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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY YEAR XLIV. VOLUME LXXXVII. ISSUE X.
AP declares Charlie Baker winner, Mass. activist Martha Coakley waits to concede defeat groups respond to ballot question results
BY JESSICA DORFAN & INAARA TAJUDDIN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Massachusetts voters had a chance Tuesday to weigh in on the election’s four ballot questions addressing the gas tax, the Bottle Bill, the casino law and earned sick pay. Question 1
PHOTO BY MIKE DESOCIO/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
PHOTO BY ALEX MASSET/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley declined to make a concession speech Tuesday night following news that Republican candidate Charlie Baker won the election. BY STEVE FRIEDMAN, GABI ARRIAGA, PAIGE SMITH & J.D. CAPELOUTO DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
In a widely contested race that was neck-and-neck for most of the night, the Associated Press declared Republican candidate Charlie Baker the winner of the 2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial election early Wednesday morning, defeating Democratic candidate Martha Coakley. Following his 48.3 percent lead over Coakley, who has 46.7 percent, with 97 percent of precincts reported, Baker addressed the crowd at his election party, held at the Seaport Hotel, at about 1:20 a.m. “We’re as fired up as you are. We’re as excited as you are,” Baker said in his
speech. “We can’t wait to make this state sing, from one end to the other, across the Commonwealth, in every region, and every town, and every community, to build the great Massachusetts we all dreamed and hoped for.” Coakley told the crowd through her spokespeople that she would not concede to Baker, and postponed her speech until Wednesday morning when all the votes would be counted. Baker supported Coakley’s decision to withhold conceding before all votes were tallied, he said. “She put her heart and her soul and every ounce of energy that she had into that race,” Baker said to the crowd. “Every vote counts. I’m perfectly fi ne with giving her until the morning. That’s the way we work, folks, and that’s the way we should work.” Baker and Coakley’s three independent opponents – Evan Falchuk, Scott
Lively and Jeff McCormick – garnered 3.3 percent, 0.9 percent and 0.8 percent of the vote, respectively, with 99 percent of the precincts reported. Party attendees posed with “Baker for Governor” signs for photos and waved them as he spoke. Light-hearted music played throughout the evening, setting a celebratory tone. Though tensions ran high while Coakley pulled ahead at various times throughout the night, the majority of the evening was spent laughing, chanting and celebrating Baker’s accomplishments. “I went through probably some of the same ups and downs that some of you went through,” Baker said of his campaign. “And I thought on a number of occasions about my opponent, the attorney general, Martha Coakley…and I thought about what she would go through.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Lower voter turnout than in previous midterm elections BY MONIKA NAYAK DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Statewide, voter turnout on Tuesday for the 2014 general election in Massachusetts was slightly lower than previous midterms, but there was a significant increase in the number of Boston voters hitting the polls. The election had a final turnout of 2,123,349 votes out of the 4,342,841 registered voters in Massachusetts as of 2012, which is about 48.89 percent, according to the Associated Press with 99 percent of precincts reported at press time. Compared to the 2010 midterm general election, about 55.35 percent of registered voters showed up to the polls, about 20,000 more people than in 2014. In the 2012 election with a presidential race, about 73.32 percent of registered voters cast their ballot. However, Boston residents had high participation in the 2014 election compared to other off year ones. With 100 percent of precincts reported, about 83.65 percent of the 383,702 registered voters cast their ballot, according to city statistics from the Boston Elections Department. In 2010,
The 2013 Massachusetts gas tax law adjusted taxes to the Consumer Price Index. With a majority of 52.9 percent, voters decided against the retention of the inflation-based tax, according to the Associated Press with 98 percent of precincts reported at press time. The “No” responses had 47.1 percent of the vote. Bill Vernon, director of the National Federation of Independent Business Massachusetts, said the voters’ choice to not allow adjustment of the gas tax through inflation was essential. “It’s a good victory from my point of view for small businesses,” he said. “We endorsed Question 1 for two basic reasons. One, automatic tax increases is not good public policy. In terms of the interests of small business owners, the gas tax has a big impact because they [small business owners] use gasoline often to get to and from the job site and often to do work at the job site.” Kristina Egan, director of Transportation for Massachusetts, said she respects the decision of the voters and appreciates how close the decision was. “We are, of course, disappointed with the results,” she said. “But last year, the Legislature took a really courageous vote to make sure that we have the resources that we need for our roads and bridges for public transportation. We also formed a really strong and broad coalition, so I look forward to working with our allies and elected leaders to fi nd other ways to fi ll the transportation needs.” Question 2
PHOTO BY WILLA RUSOWICZ-ORAZEM/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Bostonians vote at the Fenway High School polling precinct for the Massachusetts general election Tuesday.
only about 44.31 percent went out to the polls. “Now that I’m a citizen, I want to be involved as much as possible to make a difference,” said Minh Do, 40, of Fenway. “I want to make sure that our state is represented by one of the people who I value and who has similar core values that I do and who could
make a difference in our state.” Democratic candidate Martha Coakley and Republican candidate Charlie Baker faced off as the two major-party candidates for the governor’s seat. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
The original Bottle Bill, which was passed in 1983, required a fi ve-cent deposit on alcoholic and carbonated drinks. Passing with a majority of 73.4 percent, residents voted in opposition of the measure, and the Bottle Bill will remain the same, not expanding to include a deposit for containers of non-alcoholic and carbonated drinks. The “Yes” responses had about 26.6 percent of the vote, the Associated Press reported with 98 percent of the precincts at press time. Nicole Giambusso, spokeswoman for No on Question 2: Stop Forced Deposits, said she was very pleased with the decision to take a stance against the expansion of the Bottle Bill. Read more on dfpr.es/massballot
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NEWS
BU students view voting with importance, apathy
PHOTO BY KYRA LOUIE/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Boston University students vote at the Myles Standish Hall polling precinct for the Massachusetts general election Tuesday. BY MINA CORPUZ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
When Corbin Carter cast his ballot for the 2014 general election at 111 Cummington Mall on Tuesday, he said he was only one of two people at the polling booth. “I live really close to campus…[but] I know for some other people, it gets complicated when they move apartments. They didn’t know where their polling place was,” said the Boston University School of Law third-year student. “I hope that undergraduates would come out, maybe being closer to classes.” Carter said he researched the candidates and ballot questions before casting his vote. “The attorney general and governor’s race were the big two,” he said. “I thought a lot of the ballot questions were also interesting. The casino one was important as well. I voted no because I think it’s important to have casinos here for both jobs and to increase revenue for the state that we’re losing to other states.”
