEIGHTS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

While Publius acknowledges that members of the House are not directly involved in foreign policy, times will arise when they must deal with issues surrounding it.

Yet he acknowledges that, “A few of the members, as happens in all such assemblies, will possess superior talents; will, by frequent reelections, become members of long standing; will be thoroughly masters of the public business, and perhaps not unwilling to avail themselves of those advantages.” This is a prescient statement, since this is precisely what has happened.

But, as Publius also says, the greater the number of new members, and the less knowledge within Congress, the more likely they will be to “fall into the snares that may be laid for them.”

While one may or may not agree with Publius’ assessment, it is key to note that these long serving members are elected.

It is true that incumbents have considerable advantages over their challengers, especially those incumbents that have served for many years, but their positions are in no way guaranteed. Many of the more dramatic upsets are in some way related to corruption, such as the loss of late Senator Ted Stevens, who is the longest-serving Republican Senator in history. But political tidal waves, like the one seen in 1994, do happen.

Additionally, the House, and especially the Senate, are organized on the basis of seniority, with the more senior members holding more powerful positions.

While this is undoubtedly a very cushy system, it also makes sense to give more responsibility to those individuals who know the system best.

One would imagine that a citizenry might want their political leaders to know the system, but “experienced” has come to mean something considered quite awful in the United States:

old. Political figures with experience happen to be older. The longest serving senator in history, Robert Byrd, was 92 years old when he passed away and vacated his seat. Having served for over 51 years, Byrd knew the rules of the Senate better than anyone, enabling him to steer millions of federal dollars toward his home state of West Virginia.

While congressmen securing pork projects is not conducive to cutting the deficit, it certainly benefits their constituents.

Further, beyond the fact that those experienced congressmen are older, knowledge of the system is practically synonymous with being corrupt. Undoubtedly there is a problem with corruption in the halls of the Capitol, but corruption is sadly part of the nature of political life. Where there is power to be gained or money to be made, there is dubious activity occurring to achieve those ends.

This notion that term limits are going to solve the nation’s political problems ignores what the biggest problems actually are: apathy and ignorance. If citizens actually paid a modicum of attention to the political scene, it would be far more difficult for politicians to get away with many of their antics, or continue to get reelected in spite of them. Unfortunately, unless a candidate advertises during primetime television or excites the media in some way, most would never even know his name.

So it is not a lack of term limits that enable corruption and laziness on the part of our leaders. It is us. As James Madison (Publius himself) said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

Janine Hanrahan is a guest columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@ bcheights.com

JEN SCHIAVO, FIONA TAMBURINI, ALYSSA SHAFFER / HEIGHTS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

INTERNATIONAL INSIGHTS

China takes development aid from more deserving countries BINH NGUYEN China, a G-20 nation, has enjoyed a steady real GDP growth rate of 9~10 percent every year. It is the third country besides the United States and Russia to send astronauts into space. In August 2010, the world’s most populous country overtook Japan to become the world’s second largest economy, only trailing behind the United States. However, China still gets more than $2.5 billion a year in foreign government aid. In the process, it takes the money away from poor countries that actually need aid.

Aid to China began in 1979, when the communist country opened up after 30 years of isolation from the West. In the first year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported that the country received a sum of $4.31 million. According to the latest figures from the OECD, individual donor countries gave China an average of $2.6 billion a year in 2007-

2008. Japan gave $1.2 billion a year. This generosity is an attempt by Japan to make up for its invasion of China in the 1930s. By contrast, the United States gave only $65 million, and directed this fund toward promoting safe nuclear energy, health, human rights, and disaster relief. Washington only contributed a certain amount because it still enforces the sanctions imposed following the 1989 military oppression at Tiananmen Square.

China is also one of the World Bank’s biggest borrowers; the country commands about $1.5 billion a year. China’s Commerce Ministry justified the figure, arguing that China is still a developing country with 200 million residents in poverty and important environmental and energy issues. China’s number of billionaires only trails that of the United States, yet the average Chinese individual only made just $3,600 last year.

