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NFL star Luke Kuechly returns to BC to finish degree, A10
Eleven developers compete for space in and around Boston, B10
The Scene takes a look at Presidential fashion through the years, B3
www.bcheights.com
HEIGHTS
THE
The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College
established
1919
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Vol. XCIV, No. 2
Stokes Hall opens after years in the works
Law office defaced over long weekend
BY ELEANOR HILDEBRANDT News Editor
is rooted in the Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, or ‘care of the whole person,’” read the April 9, 1998 issue of the Boston College Chronicle. “By siting academic, dining and co-curricular activity spaces in close proximity, administrators aim to foster faculty-student interaction outside the classroom, thereby enhancing the educational experience of Boston College students.” BC sought approval for the construction, then termed the “Middle Campus
The office of Lambda, Boston College Law School’s GLBTQ coalition, was vandalized over the three-day MLK weekend. Words and phrases including “gay bukkake,” “gangbang,” “frig,” “MILF,” and “bean flicker” were written in capital letters on the wall of the office, which was left unlocked over the weekend. Jason Triplett, co-chair of Lambda, received a call about the vandalism Tuesday morning—after instructing members of the group not to touch anything in the room until he arrived, he immediately reported the incident to BC Law Dean Vincent D. Rougeau. BCPD is currently conducting an investigation in conjunction with the Newton Police Department, according to an email from Rougeau. Rougeau sent out a letter to the BC Law community yesterday. “The administration of Boston College Law School condemns this reprehensible action and will not tolerate hateful or threatening speech of any kind,” the letter read. “This behavior is the antithesis of all we stand for as an institution, and is an assault on our shared values of a welcoming, loving, and inclusive community.” On Wednesday, a similar letter from Dean for Students Paul Chebator and Office of Residential Life Director George Arey was sent out to the BC freshmen living on Newton. “This incident causes us to be concerned because it strikes at the very heart our community, the respect that we share for all human beings and for one another,” it read. “I am sure you agree that this is not only an irresponsible act, but
See Stokes, A4
See Lambda, A4
ALEX GAYNOR / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Newest academic building represents the University’s investment in the liberal arts BY ELEANOR HILDEBRANDT News Editor Last week marked the first time that Stokes Hall, Boston College’s newest academic building, opened its doors for classes. The $78 million, 183,000-square foot building is named in honor of a $22 million donation from Patrick T. Stokes, former CEO of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.,
former chair and current member of the BC Board of Trustees, and BC ’64. Completed last December, Stokes Hall houses the English, history, philosophy, and theology departments, the College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program, the Arts & Sciences Service Center, the Academic Advising Center, and the First Year Experience offices, as well as significant classroom space and a new Coffee Bar, and represents
a noteworthy investment in the humanities at Boston College. What would become the Stokes Hall project began in 1996, when BC first proposed three connected humanities buildings that would run along College Road from Lyons Hall to McElroy Hall, said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. The proposed building was intended, in part, to honor current University Chancellor and former University President J. Donald Monan, S.J. “Combining a new academic building—Monan Hall—with a student center that will replace McElroy Commons
University honors MLK
Internship fair draws BC students
BY ANDREW SKARAS Asst. News Editor
BY DEVON SANFORD Assoc. News Editor Last night, the Boston College Career Center hosted the Spring 2013 Internship Fair in the Heights Room in Corcoran Commons. The event ran from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and hosted an array of companies, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, Dunkin Brands, Citi, Epsilon, Liberty Mutual, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Vistaprint. Students came to the Heights Room, dressed in corporate attire with resumes in hand, in the hopes of landing a spring or summer internship. In preparation for the Internship Fair, the Career Center has been offering resume, cover letter and interview workshops for BC undergraduates throughout January. Students attended resume crash courses, interview prep workshops and career launch meetings to hone their interview skills and perfect their resumes. This year, the Career Center saw a significant turnout to the events. “Students seem really prepared for the Internship Fair this year,” said Erin Hughes, Career Center Peer Advisor and A&S ’15. “A lot of students have used the resources available through the Career Center. The resume and cover letter workshops, interview workshops and resume critiques have prepared students for meeting with employers at the fair.” For most of the night, the Heights Room was crowded with students. Liberty Mutual, Citi and Vistaprint were some of the more popular companies at the fair,
See Internship Fair, A4
ALEX GAYNOR / HEIGHTS EDITOR
On Monday, members of the BC community gathered to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We gather the spirit of our ancestors which moved us from a nation of unborn hopes and a history of discrimination to today’s expression here in this room of a more perfect union,” said Mario Powell, S.J., opening the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gathering on Monday evening. Focusing on the life and legacy of King, the memorial brought together traditional religious elements, such as Bible readings and praise and worship songs, with speeches concerning the consequences of King’s civil rights struggles. Under the musical direction of David
Altenor, an award winning artist, producer, and songwriter and BC ’09, the United Voices of Freedom performed the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, “We Shall Overcome,” as well as traditional songs of praise, such as “How Great is Our God.” The group was composed of students from Against the Current, B.E.A.T.S., the Liturgy Arts Group, and the Voices of Imani. Coming from different spheres in and outside of the University, the speakers brought different nuanced understandings of King’s legacy. Tracy Akufo, president of the Black Student Forum and A&S ’13; Chris Osnato, UGBC president and A&S ’13; and Rev. Howard A. McLendon,
See MLK, A4
Admissions adds essay, number of applications falls 2013 sees 10,000 fewer apps than 2012 after adding 400-word essay BY DAVID COTE Editor-in-Chief Boston College received almost 10,000 fewer applications for admission this year, down from 34,051 applications in 2012. Officials have attributed this 26 percent decrease mostly to the addition of a 400-word supplemental essay, a first since the University joined the Common Application in 1998. According to John Mahoney, director of undergraduate admissions, part of the goal of adding the essay was to select for students who were truly interested in attending BC. “We wanted to identify students who were more serious, more thoughtful, and more deliberate about applying to BC,” Mahoney told The Chronicle of Higher
Education. “It seems that we’ve lost the ‘Why Not?’ applicant.” Before instating the change, Mahoney and the admissions department weighed the pros and cons of adding a supplemental essay. The addition of the essay gives students another chance to explain why they are interested in BC, an opportunity that the common personal statement on the Common Application does not provide. On the other hand, the essay had the potential to decrease the total number of applications and thus potentially increase
the admissions rate. The admissions department also held focus groups with students at BC, who were asked if the addition of an essay would have made them less likely to apply. The consensus, according to Mahoney, was no—because students who ended up attending BC would have been willing to put the extra effort into a 400-word essay. The supplemental essay for the incoming class of 2017 provides four choices. One references St. Ignatius of
MAGGIE BURDGE / HEIGHTS GRAPHIC
Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, and his call to service. Another quotes David McCullough’s 2008 commencement address at BC, and asks applicants about “a time you had all of the facts but missed the meaning.” The third question asks applicants to respond to a quote from Colum McCann on the topic of changing perceptions, and the final question asks potential students what book they would select for the freshman academic convocation. The goal of these questions, Mahoney told The Chronicle, was to give admissions counselors a better picture of applicants as individuals. In terms of numbers, the addition of the supplemental essay could have a variety of effects beyond decreasing the total number of applicants. BC, which boasted an admissions rate of 28 percent last year, has long been noted as one of the more selective schools in the country,
See Admissions, A4