However, not all students share Carter’s sentiment about voting and getting to know Massachusetts politics. In fact, several BU students said they recognized the importance of their civic duty, but also expressed apathy to the process because of registration hurdles and lack of attention from their peers. Tobe Berkovitz, a professor of advertising in the College of Communication with expertise in gubernatorial election campaigns, said students are not a targeted demographic for candidates because some of the platforms do not appeal to them. “Students don’t see what’s in it for them and how it will really affect them,” he said. “[U.S. President Barack] Obama made efforts to get young voters through big data and social media to target Millennials and students, but I don’t see them taking interest.” A survey by the Harvard University Institute of Politics released Oct. 29 gauged attitudes of 18- to 24-year-old college undergraduates nationwide, and only 26 percent said they would “definitely” vote in the midterm elections. This
is similar to the 2010 midterm elections when 27 percent said they would “definitely” be voting, according to an IOP poll from September 2010. Berkovitz said trends in alternative ways to vote, such as early voting, absentee ballots and mail-in votes, allow for more participation from voters and could play an important part in political campaigns. Samuel Mauri, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said politicians should make more of an effort to encourage students to vote to combat some of their apathy. “We as college students don’t have a lot of time or money, and so to someone who’s campaigning, that makes us to some extent less important, whereas older people can go knock on people’s doors and give a lot of money to a campaign,” he said. Eva Dudzik, a junior in COM, said she voted in this election because of how passionate the candidates were about their causes. “I’ve met all the candidates, and they’re all awesome, and I don’t really feel passionate about politics, but I really feel passionate about what they’re doing because I know so much about their platforms, and I think what they’re doing is important,” she said. Dudzik said she worked at a company representing Democratic Attorney General candidate Maura Healey and Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Steve Kerrigan. Several students said they chose not to vote in the election because their voice would not have made a difference. Kelsey Michelsen, a senior in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said she feels pessimistic about voting because of how inefficient government can be. “I’m not really concerned about politics,” she said. “I feel like no matter who gets elected, nothing is really going to change. I guess it seems like they don’t do anything anyway. Nothing gets passed. Nothing happens.” Sharla Keough, a freshman in SAR, said she considers herself an Independent, who identifies with multiple platforms from both major polit-
ical parties. She said she finds trouble keeping up with politics because of a lack of information available to her. “I don’t have a TV, and I don’t read the newspaper, so I am not really sure about current events,” she said. “I do think it is important to vote because it is good to be informed, and we are at the age to vote, so why shouldn’t we have an opinion about what our government does and says?”
I
guess it seems like they don’t do anything anyway. Nothing gets passed. Nothing happens.
—Kelsey Michelsen (SAR ‘15) Anna Barnes, a freshman in the College of General Studies, said she wanted to get out and vote Tuesday on behalf of all college students. “A lot of times, college students don’t get represented or are too busy,” she said. “A lot of us are out of state, but it’s really important to get our voice out there because it affects a lot of us. It’s important for our voice to be heard because we are adults, but we might not be taken seriously as adults.” Sekar Krisnauli, Greg Yang, Stephanie Tran and Meiling Bedard contributed to the reporting of this story.
BU College Democrats, Republicans gear up for close election BY CHRIS FERGUS DAILY FREE PRESS CONTRIBUTOR
Leading up to the 2014 general election, the Boston University College Democrats and Republicans put their campaign efforts into high gear to drum up support for their respective candidates. Over the Halloween weekend, Madeline McGill, a member of the BU College Democrats, went door-to-door in the cold to encourage residents to get out to vote on Tuesday for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley. “Most people we talked to already made their decision to vote for Coakley,” said McGill, a sophomore in the College of Communication. “The key is to make sure they get out and vote.” BU College Republicans Vice President Ava Mack said the group worked at phone banks at Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker’s headquarters in Brighton to target different groups of voters, as well as to stuff envelopes with information to send out to voters. In addition to campaign involvement, both groups looked to reach out to student voters through social media and tabling at the George Sherman Union Link to express that voting is important no matter what age demographic someone falls into. Despite Massachusetts’ reputation as a Democratic state, Baker made a comeback in the polls and ramped up the intensity of the race in the last few days of the campaign, Mack said. “He’s grown as a candidate,” said Mack,
a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. “He’s honest, and he stands behind what he believes in.” Alexandra Blankman, political director for the BU College Democrats, said Coakley’s history of public service and dedication to Massachusetts made her a great candidate. “She is on the right side of every issue and has a track record of being there for the most vulnerable,” said Blackman, a junior in CAS. “She dedicated her entire life to the people of Massachusetts.” Coakley’s challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, which allowed states to refuse the recognition of same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states, is just one example of this drive, Blankman said. Despite recent polls in the days preceding the election showcasing Baker’s lead over Coakley, Mack said the spot for governor came down to the wire and all the votes of Massachusetts residents mattered in determining the outcome of the election. After a very tight race, Baker won the election with 48.4% of the vote with 99 percent of precincts reported, according to the Associated Press at press time. Coakley did not concede the race, and spokespeople for her campaign said the candidate would wait until all the votes have been counted. Michael Neminski, president of the BU College Republicans, who was present at Baker’s election party Tuesday night, said he was ecstatic by the results and looks forward to the changes Baker will bring to Massachusetts. “It was a big night for everyone,” said Neminski, a senior in CAS. “The crowd nev-
PHOTO COURTESY OF BU COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
The Boston University College Democrats canvas for the 2014 Massachusetts general election.
er lost enthusiasm and every time poll numbers went up, people cheered. It was great to be a part of that. Baker laid out a straightforward campaign, and Massachusetts [will] do better with him.” Members of the BU College Republicans volunteered at the party by helping people with registration and running polling data, which lasted late into the night, Neminski said. Victor Vuong, secretary of the BU College Democrats, said while he hoped Coakley would pull through during the tight race, he commends Baker from learning from his loss in 2010 during the gubernatorial election where he lost to current Massachusetts
Gov. Deval Patrick. “It’ll be interesting to see what he does as governor,” said Vuong, a sophomore in CAS. “Baker is certainly not a super crazy Republican, but there are some sore spots [in terms of his policies]. Going forward, I’m not going to rule Baker out because people can change.” Coakley’s lack of a concession speech at her election night is understandable considering the closeness of the vote, Neminski said. “It was a tight election, and it came down to a lot. Every vote had to be counted, and it was so close,” he said. “I am not surprised if she waits until morning to make her concession speech.”