China’s wealth disparity is an example of poverty in middleincome countries. According to Andy Sumner, a fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, 93 percent of the poor lived in low-income countries in 1990. Today,

about 75 percent of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people live in middle-income countries. This shift brings up the question whether the governments or foreign countries should help the poor in these places.

There is not yet an answer to this question, but I think that China is exploiting the World Bank loophole to be eligible for grants. The World Bank’s classification system decides grant eligibility by countries’ income. High-income countries, including the United States and Japan, are not eligible.

Low-income countries, which include many in sub-Saharan

Africa, fit the criteria. Lowermiddle-income countries like China are eligible under one condition: If the grants are part of a cost-sharing program, the fund covers up to 65 percent and the country pays the rest.

China falls under this income category because of its huge population. However, the money for grants is not allocated by income group. I identify this as the problem because any grants that China wins take away from the funds available for other eligible nations.

In my opinion, China’s spending habits do not reflect that the country is in dire need

JASON DECROW / AP PHOTO

Wen Jiabao’s China has secured billions in UN aid for development issues.

for money. The recent 2008 Olympics consumed tens of billions of dollars. Last year, it invested $100 billion in training and maintaining the world’s largest army. Despite receiving annual aid from foreign countries, China donated $1.4 billion to Africa last year.

At the recent United Nations’ global summit on Millennium Development Goals, Premier Wen Jiabao also pledged to expand China’s foreign assistance. On top of that, China has $2.5 trillion in foreign reserves. Do these numbers suggest that China is really cash-strapped? No. According to Jack Chow, who was the lead U.S. negotiator in talks that set up the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, China is robbing poorer and needier countries.

The $1 billion given to China could have been used by the poorest countries to purchase 67 million anti-malarial bed nets, 4.5 million curative tuberculosis treatments, or almost 2 million courses of anti-retroviral therapy for AIDS patients (this number is equal to all those living with the disease in Kenya).

Faced with this seemingly

obvious greed from on China’s part, it is strange that health ministers from the poorest countries have not expressed their concern about the lack of money available to them.

This systematic silence can be attributed to China’s interactions in Africa, which include Chinese loans, grants, infrastructure, and investments.

Therefore, these countries want to avoid head-to-head conflicts with China. Beijing knows the extent of its influence and is taking full advantage of it.

In my opinion, it is contradictory for China to directly compete for foreign funds with the world’s poorest countries and at the same time build its global image as a growing superpower. If China really wanted to be a respectable global influence, wouldn’t it be better for the country to give opportunities to countries that are in real need of foreign aid?

Or better yet, China could win acclaim with the rest of the world by donating to the fund instead of solely pursuing a selfish diplomatic approach.

Binh Nguyen is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@ bcheights.com.

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Thursday, September 30, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NOTRE DAME When BC runs the ball

Somehow, Montel Harris has been finding holes to run through even though the offensive line has looked miserable so far. Notre Dame has one of the worst run defenses in the country. The Eagles will be breaking in a new quarterback, so expect to see plenty of Harris on Saturday.

Advantage:

When BC passes the ball Whoever Frank Spaziani chooses to play at quarterback will be making his first collegiate start. Mike Marscovetra couldn’t move the ball in relief of Dave Shinskie against Virginia Tech. Chase Rettig has never taken a collegiate snap.

Advantage:

When Notre Dame runs the ball The Eagles run defense has been stout. They’re ranked fourth in the nation, allowing 71 yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry. Armando Allen carried the ball 15 times for 49 yards against Stanford. He’ll find the going just as tough this weekend.

Advantage:

When Notre Dame passes the ball Expect Dayne Crist to attempt 40-plus passes for the third straight game. Crist isn’t much of a threat to run since he got hurt in the Michigan game, and the Irish lack a quality backup. WR Michael Floyd will gladly take 10-yard cushions from DeLeon Gause and Donnie Fletcher.

Advantage: DAVID GIVLER / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Montel Harris was held to 38 yards on 22 carries in last year’s 20-16 loss to the Fighting Irish. With a new quarterback, the Eagles will need more from him.

Spaziani has yet to name starter Keeping Quiet, from B12

quarterback will talk to reporters until after Saturday’s game.