NEWS
Results fluctuate in gubernatorial race TURNOUT, FROM PAGE 1
Prior to his decision to run in the 2014 gubernatorial race, Baker served under Massachusetts Govs. William Weld and Paul Cellucci from 1991 to 1998 as Secretary of Administration and Finance. He later became CEO of health care company Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Baker ran for governor in 2010, but was defeated by Democratic incumbent Deval Patrick. Michael Prisco, 49, of North Reading, said he was not surprised by Baker’s win over Coakley and he is ready for a change in the Commonwealth. “I’m a selectman in my town,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people in the community, and everybody was ready for some new leadership. Up until now, it has been a little challenging for our state, so this is just a refreshing start, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Baker’s party also witnessed the defeats of multiple Republican candidates as the night progressed. Gasps accompanied the tense moments that followed when Coakley briefly pulled ahead, but the night ended with raucous cheers celebrating Baker’s apparent victory. “In recent years, I just felt like there’s been a lot of spending and mismanagement of money,” said Jacqueline Smith, 69, of Milton, who identifies as a Democrat but voted for Baker. “And so I thought we were due for a change. He seems very sincere, and he has a lot of good ideas. I like the Democratic Party, but I think sometimes the management isn’t what it should be, and they spend too much money.” Shawn Dooley, a Massachusetts Representative for the 9th Norfolk District who ran unopposed Tuesday, said he did not expect the gubernatorial election to be so close. “I was honestly surprised. I think turnout was a little bit higher. The Coakley campaign did a great job of getting their vote out,” Dooley said. “It’s phenomenal that [it’s] democracy in action. It just shows that every vote counts.” Coakley supporters gathered at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel to wait for results. Fellow Democratic candidates U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and Attorney General-elect Maura Healy shared victories with supporters in ballrooms adjacent to Coakley’s, setting a victorious mood for the crowd of enthusiastic supporters. Coakley served as Middlesex District Attorney from 1997 to 2007, when she became Massachusetts’ first female attorney general. Jean Derenoncourt, 24, of Brockton, said he believed in Coakley due to her history of experience and political knowledge. “Her history speaks for itself,” he said. “She is strong and dedicated, and she has the willingness to not only do what she believes, but also do what she believes would
help all the people out there. She has the ability to give Massachusetts a reason to hope, and she has the knowledge and experience to shape the destiny of young people throughout the city.” As the results fluctuated between Coakley and Baker throughout the night, proponents for the candidates became more enthusiastic. However, many left Coakley’s party as the night progressed and the chances of her victory gradually slipped out of reach. Greg Turner, 59, of Waltham, said he would support Coakley “’til the last dog dies.” “I voted for her because she’s more compassionate,” he said. “I’m a strong Democrat, and I stand with most issues that Martha Coakley stands for. She’s more compassionate than Charlie Baker.” Veronica Turner, the executive vice president of a health care division of the Service Employees International Union, voiced her support for Coakley because of the candidate’s stance on health care. “I believe Martha Coakley is the best candidate for the job,” she said. “I also believe that her values are more aligned with the members I represent – health care workers, like me — primarily women and people of color and low wage workers. I would be very ecstatic if we could elect a woman governor. She’s supported earned sick time. She’s done everything right.” Turner said left-wing leadership is important for continuing the progress made so far in the Commonwealth.
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he put her heart and her soul and every ounce of energy that she had into that race. Every vote counts. —Charlie Baker
“We’ve had eight years where we’ve had steady progress, and we need to continue that progress,” she said. “Even more now, there is this national narrative about lowwage workers. We were successful. We will have the country’s highest minimum wage. So there’s this national narrative that’s going to catch on.” Bill Fairweather, 52, of the North End, left Baker’s election party in high spirits, despite the uncertainty surrounding his election. “It’s a great night for the state of Massachusetts,” he said. “It’s a great night for the Republican Party, and I think it’s a great night for the United States of America.”
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OPINION
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014
Kyle Plantz, Editor-in-Chief Felicia Gans, Managing Editor
T H E I N D E P E N D E N T S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R A T B O S T O N U N I V E R S I T Y
44th year | Volume 87 | Issue X The Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is published Thursdays during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co.,Inc., a nonprofit corporation operated by Boston University students. No content can be reproduced without the permission of Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright © 2014 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Clinton Nguyen, Multimedia Editor
Conor Ryan, Sports Editor
Mina Corpuz, Campus Editor
Taryn Ottaunick, Opinion Editor
Stephanie Pagones, City Editor
Hannah Landers, Features Editor
Emily Zaboski, Photo Editor Shakti Rovner, Office Manager
Charlie Baker: a Conservative in the Commonwealth Now that the Associated Press has named Republican Charlie Baker the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth is about to get a facelift. Whatever Baker chooses to do with his new title, there are a few issues we at The Daily Free Press would like to see addressed in the next four years. As college students, our first priority is higher education, particularly the dilemma of affording it. Granted, it likely won’t be Baker’s — or any governor, for that matter — priority to remedy the issues of affording college. The federal government is responsible for regulating loans and cutting costs, but it is the governor’s responsibility to work with Washington, D.C. to ensure that college students’ needs are met. Massachusetts is home to some of the best universities and colleges in the country and could be a leader within the national government for calling attention to college affordability. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been a strong advocate for reducing the weight of student loans, calling for several reforms on loan forgiveness within the Senate. Although her latest, the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow students to refinance their loans, was blocked in the Senate, her efforts for reform persist. Perhaps with the assistance of a governor equally interested in higher education reforms, Warren’s efforts in the District
Charlie Baker addresses suporters at his election party Tuesday night.
of Columbia could become a reality in Massachusetts and the rest of the United States. Baker has published a clear agenda for his higher education goals, which entails a system-wide reform of the public university system. His plan includes an emphasis on online learning, three-year degrees and co-op programs, in which students could earn money while working in their field of study. We’ve said before
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that these reforms are both cost-effective and practical, and we hope Baker is able to execute them for our generation. “We need to make higher education more affordable and do a better job of connecting schools to employers, so that all of our high school graduates can have a real chance at a bright future right here in Massachusetts,” Baker said in a June press release. “Unless we act now to deepen the connections between the public education system and the demands of the workplace, we will continue to see jobs migrate to other states and countries, along with employment and career opportunities for our young people.” As residents of a large city, public transportation is also high on our agendas. We are bombarded with news of plans to renovate the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line, Red Line and Massachusetts Turnpike, but we have not actually seen tangible evidence of any change – just blueprints. While plans are underway to rebuild transit cars, the fundamental issues of Boston’s infrastructure lie in the signaling system, which causes the cars to become backed up, thereby causing significant delays and more damage to the infrastructure. Baker should focus on remedying these issues for long-term improvements, instead of simply addressing the immediate problem. Still, Baker has emphasized keeping up with the current infrastructure rather than trying to tackle the roots of the Commonwealth’s public transportation problems. “In prioritizing public transportation projects, I will seek to ensure our existing infrastructure is properly maintained and that any new projects balance economic benefit with environmental impact,” Baker wrote in a Transportation
PHOTO BY MIKE DESOCIO/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
for Massachusetts questionnaire. “I also recognize that people seek more choices in transportation and that public transportation projects should benefit people across the state, not just in the Boston area.” With over one quarter of Boston University students living off campus, affordable housing in one of the most expensive states is of the utmost importance. Baker’s emphasis on housing for young people is certainly reassuring for students, especially in light of the issues of housing safety in Boston that have recently been exposed. “We need more housing in Massachusetts, and we especially need more housing that working families and young people can afford,” Baker said in the questionnaire. “Part of the solution is more housing, and pursuing the use of currently unused state-owned land as a cheaper option for the development of housing.” While these issues do have a strong likelihood of being addressed within Baker’s term, there are a few other things that may miss the mark. While Baker has made some concessions on environmental improvements, this has never been at the forefront of governors’ agendas, and Baker is not likely to change that. And while we would love to see recreational marijuana be legalized in the near future, it’s been two years since medical marijuana was approved, and not one dispensary has opened. Baker would do well to spur that reform before tackling anything more extreme. Despite his victory, Baker should keep in mind that he is now a red governor in a blue state, and it’s not as if he won by a landslide. However, with cooperation, patience and practical action, Baker has the chance to bring forth the changes Massachusetts needs.
OPINION
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014
Liberal, but not for Martha Coakley Baker: The choice for Massachusetts
BY SARA RYAN COLUMNIST
When I moved to Boston, there were a few things I knew to be true about the Commonwealth. I knew that I was moving to a New England state. I knew it was going to be cold, and I knew it was going to be liberal. Also there was a Chipotle on campus, and it’s pronounced “Wooster.” So imagine my surprise, when just 14 months later, a Republican candidate for governor was winning in the polls. And no, his competition was not Anthony Weiner. In a Real Clear Politics aggregate poll released Saturday, Republican candidate Charlie Baker had 3.7 points on Democratic candidate Martha Coakley. It was Coakley’s race to lose. In a state like Massachusetts, it is always the Democrat’s race to lose. On paper, Martha Coakley is everything the Massachusetts Democratic Party had dreamed of. She’s a Massachusetts native—although Western Massachusetts is as part of Massachusetts as Hawaii is part of the United States. After graduating from Williams College and Boston University School of Law, Coakley worked as a prosecutor before eventually becoming the first female attorney general for Massachusetts. With the exception of her disastrous loss to Scott Brown in the 2010 Senate race for former U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat, Coakley was the perfect choice to run on the Democratic ticket. Yet, no one was surprised when her polling numbers continued to fall throughout October and November. I initially planned to write an endorsement for the sinking “Martha Coakley for Governor” ship. Then I watched the gubernatorial debate on Oct. 28…well, I watched the first 15 minutes of the debate. I had seen enough. Sure, I care more about the issues than oratorical (is anyone else surprised that’s a word?) abilities, but in a state like Massachusetts, the governor’s political affiliation doesn’t really matter. Regardless of election results, both the Senate and House of Representatives in the Legislature will be overwhelmingly Democratic. In either scenario, we don’t have to worry about the liberal voice being heard. We still live in Massachusetts, after all. After Gov. Deval Patrick, the Commonwealth needs another strong leader to secure its future as an important American city. Charlie Baker may be that leader. I don’t know. However,
Martha Coakley is not. Before you say a word, it has nothing to do with her gender. I am all for female empowerment in the political sphere. I will vote for any competent, female Democrat on the ballot in front of me. Ironically, Coakley’s problem is like 87 percent cosmetic, and it’s a little late in the game to fix this. Watch any of the gubernatorial debates and you’ll find that Coakley never seemed at ease. Even when she was given the softball question, she was on the edge trying to defend her point. Conversely, Baker was a natural. At one point in the debate, a moderator asked, “Where is your political courage?” and instead of getting defensive, Baker gave a solid, well-reasoned answer. I don’t know about you, but I want a leader who has a cool head in the face of a crisis. If she can’t relax in the middle of a debate, how is she going to handle an emergency? In a state like Massachusetts (read: exceptionally liberal), most voters need to be given a reason not to vote Democratic. Similar to the 2010 Senate election, Coakley managed to give plenty of lifelong Democrats a reason to vote for somebody else. She has a problem seeming genuine and personable. The Boston Globe profiled her back in September before the primary and captured this angle well. Every inch of the profile pointed out that Coakley had to change her reputation among Massachusetts voters because they weren’t very impressed. Coakley also had to fight against U.S. President Barack Obama’s poor approval ratings. Even in a left-leaning state like Massachusetts, the Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll from Oct. 27 had Obama’s approval rating at just 44 percent. In general, people aren’t too impressed with the Democrats, and that’s just one more battle Martha Coakley couldn’t win. Additionally, let’s not pretend that Charlie Baker is a Tea Party candidate or anything. The man is socially moderate and fiscally conservative, a combination that seems appealing to middle class voters. The slow economic recovery has made these voters more susceptible to non-Democratic solutions. I’m not endorsing Baker, but I also refuse to endorse Coakley for governor. Considering how left leaning I am, this should say something. Coakley doesn’t get me pumped up. She doesn’t make me excited to be a Democrat. Instead, she’s the Democratic equivalent of lukewarm coffee — you drink it because you need the caffeine, not because it tastes good. Even if Baker was the most conservative, outspoken politician in the country, the Legislature, the judicial branch and the people of the Commonwealth will remain Democratic. According to a Gallup poll from February 2013, Massachusetts is the most liberal state in the nation. One election isn’t going to change that.
BY MIKE NEMINSKI COLUMNIST
Massachusetts has the reputation of being one of the bluest states in the United States, and with not a single Republican above the level of state senator, that reputation still holds true. But from time to time, Republican candidates have found a way to win in Massachusetts, and when they do win, have found ways to successfully govern. On Tuesday, Election Day in Massachusetts, voters were given a clear choice. People could vote for more of the same by voting in another Democrat, Martha Coakley, or they could vote for a fresh face, with fresh ideas in Charlie Baker. The choice could not have been clearer. And for Massachusetts’ voters who wished to see more growth and more prosperity in these upcoming years, Baker should have received their vote. Baker, unlike his opponent, has not only been successful in the public sector, but has also had significant success in the private sector as well. Baker served under Massachusetts Govs. William Weld and Paul Cellucci. Serving as the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Administration and Finance, he helped to turn a billion-dollar deficit into a surplus, created half a billion jobs and overhauled the Massachusetts education system. His success was so great in fact that he was awarded the distinguished service award from the National Governors Association in 1998. But his success has not just been confined to the public sector. After serving in the Weld and Cellucci administrations, he went on to serve as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. When Baker took over as CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was an absolute mess, but under his leadership, the company accomplished a huge turnaround. The company would go on to win the highest ranked health plan in the country (based
on member satisfaction and other factors) for 10 years. While his success alone qualified him for the job, his stance on key issues surely made him the more preferable candidate. Charlie pledged multiple times in debates not to raise taxes or fees, while his opponent failed to do so. He also opposed the automatic gas tax, something his opponent could not even remember the value of. Only under the Baker administration will the people of Massachusetts see growth in jobs and business. The policies offered by Coakley would’ve continued to add additional burdens to the middle class and stomp out economic growth. By electing a Republican governor, the people of Massachusetts are able to hold their government more accountable. Currently, Massachusetts has a Democratic governor, which has led to one party rule his entire time in office. When one party rule is in place, there is little that can be done to stop the majority from passing whatever it wants, resulting in poor pieces of legislation such as the Automatic Gas Tax, or the Tech Tax, which was repealed shortly after it was passed. With a Republican governor in the State House, such controversial laws may never be passed due to the threat of a veto. Furthermore, a Republican governor cannot simply veto every bill due to the threat of some of them being overridden, or in a worse case scenario, nothing getting done. Having a Republican governor in power will foster a sense of bipartisanship and cooperation that will force both bodies in the Legislature to accomplish what is best for Massachusetts, not what is best for their individual party. Baker looks to be the first Republican governor elected in Massachusetts since Mitt Romney in 2003, and throughout the course of his campaign, he has shown the residents of Massachusetts why that needs to happen. He has been endorsed by The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Eagle Tribune, MassLive/The Republican, The Standard-Times and The Lowell Sun, just to name a few. His economic plan will bring more jobs and less taxes to the Commonwealth, something his opponent cannot claim. Baker has a vision of a better, if not greater Massachusetts, and with him in office, that vision could become a reality.