The quarterback change was decided upon after the Eagles were shut out for the first time since 1998 last weekend against Virginia Tech.

In that game, Dave Shinskie threw two interceptions, fumbled, and made a costly time management mistake to end the first half.

There were times last season when his play seemed as if it would start to pick up, but his success was too often marred by inconsistencies. After throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions in three games this year, the coaches decided that consistency may never come, and it was time to turn the page.

“We felt we needed to get better at that position [quarterback] now and for the future,” Spaziani said.

Anonymous team sources have revealed that Rettig will start against the Fighting Irish. But Spaziani remains noncommital, joking that he was excited to hear the big an-

nouncement from “the unknown source” and remaining adamant that the coaching staff doesn’t know who will line up under center.

Either way, benching Shinskie was a decision the head coach felt he had to make, and not one he was pleased to do.

“This situation isn’t what you would prefer, but sometimes what you prefer and what needs to be done isn’t the same thing,” Spaziani said.

There is also the theory that if you keep digging long enough, something will come up. Maybe something did when Johnathan Coleman was asked to compare the two quarterbacks.

“Chase is still learning, and Mike definitely knows more from being in the system longer,” Coleman said. “Chase definitely has a big upside to him.”

That upside is what has the coaching staff considering Rettig for a start under the bright lights of a national television stage.

“Chase has the liveliest arm out of the three,” Coleman said. “He throws it the hard-

est out of all of them.”

Despite any presumptions about Rettig’s start, defensive senior captains Alex Albright and Wes Davis tried to stay as far away from the offensive issues as possible.

“The defense isn’t really meddling in what’s going on with the offense, and vice versa,” Albright said. “I’m comfortable with whoever the coaches are starting, so for me personally, change doesn’t really play a big role in how I play my game.”

Davis didn’t put much stock into the idea of a quarterback change influencing the energy level of the team.

“Energizing is for the fans,” Davis said.

“They get all hyped up about this kind of stuff.

I don’t care who is under center.”

The theme seems to be that, regardless of who gets the starting nod on Saturday night, the rest of the team will give him its full support.

Everyone can keep digging. The players taking the field will just keep sidestepping the holes. 

Shinskie deserves, if nothing else, respect IAN BOYNTON I sat removed in the press box, a sheet of glass separating me from the cheering, the chanting, and the emotion. Normally one of several thousand screaming Superfans, I had to mute my voice, my excitement, relief, and disappointment only expressed with slight variations in behavior. In this environment, one does not watch a game, they observe it, and, by necessity, gain a greater sense of objectivity.

It is in this environment that I came to appreciate one of the most infamous coaching rants in recent years.

The Boston College football team was down 13-0 to Virginia Tech, and had not had a drive of consequence in the third quarter after Dave Shinskie fumbled the ball on the first drive of the quarter, after just two plays.

With fans expecting nothing less, Shinskie dropped back on third-and-five and threw an illadvised pass that was intercepted by Jeron Gouveia-Winslow.

Very few noises that day had made their way through the glass wall in front of me, but as if I were transplanted to the middle of the student section, a wave of boos echoed through Alumni Stadium and into the box.

An hour or so of uneventful football passed before I sat in the team room, listening to Dave Shinskie’s press conference.

Ron Borges of The Boston Herald wrote that Shinskie “seemed without a clue after the game as to what went wrong.”

Maybe Shinskie was not as convincing as Tim Tebow was when he delivered the “promise” speech following Florida’s early season Ole Miss loss a few years ago, but what Borges classified as clueless, I classify as de-

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Shinskie lost the starting job, but he doesn’t deserve the vitriol sent his way. feated, and, by Shinskie’s own admission, frustrated.

In one of the more critical articles I have read, Borges attacked Shinskie both on the field and off (citing the press conference alone as reason to bench Shinskie for the remainder of the season).

Suddenly, I wanted nothing

more than to see Frank Spaziani holding up Borges’ article, just as Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy did in 2007 when he defended then-Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid (see: “I’m a man! I’m 40!”). And while Shinskie may actually be a man (albeit 26, not 40), he still is a college athlete.