Interrobang
Republican candidate Charlie Baker is the new Massachusetts governor-elect, according to the Associated Press. He ran his campaign using the slogan, “Let’s be Great!” We here at the ol’ Free Press were wondering what BU people’s campaign slogans would be if they ran for office.:
SAR: Making a Difference Every Day...Not Just Monday.
ENG: 3-D Printing a Better Future.
COM: We’ll Solve #whitegirl Problems.
BU Athletics: I like Eich.
CGS: This Campaign is Just my Capstone Project.
President Brown: I Mustache You to Vote for Me.
SMG: Throw Money at it Until We Can Name it.
FreeP: Help us Help You to Help us...Please Help.
6
NEWS
PHOTO BY ERIN BILLINGS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The crowd at Baker’s election party cheers as the results come in Tuesday night.
PHOTO BY EVAN JONES/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy speaks to reporters upon entering Coakley’s election party.
PHOTO BY ERIN BILLINGS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Supporters of Baker cheer as the candidate regains the lead in gubernatorial polling votes Tuesday night.
PHOTO BY EVAN JONES/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Steve Kerrigan, informs the crowd at the Fairmont Copley Plaza that Coakley will not speak on Tuesday night.
Residents rely on party affiliation WINTER SESSION
TURNOUT, FROM PAGE 1
Looking past the content of the platforms of each candidate, many voters said they made their decisions based on prior bipartisan political affiliation. “I’m not terribly thrilled with her [Coakley’s] choices, but I see her as someone who is really earnest and knows her stuff,” said Paula Coyle, 56, of Allston. “She’s solid as a rock, and I like her rhetoric way better than [Baker’s]. I tend to be a Democrat, so for the most part, I just go straight down the ticket unless I have strong feelings, and mostly, I have real strong feelings for the Democrats I lean towards.” While relying on party affiliation, some residents said they find Coakley’s demeanor unaccommodating. Jennifer Pearson, 56, of Beacon Hill, said Coakley has a hard time appealing to the general public and said she would not be a charismatic leader. However, Pearson said she still voted for Coakley. Several voters expressed frustration with the way some political campaigns were handled, especially with negative political advertisement tactics. “It does seem like the campaign strategy, not just in Massachusetts, but across the entire country is to tear down the other opponent as opposed to putting out compelling reasons why people should vote for you,” said Mark Lange, 50, of Fenway. “Although difficult to watch all of the ads all of the time, I still think they are the best use of [candidates’] money.” Lange said he was unhappy with both the Republican and Democratic candidates and therefore relied on his Republican affiliation when completing his ballot. He said he was not inspired by either candidate and believes that a Republican in office will provide equality. Television advertisements were a prominent part of a campaigning strategy frequently utilized by the candidates and their respective parties. Voters said advertisements should be used for a more positive purpose, rather than to show disdain for other slanderous advertisements sponsored by the candidates. “Most of the ads seem to belittle the other person, talk about their shortcomings, and I just
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don’t think that’s appropriate,” said Craig Misner, 46, of Fenway. “I’d rather them talk about what they can do versus what the person running against them did 10 years ago. Speaking to the traditionally Democratic Massachusetts government, some Republican voters said they hoped Baker will provide a necessary political balance to the office. “Massachusetts can be bipartisan in a way that’s effective,” said Justine Chen, 27, of Fenway. “Maybe that can be a signal nationally to the federal government that it can work. I’m hopeful.” Alluding to national political preferences, several voters said they chose to focus on economic issues this election. Among the four ballot questions, Question 4, about whether employees should be entitled to earned sick time, sparked their interests. “Of everything, I cared most about economic issues. I think that things like minimum wage and paid sick leave are important to provide fairness for everybody,” Chen said. “Even though all of the economic indicators seem to show that the economy is improving, I don’t think it’s improving for a lot of the lower class people. So we need to be providing safety nets for those people. Recently, with this economic recovery, it’s recovered for top earners.” Question 3 proposed a ban on three already-approved casinos in the Commonwealth. The electorate ultimately voted “No” on the question, meaning the law will not be repealed and the three projects will continue as planned. “The casino one – I voted yes on that to not allow the expansion,” said Aaron Radez, 31, of Beacon Hill. “That kind of goes back to economics a little bit. The long-term play isn’t a solid value proposition. I’d rather see us develop more around the innovation economy rather than pandering to the lowest denominator and introducing vice as a mechanism for economic development.” Alexandra David and Ryan McDonagh contributed to the reporting of this article.
NEWS
PHOTO BY EVAN JONES/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey greets his supporters after the announcement of his victory Tuesday night.
PHOTO BY EVAN JONES/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
A member of Coakley’s press team prevents a photo from being taken at the Fairmont Copley Hotel after guests were asked to leave the election party.
7
PHOTO BY EVAN JONES/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Pam Valentine, of Beverly Farms, looks on hopefully while waiting to hear news of whether Baker won the governor’s seat
PHOTO BY MIKE DESOCIO/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Lt. Gov.-elect Karyn Polito, waves to supporters at the Seaport Hotel Tuesday night after the Associated Press announced that she and Baker won the 2014 election.
8
NEWS
BU students on the gubernatorial campaign trails BY HANNAH LANDERS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
With the wide array of clubs and activities available to students at Boston University, it’s rare to find a student who’s not involved. But when it comes to politics, the younger generation has notoriously fallen short. In the 2010 Massachusetts midterm elections, the voter turnout rate for those aged 18 to 29 was only 25.5 percent, while the voter turnout rate for those aged 30 and above was 59.1 percent, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Yet some students at BU not only went out to vote, but also worked on the campaigns, becoming an instrumental part of the campaign process. BU sophomore Riley Driscoll identifies with Coakley’s fight for her beliefs Riley Driscoll, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, became an intern for Democratic candidate Martha Coakley’s campaign for governor because Coakley reminded her of her grandfather, who served as the governor of Arkansas. “One time, he took me on a drive through Arkansas, and he gave me this really inspiring, off-the-cuff speech about why he got involved in politics,” she said. When deciding whether or not to get involved in Coakley’s campaign, she saw several similarities between what her grandfather stood for and Coakley’s campaign. Driscoll started working for the Coakley campaign in January, when there were less than 50 people involved in the campaign overall. “I got a lot of responsibility at first, which
PHOTO COURTESY OF RILEY DRISCOLL
PHOTO COURTESY OF ELENA HERNANDEZ
LEFT: Riley Driscoll (left), a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University, collects signatures for the Martha Coakley campaign for governor with volunteer Jessica Richards (right). RIGHT: Elena Hernandez, a senior in CAS, has been working on Charlie Baker’s campaign for governor of Massachusetts.
was stressful but also amazing,” she said. “It was a lot of fun, and it definitely helped me grow.” People often see the Commonwealth as very Democratic, Driscoll said, even though the majority of Massachusetts’ governors over the past 20 years have been Republican. Before current Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, the last Democratic governor was Michael Dukakis, who served from 1983 to 1991. Driscoll said many of the ideals Coakley developed during her time as attorney general resonated with her. “The things that Martha’s done as attorney general…are representative of me and what I wanted living here for my college experience,” she said.
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Although college students usually have low voter turnout, Driscoll said both gubernatorial candidates Charlie Baker have elements in their platforms that are applicable to students. “People don’t realize the effect that local politics can have on us [as students],” she said. “Everyone gets their voice heard and everyone benefits much more [on a local level] than on a national level.” BU senior Elena Hernandez sees Baker as best for Massachusetts Elena Hernandez, a senior in CAS, comes from a family of journalists, and current events and politics have always been “front and center”
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in her life. So perhaps it’s not a surprise that Hernandez ended up majoring in political science and interning for Baker’s campaign for governor. “Massachusetts is a blue state, but the majority of governors have been Republican,” she said. “So there’s definitely a part of the electorate that wants a two-party system.” Drawn in by the momentum surrounding this year’s gubernatorial election, Hernandez said Baker emerged as the best candidate for Massachusetts. Like Driscoll, Hernandez had a hand in many tasks involved with running a campaign, including volunteer outreach, finance and event organization. “Working on a campaign, you definitely get a very general mix of experiences,” she said. “You get thrown into whatever they need you in the most, and that’s part of the fun of it.” One of the highlights of working on the Baker campaign, Hernandez said, was participating in a “stand out event” at the final debate before the election. “Everyone was holding signs, trying to get cars driving by to honk,” she said. “It was really great to see such a big outcome.” Although Hernandez has long had an interest in politics, she recommended the experience of working on a campaign to all students. “Working on a campaign is one of the most fun things a college student can do,” she said. And ultimately, she said, the young people involved now will be the ones to set the tone for the future. “Our generation is really going to change the Republican Party,” Hernandez said. “A lot of young people should get more involved.”
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10
SPORTS
Women’s cross country defends Patriot League title BY NICK FRAZIER DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Boston University women’s and men’s cross country teams put up strong performances at the Patriot League Championships at Lehigh University Saturday, with the women’s team winning the conference for the second straight year. The BU women tied Bucknell University with 52 points, but prevailed on a tiebreaker. In the Patriot League, when there is a tie between two teams, each of those team’s top three runners are compared head-to-head. In this case, the Terriers’ topthree runners each fi nished before the Bison’s top-three runners. “Bucknell put together its best race by far of the season,” said BU coach Bruce Lehane, who was named Patriot League Coach of the Year on Saturday. “They threw everything at us and deserve a lot of credit for their competitive effort. Our women held it together just the same and came out with a narrow win.” The Terriers were led once again by senior Rosa Moriello, who fi nished fi rst individually for the second year in a row. She
completed the 6,000-meter race in 20:18.1, just 12 seconds faster than second-place runner sophomore Elizabeth Weiler of Lehigh University. Moriello’s efforts, including a strong showing throughout this season, earned her the honor of being named Patriot League Runner of the Year. “It was great to see Rosa defend her individual title,” Lehane said. “She has been a model teammate and model captain for the team. It’s been fantastic having her leadership on the squad.” Rounding out the top three for the Terriers were sophomore Sarah Saccoach (21:15.3) fi nishing in sixth place and junior Shelby Stableford (21:21.2), crossing the fi nish line in ninth. Junior Michelle Sumner fi nished 16th with a time of 21:35.2, and sophomore Hallie Armstrong’s time of 21:44.2 gave her 20th place to fi nish fi fth for the Terriers and inch out Bucknell for the title. Also running strong races for the Terriers were junior Rachel Lotterman (22:06.0) in 33rd, freshman Alex Osman (22:23.4) in 50th and junior Erin Pierce (22:35.1) in 55th. The men’s team also ran well, as the team’s efforts ended up resulting in a fourth-
place overall fi nish. The Terriers had three runners place in the top 20 to give them 97 points. The United States Naval Academy won the meet with 30 points. “The men ran very well,” Lehane said. “To get all fi ve guys in under 25 minutes for fi ve miles of cross country is a solid performance. I am very proud and satisfied with what those guys did. They ran real tough.” BU was led by junior Alec Olson, who fi nished in 12th with a time of 24:27.1. Fellow junior Kevin Thomas crossed the fi nish line in 24:30.3, securing 15th place, followed by senior Ben Ravetz (24:39.4) fi nishing in 20th. Rounding out the top fi ve were sophomore Mitchell Russo (24:58.2) in 27th and junior Paul Gennaro (24:58.4) in 28th. Sophomore Matti Groll (25:37.2), senior Alex Civitano (25:49.0) and sophomore Ethan Homan (26.10.0) also ran well for the men’s team. Both the women’s and men’s teams will travel to New York to compete in the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships on Nov. 14. The top two teams and top two individuals at the meet receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE MCLAUGHLIN
Senior Rosa Moriello was named Patriot League Runner of the Year after her performance Saturday at the Patriot League Championships.
The Terriers will be looking to better their performance from last season, where the men’s team fi nished 17th overall at the meet and the women’s team earned a 14th place fi nish.
Starr continues to stay humble despite impressive resume STARR, FROM PAGE 11
“I think our kids love the game as much when they graduate or even more so than when they come in,” she said. “We try to recruit people who have a true passion to play the sport, and we’re a program that really nurtures that passion. And when they graduate, they continue playing or they go into coaching, and they still love the sport as much or even more so. If we’re able to do that, we’ve been successful, regardless of conference championships or NCAA Tournaments. “The majority of my athletes still love the game and the majority would say, ‘Hey, if I had to do it all over again, I would want to do it at Boston University.’” In 1998, Starr graduated from Ursinus College and recieved the opportunity to serve as an assistant coach on the U.S. National team. On
the international stage, Starr learned from the best and solidified her coaching prowess. “My opportunity to coach with the national team in 1998 and be a part of the coaching staff for the World Cup really had a major impact on me, particularly at that point in time,” she said. “I was in the middle of my career as a coach. I almost felt like I got a Ph.D. in coaching with that experience. To coach at that level and to tour Australia and New Zealand, and then to coach in the World Cup was a tremendous opportunity, and that has absolutely helped my coaching career.” Through experiences like these and her stellar tenure at BU, Starr built a Hall of Fame resume. And naturally, her peers noticed. Just nine days before the start of the regular season on Aug. 20, the NFHCA announced Starr’s induction
into its Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2014. “It’s a testimony to the program, and it’s flattering and humbling,” she said. “I’m just proud to be able to go up to that podium and represent Boston University, our hockey program and everybody who’s had something to put into this program all these years.” “All these years” and Starr is still roaming the sidelines for BU, looking to lead the Terriers to their first-ever Patriot League title. She has taken the conference’s youngest roster and turned it into an NCAA Tournament hopeful. Largely inconsistent at start the season, the Terriers have transformed in the latter half, winning seven of their last nine contests to conclude the regular season. Now, with the two-seed in hand going into the Patriot League Tournament, Starr looks to have a date with destiny, because the top-seed is Starr’s
former team, Bucknell University. Following a stint as the junior varsity head coach for the University of New Hampshire, Bucknell gave Starr her first head coaching position in 1979. Starr does not exaggerate the importance of a potential matchup with the Bison too much, though. Instead, she reminisces gratefully about her time spent in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. “I have really fond memories [about coaching at Bucknell],” Starr said. “The biggest thing about Bucknell is that they gave a very young coach an opportunity, pretty much right out of college and graduate school. I have a tremendous respect for that university as an academic institution, and they’ve done great things athletically as well. “But first and foremost, we have a really tough team in American [University] we need to play first.”