Maybe it is the large amount of anger I have heard directed toward Shinskie since the Virginia Tech game, or maybe it was being witness to the defeated, frustrated Shinskie who sat in front of me at the press conference. It may even be my own failure as the quarterback of an intramural flag football team, as I threw two interceptions with a chance to win the game – a performance over which I am still agonizing.

Regardless, the message remains unchanged. As a fan, one does not have to unquestioningly support any single player, but one does not also need to be as aggressive in booing them off the field, as Superfans did last Saturday. Shinskie, whether you like it or not, is a student at Boston College. While he certainly has had his down moments, he played a large part in salvaging last season and propelling the Eagles to eight wins and a bowl bid in which BC remained competitive with, and almost defeated, the USC Trojans.

Since last spring, I have been an adamant supporter of starting Mike Marscovetra – and nothing has changed. I, like many of you, have been disenchanted by his play this season.

In writing this column, I am not proposing that Spaziani reconsider his decision and reinstate Shinskie as the starting quarterback Saturday against Notre Dame. Instead, I am merely asking fans to quell their anger and respect him for what he has been able to do.

Without Shinskie last season, who knows where the Eagles would be now? At least give him credit for that.

Ian Boynton is a guest columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

Special teams The Eagles don’t have explosive returnmen, but K Nate Freese and P Ryan Quigley (44.9 yards per kick) are dependable. Notre Dame P Ben Turk (35.5 yards per kick) is a weak link. The Fighting Irish lost to Michigan State on a fake field goal in overtime of their second game.

Advantage:

Coaching and intangibles The Eagles coaching staff struggled with time management and personnel against Virginia Tech. Of course, the indecision at quarterback has been a huge issue, too. Brian Kelly, meanwhile, won back-to-back Big East titles at Cincinnati before bringing the spread offense to Notre Dame.

Advantage:

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Players excited for rowdier Alumni atmosphere

BY JOSEPH DEMAIO For The Heights

Drilled into the minds of every football team is the mindset that each week’s game is just like any other. But with Notre Dame coming to the Heights on Saturday, and for a nationallytelevised night game at that, even the players are aware that the atmosphere is going to be different than normal.

“It’s going to be my first time, but what I’ve heard from the other guys on the team, it’s going to be much different,” said receiver Johnathan Coleman.

“It’s a national stage, so the atmosphere is much different.

I’m excited for it.”

Defensive end and senior captain Alex Albright may have been one of the older players to whom Coleman spoke, as he certainly seems to prefer playing at night.

“I love the night atmosphere,” Albright said. “Night games have been some of the best games that we have had.

It’s when students seem the most rowdy, and they just end up being the most fun. If I could, I’d play night games all of the time.”

While part of the buzz around campus exists because the game is going to be nationally televised and at night, the rest is derived from the fact that Notre Dame is coming to town.

“I’ve been looking at videos about the history of the rivalry, and all of the coaches have been talking about previous games,” Coleman said. “I’m really excited to become a part of the rivalry.”

For someone who has grown up in Cincinnati, underneath the shadow of Fighting Irish football, Albright has a slightly different view on the Notre Dame rivalry than most of the players and students here at BC. “I think the BC community feels a bit disrespected, but growing up in Cincinnati, growing up knowing the monster that’s coming in, it’s easier for me to respect them because I know their mindset,” Albright said. “They’re America’s team.

They’re the team that everyone is looking at, so it’s only

natural they’re going to look at us as a lesser team. It’s just a chance for us to get some more respect.”

Defense not satisfied After allowing 48 points to Virginia Tech last season, the BC defense held Tyrod Taylor and the Hokies to 19 on Saturday. Two Virginia Tech drives that started inside the BC 31-yard line were limited to six points.

The defense, however, isn’t anywhere close to satisfied.

“Everyone was saying we did such a great job, but I thought it was kind of an average showing last week,” Albright said.

Where the Eagles struggled was in the turnover battle. The Hokies were often playing with a short field after they forced three Dave Shinskie turnovers, something the BC defense couldn’t replicate.

“It’s about picking up your teammates, not about added pressure to do more,” Davis said. “We’re always trying to get turnovers, not just when we’re down. Would I start shooting 3-pointers if I was down by 20 and I couldn’t shoot threes? No. We have to keep playing the way we play.”

That goes for how the team is practicing this week, as well.

“We aren’t going to do anything different in terms of preparation,” Davis said. “We’re going to give 100 percent in practice, look at the tape, and see what we can fix heading into this weekend.”

Honoring James Matt James, the Notre Dame recruit who died earlier this year when he fell off a balcony in Florida, has connections to several current BC players.

James attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, the same high school as Albright and Luke Kuechly.

Albright wants to honor his fallen teammate on Saturday’s national stage.

“I’m trying to get it so Luke and I can wear his number,” Albright said. “His parents are going to be there, and we always try to stick together as a community, so it’s something I want to do.” 

The Heights

Editors’ Picks

Thursday, September 30, 2010 The Week Ahead Will Chase Rettig get his first start in prime time against Notre Dame?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind this week. Men’s soccer needs a win at home vs. NC State. Women’s soccer and field hockey hit the road for ACC matches.

Standings 8-7

Heights staff

8-7

Zach Wielgus

7-8

The football team wasn’t the only one shut out last week. Paul picked up the platinum sombrero (0-5). Women’s soccer shocked UNC, while the men lost on a late score at Duke. Field hockey continued its struggles. Alabama beat Arkansas but failed to cover.

5-10

Guest Editor: Danny Martinez Marketplace Editor “Dear Rion Dineen, my name is Danny Martinez. You beat my football team last year.

Prepare to lose!”

This Week’s Games

Zach Wielgus Sports Editor

Maegan O’Rourke Assoc. Sports Editor

Paul Sulzer Asst. Sports Editor

Danny Martinez Marketplace Editor

BC

BC

Notre Dame

BC

Men’s Soccer: Boston College vs. NC State

BC

BC

BC

BC

Women’s Soccer: Boston College at Virginia

BC

BC

BC

BC

Duke

Duke

Duke

BC

Oregon

Stanford

Stanford

Stanford

College Football: Stanford at Oregon (-7)

Men’s Hockey Boston College is the No. 1 men’s hockey team in the country, according to Monday’s USA Today and USA Hockey Magazine poll.

The Eagles, the 2010 national champions, were No. 1 on 28 of the 34 ballots.

Last year’s title was the fourth in program history, and the third under head coach Jerry York.

The Eagles return 17 lettermen from last season’s 29-win team. They open the season at Northeastern on Oct. 9.

The team will stay on the road until Oct. 29 against Merrimack, when the national championship banner will be added to the rafters.

Women’s Cross Country

Football: Boston College vs. Notre Dame

Field Hockey: Boston College at Duke

BCnotes

Recap from Last Week

Maegan O’Rourke

Paul Sulzer

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The Boston College women’s cross country team is ranked No. 25 in the latest poll by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Five other ACC teams were ranked in the 30-team poll, including No. 2 Florida State, No. 10 Duke, No. 16 Virginia, and No. 29 North Carolina.

The Eagles placed sixth out of 29 teams at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational Meet in Falcon Height, Minn., on Saturday, The five teams that finished ahead of BC are ranked among the top 20 teams.

Sophomore midfielder helps guide BC to No. 2

BC’s 30 goals. DiMartino leads the team with nine goals and six assists, but Mewis is close behind with year, and now we’re ranked one or two. We beat the six goals and eight assists. As soon as one scores a team that I always wanted to play for.” goal, she turns and finds the other.

Mewis scored the first BC goal of the game, “It’s just Kristie Mewis and Victoria DiMarassisted by Victoria DiMartino, to tie the game tino,” Foley said. “They put their own spin on it. at one. UNC then scored to regain the lead. Once They are incredible. They are just entertaining to again, BC tied it up. Then, Mewis fed a pass to watch.”

DiMartino, who buried the ball in DiMartino’s numbers are similar to the net to give BC the win.

“She has a really those she posted last year, but Mewis It was fitting that Mewis and has already surpassed her last season’s DiMartino should team up for two strong left foot and totals. She recorded 16 points with five goals in BC’s biggest win of the can strike the ball goals and six assists. season. They have done so on eight Mewis competed in her second as hard as I have World of the team’s 30 goals. The pair has Cup tournament this summer been playing together since they ever seen a female, with the Under-20 national team, were 12 and are best friends on and both DiMartino and Mewis’ but what is most alongside off the field. younger sister, Sam. The team ad“We know each other so well,” effective is her one vanced to the quarterfinals, where they Mewis said. “We’re best friends and versus one play.” fell to Nigeria. we have played together for so long “That takes a lot of energy,” Foley that we do have a little connection said. “For her to take a little break and -Alison Foley going on. I always know where she bounce right back, takes a lot.”

Head Coach wants the ball and it’s the same But that is exactly what Mewis for her.” did.

When they were on the national team together, She recovered and is now helping lead the and played in the 2008 World Cup, they were about Eagles to an undefeated season, as well as top the age when they had to start thinking about col- national ranking. Depending on the poll, BC is now lege. In discussing their options, they realized they ranked No. 1 or 2 in the country. were both considering BC. Record and rankings don’t matter this year, “We started thinking, ‘Oh, we could be room- though. The team’s goal is to win the national mates, we could play on the same team,’” Mewis championship, and Mewis is right there with said. “It was pretty exciting for us.” them.

Sure enough, now they are roommates in Ron“We have been working so hard. We are so focalli and are playing on the same team. At least one cused,” Mewis said. “We know what we want. We of the two has somehow been involved with 21 of want a national championship.” n

Mewis, from B12

lilian durey / the daily campus

Chris Ager (right) and the BC defense couldn’t hold No. 3 UConn for all 90 minutes, allowing two second-half goals.

Huskies pull away with two second-half goals BC-UConn, from B12

ted home on a pass from junior Tony Cascio to put UConn ahead after a scoreless first half. Fourteen minutes later, Alvarez set Diop up in front of the net to put the contest out of reach.

Luthy tallied a career-high 11 saves in the match, with six coming in the scoreless first half.

“The first half was pretty even, honestly, but [UConn] just really showed their quality in the second,” Kelly said.

Kyle Bekker had the best chances to get the Eagles on the scoreboard, with four shots from the midfield position. Bekker’s shot in the 78th minute was perhaps the Eagles’ closest attempt at goal, but the ball sailed just high of the crossbar and narrowly missed cutting the deficit to one.

BC freshman Gregg Bryer, a Cape Town, South Africa native, made his collegiate debut in the 84th minute. Kelly said that Bryer may start this weekend in place of center defender Sacir Hot, who left Tuesday night’s contest with a groin injury.

The Huskies outshot the Eagles, 19-11, in the match, including a slight 9-5 edge in the decisive second half. The Storrs outfit has been touted re-

david givler / heights editor

Mewis, one of the most prized recruits in BC history, has helped make the team a force by beating UNC and tying Stanford.

cently as a team on the rise, and it moved up from No. 6 to No. 3 in this week’s NSCAA coaches poll.

They now sit with a sparkling 7-0-1 record, as the suddenly slumping Eagles fall to 4-2-2.

Despite the team’s recent performances, Kelly insisted it’s not near time to hit the panic button.

“This is still a young team,” he said. “We’re starting all these sophomores, and one senior.

[Forward] Edvin [Worley] only has a couple games under his belt, so he’s still a work-in-progress. But we’ll be fine.”

The Eagles return home this Friday night to take on unranked NC State (4-4, 0-3 ACC). Kelly’s crew will be looking to earn its first ACC win of the young season following the loss to Duke and an opening draw against Maryland. While it seems as if this is a potentially easy win for the Eagles, Kelly stressed its importance for both sides.

“You just can’t think of any game as ‘winnable,’” Kelly said. “This has been a crazy season around the country. Just [Tuesday], Elon beat Duke at home. What does that mean? You start looking past a team and you’ll find that you’re not prepared to win. So we need to be ready.” n

SPORTS THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 30, 2010

B12

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Playing the Quiet Game

Spaziani stays mum on who new starter is

BY BRAD ZAK Heights Staff

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

“

ANDREW POWELL / HEIGHTS STAFF

Who will start at quarterback Saturday? Head coach Frank Spaziani is choosing between Chase Rettig (left) and Mike Marscovetra (right), but likely won’t decide until game time.

It happens all the time in football. A quarterback controversy arises in a locker room, and it seems as if everyone goes running in an attempt to avoid picking a side and disrupting the fragile chemistry of the team.

Head coach Frank Spaziani is playing that game.

When Spaziani announced that either sophomore Mike Marscovetra or true freshman Chase Rettig would be starting Saturday’s game against rival Notre Dame, eve ryo n e we n t digging for a clue as to who would be under center come 8 p.m. Saturday night. It is now Thursday morning, and little has changed. Those on the outside are Saturday, 8 p.m. still digging, and Live blog on those on the inside bcheights.com/sports are still watching them dig.

When asked before practice yesterday who will start against Notre Dame, Spaziani was very clear.

“We don’t know,” he said.

Will it be a game-time decision?

“Probably,” Spaziani said, adding coyly, “or maybe before.”

Spaziani has already refused to present Marscovetra or Rettig to the media, and said neither

” An open letter to Boston College’s freshman quarterback We felt we needed to get better at that position [quarterback] now and for the future. We don’t know [who the starter will be]. It will probably be a game-time decision ... or maybe before.

See Keeping Quiet, B10

–Frank Spaziani, Head Coach

MAEGAN O’ROURKE Dear Chase Rettig, First of all, congratulations on being named Boston College’s starting quarterback for the game this weekend (even if it isn’t officially announced yet). You may have heard that we’re playing the University of Notre Dame on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Yup, that’s prime time on national television for your first collegiate start against our school’s most hated rival.

It’s “The Notre Dame Game.”

Because you’re from California and still only a freshman, you may not fully understand the full scope of the BC vs.

ND rivalry. Let me explain.

Whenever the Eagles and Fighting Irish get together on the football field, it’s important. They don’t call the meeting of the nation’s only two Division I Catholic schools “The Holy War” for nothing. The season records of both teams up to that point are thrown out the window. The media steps up its coverage of the game even if both teams are having mediocre seasons (kind of like how it is this year). It’s not about wins and losses. It’s about school pride and bragging rights until the next game.

We know Notre Dame fans arrogantly act like they’re better than us, claiming that they are above this rivalry, but they know the last thing they want is to lose to BC. And Eagles fans are trained to fiercely loathe the Fighting Irish from South Bend in any situation.

That’s just how it is, and it’s what makes the rivalry so great.

The game atmosphere itself is always special. Even the most casual sports fan in Boston is going to be in attendance,

because BC vs. ND is one of the hottest tickets in town. You don’t have to worry about any empty seats in Alumni Stadium. Every student, alum, and fan will be tailgating on Saturday. As one professor told me freshman year, even the Jesuits will be drunk for the Notre Dame game. Everyone cares about this match-up.

But with all that said, please don’t be nervous – not that you would be or anything. You picked BC over the likes of Tennessee, UCLA, USC, and Arizona State. You’ll be on college football’s brightest stage on Saturday night, and BC wants – no, needs – more than anything, a quarterback who will take us to that next level.

With the exception of one small window last year, when Dave Shinskie was the unquestioned starter, BC hasn’t had a stable or consistent quarterback situation since Matt Ryan jetted off for the NFL. There was Chris Crane and Dominique Davis, then Justin Tuggle, Shin-

skie, and Mike Marscovetra. In all, BC has started four different quarterbacks in two seasons, and now you’re the fifth in 31 games. BC can’t speed-date its way to picking a starter any more. The school is known for its hook-up culture, but it’s about time we finally make the relationship with a quarterback official.

That’s why we need someone to be the unquestioned starter, the leader of the team for the rest of the season, and hopefully for three more years after that. We don’t need a quarterback controversy every season. And that’s why we’re all looking at you to save us from consistent mediocrity.

I don’t mean to put too much pressure on you or anything. In fact, you’re really in a win-win situation. If everything goes well – or at least not too badly – and you pull out the win over Notre Dame, you’ll be crowned the second coming of Matty Ice, a savior of the season, and Coach Spaz will look like a genius. If things don’t work out, then

SOCCER FEATURE

Heights Senior Staff

Kristie Mewis, a midfielder on Boston College’s women’s soccer team, trotted casually across the field, as if looking to pass to a teammate. Suddenly, she turned toward the goal and fired a left-footed shot from 22 yards out past the unexpecting goaltender.

No one anticipated the shot, which gave the Eagles a 3-0 victory over Central Connecticut State, but that was just one of many typical strikes by the sophomore.

Mewis began playing soccer at the age of 5, just a young kid on the town team in Hanson, Mass.

She joined a club team, the South Coast Scorpions, three years later and never looked back. The club team led to a national team and World Cup tournaments before she ended up at Chestnut Hill with the Eagles.

In high school, she attended national team camps.

Mewis joined the under-17 national team during a World Cup year. She traveled to New Zealand with the team, where they progressed to the finals before losing to North Korea.

Though only 17 years old, Mewis had played, with great success, on an international scale many young

athletes only dream of.

Playing on three teams a year – school, club, and national – pushed Mewis’ skills to a point that few players could match. And she has brought that to BC. Only one game has passed this season without Mewis recording at least one point. This week alone, Mewis has scored five points (two goals and one assist) in two games, earning her NSCAA Player of the Week and ACC Player of the Week honors.

“Kristie is really talented one versus one,” said head coach Alison Foley. “She has a really strong left foot and can strike the ball as hard as I have ever seen a female, but what is most effective is her one versus one play.”

Due to her early success, Mewis had her pick of colleges. The University of North Carolina, one of the best women’s soccer programs historically, recruited her along with many others. She had always dreamed of playing for UNC, but instead picked BC. Last week, Mewis did something better than playing for a storied program. She beat it.

“UNC is a great team. They have been No. 1, and they are just known as the best team,” Mewis said.

“We were underdogs, like we were underdogs last

I NSIDE SPORTS THIS ISSUE

See Mewis, B11

Anticipation for Irish mounts

The excitement builds as BC prepares to play its biggest rival in prime time.............B10

Maegan O’Rourke is the Associate Sports Editor for The Heights. She can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

BC buried

by Huskies

Mewis brings World Cup experience to No. 2 Eagles

BY DIANA C. NEARHOS

hey, there’s no hard feelings. We can pull the “you’re just a freshman” card and blame the loss on a rookie mistake.

You really couldn’t have chosen a better game for the first start of your career. You’ll be playing in front of a friendly crowd that will be praying for you to lead us to victory. You’ll face a rebuilding Notre Dame that, to be honest, isn’t that good, as the Irish have given up 122 points in their first four games. You’ll have All-ACC running back Montel Harris to lean on and a defense that held Virginia Tech to one touchdown last weekend to support you.

So don’t worry, Chase. BC is behind you and wants more than anything for you to do well. And if it doesn’t, just head straight to the Mods after the game anyways.

You’ll still be welcome.

BY RYAN KIRACOFE For The Heights

DAVID GIVLER / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Midfielder Kristie Mewis has played with fellow Eagle Victoria DiMartino in two youth World Cups for the U.S. national team.

For the second straight match, the No. 15 Boston College men’s soccer team was shut out, drawing harsh honesty from head coach Ed Kelly after 2 Connecticut Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Boston College 0 No. 3 UConn.

“They were just a better team than us,” Kelly said. “They’re a very confident group, and [UConn] looks like a team to be reckoned with for the national title. We played reasonably well, I’d say, but they were just superior tonight.”

Huskies forward Carlos Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, and Stephane Diop beat BC keeper Justin Luthy in the 68th minute to double the lead.

The loss was the Eagles’ second consecutive loss following an undefeated first six games. Both losses came on the road to ranked opponents, starting on Friday when they fell to No. 11 Duke.

Alvarez, a sophomore, spearheaded the Huskies offensive attack all night, as he slot-

Shinskie deserves, if nothing else, respect

Dave Shinskie has played poorly, but the anger directed his way is unfair...........................B10

See BC-UConn, B11

Editors’ Picks........................B11 BC Notes..............................B11