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If the Terriers make it past the defending champions in the Eagles and square off for the Patriot League final, Starr said she likes her team’s chances. As she has throughout the entire season, she remains confident in her team and its poise under pressure. “They’re definitely capable of a Patriot League championship and to compete successfully in the NCAA Tournament,” she said. “We’ve shown that throughout the season, and if anything, we’ve shown it late in the season, taking [the University of] Connecticut to a shootout and beating [the University of] Virginia over a couple weeks in October. We’re really showing that we’re capable of playing with anybody, and we just have to take it one game at a time and really focus on ourselves.” Putting the attention on herself, isn’t something Starr is used to doing. Following her 400th win as head coach of BU, Starr gave all the credit for her illustrious career to her players and coaches. Even as the team begins play in the tournament, she still attributes her success to others. “It might hit me a little bit more later on, but what I love about that milestone is it’s just a tribute to all the people who have worked with our program: all the athletes, all the coaches, Tracey [Paul], who’s been with me the last 15 years on the sideline, all the athletic trainers that have worked with us, who work really hard to keep the kids healthy and our people in the strength room,” Starr said. “So there are just so many different elements that go into it. “I get the Gatorade dumped on me, but there’s so many people that go into all the success that this program has had. I’m just very grateful for all of the support that I’ve had throughout the years.” While Starr might not be counting her total wins, she can be sure that all of the people to whom she attributes her success to certainly are. She’s at 406…and counting.
SPORTS
11
Russo receives HE Player of the Week accolades BY JUSTIN PALLENIK DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Returning home to the friendly confines of Walter Brown Arena, the No. 6 Boston University women’s hockey team saw one of its skaters receive a prestigious accolade, as junior forward Rebecca Russo earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors for her play against conference foes Northeastern University and the University of New Hampshire.
Going up against the crosstown rival Huskies (2-4-3, 1-2 Hockey East) on Oct. 27, Russo and the Terriers (6-2, 3-1 Hockey East) scratched and clawed their way to a 3-2 victory. Russo was key for the early BU attack, scoring two goals, including the game-winner in the second period. “She’s one of those people who plays with a ton of energy and obviously some speed on the ice,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “She’s someone who is oftentimes a threat
as a team member, but certainly individually.” On Sunday, less than a week later, the Terriers squared off with the Wildcats (2-8-1, 0-4 Hockey East). This time, however, the game took a very different trajectory as it came down to the wire in the third period. After going down 2-1 midway through the final frame, BU tied the game at the 13:05 mark. And once again, Russo came away with the game-winner, this time with less than five minutes remaining in the game, sending the Terriers to a 4-2 conference win. “She made a real individual play, getting around somebody and putting the puck away,” Durocher said. “She’s had breakaway opportunities that she’s cashed in on. Without a doubt, I think her speed and her energy are the two things that she really brings to the table. This year, in the early season, she’s probably finished at the best rate she has so far.” For the Westport, Connecticut native, her three goals this week brought her season total up to five, which ties her for the team-lead with junior forward Sarah Lefort. O’Neil steps up in Hanson’s absence
PHOTO BY FALON MORAN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Junior forward Rebecca Russo is tied for second on the Terriers with eight points (five goals, three assists) on the year.
With an injury to sophomore goaltender Victoria Hanson, Durocher has not been able to execute the strict netminder rotation he had intended. In the wake of Hanson’s absence, freshman Erin O’Neil has taken the reins between the pipes. Hanson went down during a game on the road against the Uni-
versity of Maine on Oct. 24. Before her injury, the Stoughton native had allowed just three goals in three games and maintained a .947 save percentage. In O’Neil’s first start after Hanson’s injury, she struggled. Facing an unimpressive Black Bear (4-5-2, 3-1-1 Hockey East) offense, O’Neil allowed three goals, including two in the third period, as the Terriers dropped the contest 4-2. In the last week, however, O’Neil has proved herself a worthy replacement. Against Northeastern, she faced 39 shots and stopped 37 of them, leading BU to victory. A similar story unfolded against UNH, when she and the Terriers were outshot 34-30, yet she stopped 32 of the Wildcats’ shots on her way to another win. “Certainly, two [goalies] have put themselves in a horse race to see who’s going to be the starting goalie, if there ever is going to be a starting goalie,” Durocher said. “With an injury, it becomes an opportunity for somebody else, and certainly Erin [O’Neil] has answered the bell in a wonderful fashion.” Since her loss against Maine, O’Neil has kept up an impressive .945 save percentage to go along with the team’s consecutive victories. “She had two great games this week. She made some huge saves, which is what you look for in a goaltender,” Durocher said. “She’s grown comfortable and much more confident as good things happen for her. A coach can’t hand you confidence. You have to go out and earn it. When you get that confidence, it allows you
to play free and easy and much more assertive in almost any sport.” Quality opportunities present themselves for Terriers Although the Terriers offense has not yet lived up to its potential, especially in the absence of senior captain Marie-Philip Poulin, it has consistently generated quality chances on net. Three of BU’s top four scorers have shooting percentages greater than .250. Russo, Poulin and freshman forward Rebecca Leslie each have begun the season with a remarkable level of efficiency. “When you’re putting the puck in at that type of rate, it’s impressive,” Durocher said. “It’s a pretty high number and maybe the type of thing that may or may not last throughout the entire season. But in the early going, we’re taking advantage of opportunities.” Russo currently sits at a .278 clip, while Poulin was shooting at a .294 rate before she went down with an injury. Leading the bunch, though, is the rookie Leslie, who is converting .333 percent of her shots. If these Terriers can keep up this pace, they will certainly present matchup issues for their opponents throughout the season, Durocher said. “We play against a lot of really good goaltenders, and you can make good deliveries and take good shots and the goalies are going to stop their share,” he said. “But it’s created some game-winning goals that were very timely.”
NHL missing mark with Rule 48 SHULMAN, FROM PAGE 12
In a sad twist of fate, his assailant, Matt Cooke, is still playing in the NHL. Having since been disciplined for other on-ice incidents, Cooke is one of the most infamous players in the league. Some have even mentioned that Cooke should be banned for life. The circumstance of Cooke leads to the million-dollar question: What must be done to ensure that no repeat incidents occur? Simply put, the NHL must enforce stricter punishments on those who violate Rule 48. Some changes that must be made include the removal of a minor penalty to be replaced by a major penalty for any violation. Game misconducts and match penalties should also be applied to more severe infringements of Rule 48. In addition, stricter suspensions must be put in place to better deter players from violating
Rule 48 in the fi rst place. A possible solution could be suspending a player for as long as the injured player must sit out. If this fails, then a fi ve-game suspension should be assessed for the fi rst violation of the rule, with an additional fi ve games given for each following incident. So how can the league be changed? Some answers might be changing the dimensions of the ice from standard to international, making games less physical and oriented more toward conditioning. Another possibility includes the prohibition of fi ghting from games. While not a benefit to fans, it would make the game much safer for all players and eliminate enforcer players, like Cooke, from being able to fit a role on a team. Physicality is a part of hockey. Sickening hits on defenseless skaters, however, has no place in this game. It’s time for the NHL to step up and make a change.
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W. Tennis @ Harvard Fall Classic, All
M. Soccer @ Bucknell, 5:30 p.m.
On March 7, 2010, Savard incurred a grade 2 concussion following a blind side hit by then-Pittsburgh Penguin goon Matt Cooke. Savard would miss the remainder of the regular season and the fi rst round of the playoff s that year. Despite taking Savard out of commission, Cooke was neither penalized nor disciplined by the NHL for his actions. Savard, meanwhile, would play 25 games in the 2010-11 season before suffering another concussion in a game against Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 23, 2011. Since his most recent concussion, Savard has yet to see action in an NHL game. Recent updates describe Savard as having symptoms of vertigo, as well as frequent headaches, making it unlikely that he will ever see ice time in the NHL again – an unceremonious exit for a player with over 700 career points to his resume.
BOTTOM LI NE WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5
THURSDAY, NOV. 6
In a recent radio interview, Florida Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu revealed that his team is in a severe financial crisis – losing about $114,000 per day last season
In other shocking news, the sky was blue today.
Day Day
QUOTABLE “She has been a model teammate and model captain for the team. It’s been fantastic having her leadership on the squad.” – BU cross country coach Bruce Lehane on senior Rosa Moriello, who defended her title at the Patriot League Championships over the weekend. p. 10
A FAN’S PERSPECTIVE FAILED PROTOCOLS
Sports
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014
ADDING TO THE HARDWARE BU women’s hockey junior forward Rebecca Russo was named Hockey East Player of the Week after scoring three goals against Northeastern University and the University of New Hampshire. p. 11
Sally Starr quietly continues to build legacy with Boston U. field hockey
BY DAN SHULMAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
There’s no question that the NHL is a league that seldom lacks any type of physicality. Shocking, I know. After all, the physical aspect of a hockey game is what makes it more entertaining. If you ask any hockey fan, a typical game consists of at least one fight, a few goals, a medley of dips, dekes and drags and a lot of hits. Lots of hits. These hits, known as checks to the uninitiated hockey fan, has been as much of a mainstay to the game as Don Cherry’s horrific suits and Montreal Canadiens fans’ obsession with Maurice “Rocket” Richard almost 50 years later. While checking has always been found in the game, the issue of contact to the head, whether intentional or inadvertent, has raised a problem in the past and has resurfaced recently. The NHL has arguably passed the most rules and regulations amongst any of “The Big Four” North American teams in terms of protecting its players from injuring their head or neck. Within the past few years, the NHL Department of Player Safety passed Rule 48, regarding intentional targeting of the head. The rule states that intentional targeting of the head as the principal point of contact is prohibited, which is a noble decree from the NHL indeed. Too bad Rule 48 has done little to deter the deadly issue. The current in-game punishment for violating Rule 48 is a minor penalty or, at the referee’s discretion, a match penalty. Each time a player is assessed two misconduct penalties, they will be suspended one game and an additional game for any subsequent misconduct. The commissioner can issue supplementary discipline or fines. Despite these penalties, the scenario of players suffering serious head injuries has been a recurring issue in NHL rinks across North America. So what exactly have the issues been? According to ESPN.com, the 2013-14 NHL season had 53 concussions reported, yet only 35 suspensions. There were also incidents where even though no penalty was given by game officials due to a specific incident, the league’s disciplinary committee still passed a suspension for a hit to the head. When Brandon Prust of the Canadiens hit New York Rangers’ Derek Stepan from the blind side in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 22, no penalty was called. The play resulted in Stepan breaking his jaw and Prust getting off clean. It wasn’t until the NHL Department of Player Safety took a closer look at the play that Prust was suspended for two games. There have been several other incidents that have resulted in players being concussed – perhaps the most infamous incident being the one that essentially robbed Boston Bruins AllStar Marc Savard of his career. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAWK/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Boston University field hockey head coach Sally Starr has accumulated 406 career wins during her 34 seasons with the Terriers. BY JUSTIN PALLENIK DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
“Let’s try and make this a quick one so we can get you guys out of this rain,” said Boston University field hockey coach Sally Starr, as she jogged over to start her postgame interview. Her team had just won again, its third straight victory, a 5-2 dismantling of conference foe, Colgate University. “We’ve won, I think, 80 percent of our games, maybe 90 percent of our games in the last three weeks,” Starr said with a “who’s counting?” nonchalance. Starr isn’t counting. And she’s not the only one. Most of the 16,000 undergraduate students at BU aren’t counting. Some people don’t know or care that Starr earned the 400th win of her BU career on Oct. 5. Others would not congratulate her on her induction into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame as they pass her on Commonwealth Avenue. Some people wouldn’t even recognize her. In fact, for some BU students, the first thing that comes to mind in regard to the field hockey team might be New Balance Field, the new state-of-the-art turf field, on West Campus, not that Starr has been head coach for 34 years. Yet, for Starr, the recognition and the ac-
Starr has led the Terriers to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three consecutive appearances from 2005-07.
colades aren’t important. Recognition and accolades don’t mold student athletes into responsible young adults, she said. But coaching does, and since she has been coaching for more than 36 years with four major teams, she has perfected that skill. It starts with the recruiting process. Not only do Starr and her staff scour the globe for talented field hockey players, but they also emphasize finding intelligent students who canbalance their lives with school, sports and other extracurricular activities. The academic ambition of Starr’s program is exemplified by the 11 student athletes it placed on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll at the conclusion of last season. “We really talk about recruiting young adults who want to be student athletes,” Starr said. “I think there are a lot of schools where you’re a student on the low side and an athlete on the high side, or vice versa, student on the high side and athlete on the low side. And what I love about BU is that they truly are student athletes, and as much as they want to achieve on the hockey field, they also want to achieve in the classroom.” Athletically, Starr’s teams have always been peppered with skilled players. Over the course of her career, she has coached the likes of 35 NFHCA All-Americans, including six first-team selections. Twelve of her players have received
Starr was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2014.
conference Player of the Year honors, and nine have received conference Rookie of the Year honors, a list that includes current sophomore forward Amanda Cassera, who earned the Patriot League Rookie of the Year award during the 2013 season. Nothing speaks to the efficacy of Starr’s coaching better than her ability to bring together these individual talents to form a cohesive unit. And she’s got the numbers to back it up. During her tenure with the Terriers, she has led the team to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a semifinal appearance in just her fifth season with the Terriers. Her teams have captured eight America East championships and 12 regular season America East titles. Since 1985, BU has consistently kept company with the top programs in the country, accounting for 21 top-20 finishes during this period. Starr made a national splash in 2007, when she guided the Terriers to an 18-6 season, the best record in program history. In fact, from 2005 to 2007, Starr led BU to three-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, another first for the program. Once again, though, Starr steadfastly refuses to get bogged down in her own feats, citing the sustained success of her players as her greatest accomplishment. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Starr has coached 35 National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Americans and 12 conference Player of the Year recipients.
GRAPHIC BY SAMANTHA GROSS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF