NEWS MBTA hosts first in series of public meetings concerning the possibility of a Green Line extension. p. 4
SPOTLIGHT BU Stage Troupe’s “Dog Sees God” highlights sexual abuse, unites with MassKids. p. 6
22°/35° CLOUDY
SPORTS Nick Havener is discovering his potential and role each day for men’s basketball. p. 12
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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016 THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY YEAR XLIV. VOLUME LXXXIX. ISSUE VII.
Gamma Phi Beta under investigation following new evidence MBTA shrinks 2017 operating deficit BY KALINA NEWMAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
to find common ground. “No matter what side we find ourselves on, we have the choice to choose unity over
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced that it would decrease its projected fiscal 2017 operating deficit by 43 percent, according to a Monday press release. The release stated that the decision comes from an increase in revenue from real estate and advertising as well as reductions in overtime spending. The MTBA plans to save money and invest into long-needed service renovations, such as a new third rail for the Red Line, heating improvements on the Orange Line and new track switches for the Green Line, according to the press release. Additionally, it plans to invest $26.5 million into Winter Resiliency Work as well as $3.5 million for track improvements along the Framingham/ Worcester Commuter Rail Line. Frank DePaola, general manager of the MBTA, said in the press release that any money the MBTA can get to invest into the operating system would improve service. “Every dollar that we can free up in operating expense is invested back into the system, helping us improve the level of service reliability,” DePaola said in the release. Charlie Ticotsky is the policy director at Transportation for Massachusetts, a coalition of organizations that work together “to create safe, convenient, and affordable transportation for everyone,” according to its website. Ticotsky said a 10 percent increase in fares would not be ideal for the City of Boston. “We feel strongly that fare increases should be modest and predictable, so no more than a 5 percent increase in two years,” Ticotsky said. “We feel going over 5 percent is punitive to riders, especially when the service of the MTBA isn’t getting any better, so we are strongly urging the board to approve of the hike for 5 percent or less.” Ticotsky said that in terms of the MBTA cutting next year’s projected fiscal operating deficit, reducing spending and increasing cost savings would prove beneficial, but there will be enough money for spending regardless. “We are very happy in the reduction and cost savings that they’ve found in the operating budget, and we think it takes away one of the arguments that they’ve been making, that fare hikes are necessary to plug the operating budget now that the deficit is much smaller,” Ticotsky said. He added, “There’s almost no deficit anymore because they’re getting $117 million from the state government. So when they talk about the deficit, they don’t include that, so we think the savings are great but they already have more than enough money to balance the budget for next year.” Several Boston residents were wary of the possibility of fare hikes, but also viewed the MTBA service upgrades as necessary. Sarah Edwards, 25, of Brighton, said an increase in rider fares would be difficult for college students, a large population of MBTA users, to afford. “I don’t like the idea of an increase in T fares, but if that’s the only way get the MTBA out of debt, then so be it,” she said. “But considering that college students take
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ILLUSTRATION BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
BU announced an investigation Wednesday into the BU Gamma Phi Beta chapter’s role in a party allegedly co-hosted with BU Lambda Chi Alpha in mid-November 2015.
BY ALEX LI DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Boston University administration is investigating the BU chapter of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority for allegedly co-hosting a party that allowed underage drinking with BU’s Lambda Chi Alpha last November, Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said Wednesday. LCA is also under investigation in regard to the party, The Daily Free Press reported on Feb. 4. The university originally placed Gamma Phi on probation Monday, then lifted
the sanction and commenced investigation in light of new evidence, Elmore explained. “I got some information this morning, and I changed my mind,” Elmore said. “It is private and sensitive information that I cannot give out. I am reconsidering about the sanction, but as of right now, [Gamma Phi and LCA] are not on probation.” Both organizations are required to cease all activities, including hosting parties or formals, during the investigation, and university officials hope to conclude both investigations by the end of week, Elmore said. The university has addressed a few Greek life incidents in the past couple
years. Lambda Phi Epsilon was suspended a year ago for hosting underage drinking party, Pi Kappa Alpha lost university recognition Dec. 9 and Sigma Chi was asked to cease operations for hazing complaints, Elmore said. “We have an anonymous tip line for hazing which you can find on the Dean of Students site,” Elmore said. “Usually, we will receive a complaint and we will take a close look at it. We will try to bring people in to verify or refute the allegation as quickly as possible, then we make decision about what steps we take in response to the incidents.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
SG members look to election, solve internal conflict BY ALEX LI, LEXI PEERY, DAVE SEBASTIAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
As the Boston University Student Government Executive Board election approaches, several members of SG said they look forward to candidates who can improve SG’s image among students, especially following the impeachment of two E-board members last semester and Monday’s failed attempt at constitutional reform. Competing slates will be able to officially campaign March 21 and the voting period will begin March 28 until April 4, Student Elections Commission Vice Chair of Rules Jasmine Miller wrote in an email. The SEC does not know what and how many slates will be running in the election, as candidates are still in the process of filing their Candidate Intent packet that is due Friday at 5 p.m., Miller, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, wrote. “The SEC has two primary goals,” Miller wrote. “Maintain free and fair elec-
PHOTO BY LEXI PLINE/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Constitution Reform Committee failed to garner the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass the proposal that would have reformed the BU Student Government Constitution.
tions and encourage student body participation in elections as best as we can.” SG President Andrew Cho said he understands conversations about this year’s election will be heated, but he advises slates
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NEWS
BU professors take leadership positions, foster youth literacy BY DAVID FRANCO DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Two Boston University School of Education faculty members have taken the necessity for literacy to a higher level of importance through statewide involvement with the Massachusetts Reading Association. SED professors Evelyn Ford-Connors and Katherine Frankel have both taken leadership positions in the Massachusetts Reading Association, according to a Friday release. Frankel, co-chair of the Adolescent Literacy Committee, and Ford-Connors, co-chair of the Literacy Coaches Committee, both said they are working with schools in Massachusetts and the Reading Association to research strategies to solve the literacy issue in the United States and deliver that information to Massachusetts teachers. “Creating a populace that is better educated and better able to critically reason and analyze information, I think, is fundamental to our future as a democracy,” Ford-Connors said. Frankel currently works with SED doctoral candidate Jennifer Rabold, while Ford-Connors works with former SED doctoral student Kelly Reinhart to foster their respective researches. Ford-Connors said it’s important to be in touch with classrooms to formulate the best plans with SED students who are future teachers. “If I know what’s happening in schools, then I can be much more targeted in the ways I talk about classrooms to our School of Education,” Ford-Connors said. Ford-Connors said they aim to bring their knowledge and research on classrooms across Massachusetts to gain new perspective for their work at BU. Mainly concerned about the current literacy rates for children, Frankel said she also focuses on adolescent literacy around the commonwealth. “My personal focus is to get more conversations happening about adolescent literacy and thinking about supporting teachers in how to teach reading and interacting with students around text across grade levels,” said Frankel. While proper literacy starts with children, Frankel said she wants to continue the fight for proper literacy through adolescence
ILLUSTRATION BY SAVANAH MACDONALD/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Massachusetts Reading Association and BU’s School of Education announced Friday that they will begin working together to increase literacy in Massachusetts.
and beyond. Ford-Connors and Frankel said they are both also looking outward at the rest of the country where literacy could be improved. “For me, thinking about adolescent literacy moving forward, it’s really a question of how can we provide all students wherever they go to school with the best access we have to offer,” Frankel explained. Ford-Connors said they are also looking to aid locations outside of Massachusetts to give others the opportunities that Massachusetts has. “What we learn here and what we begin to work with are things that we hope we can write about and think about and take to other parts of the country,” Ford-Connors said. “If we have things that are working, we want to share those.” Several students said literacy is important and that teachers play a key role in advancing literacy for students.
Students surprised by investigation INVESTIGATION FROM PAGE 1
Gamma Phi Delta Chapter Administrative Vice President Emily Evans, a junior in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, declined to comment. Emma Everett, a member of Gamma Phi, said her experience in the sorority “has only been good things,” though she was not aware of the university’s investigation. “I really love being in a sorority,” said Everett, a sophomore in the College of Communication who joined Gamma Phi her freshman year. “We attend other fraternities’ events, we will host fundraising events at George Sherman Union Link, we do hot yoga, we do field trips like the apple picking last semester.” The Gamma Phi Beta International Headquarters declined to comment. Panhellenic President Sophie Collender wrote in an email that “the women of Gamma Phi Beta are excellent members of our BU community,” though she declined to comment on the investigation on behalf of the BU Panhellenic Council. “[Gamma Phi has] and will continue to make great contributions to our student and academic life as a whole,” Collender said. LCA declined to comment on the university’s investigation, Alpha Chapter President Carlos Gomez wrote in an email. Several students who are not involved with Gamma Phi said they were not surprised when they heard about the investigation, because underage drinking at fraternity parties is a social norm. Mateo Zambrano, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he went to one fraternity party for two minutes. He
thought was “too sweaty and dirty,” and never went back. “I am not surprised they will be investigated, because Greek life generally allows underage drinking, although it is not specifically advertised,” Zambrano said. “I don’t think there is much BU can do to change what [fraternities] do off campus other than restrict events they can hold.” Melissa Orenstein, a senior in CAS, said she was not familiar with Greek life but wished she knew more about the incident. “I don’t think they should be investigated for underage drinking,” Orenstein said. “I wonder if someone got hurt, then the university should definitely investigate.” Sabrina McLeod, a freshman in COM, said she went to a couple of fraternity parties, so she was not surprised to hear about the investigation. “This is college,” McLeod said. “A lot of us are underage right now, at least the newcomers. I came from Florida and I have seen some of my friends’ Snapchat stories, so I am not surprised.” McLeod said it is unfair for the sorority to cease all activities during the investigation because it undermines new members’ experience. “They should at least be able to continue their normal thing until the investigation is conclusive,” McLeod said. “People who just joined probably do not have anything to do with what [the university] is investigating. Plus, there is a possibility they are innocent. [But] if they got caught, I guess they deserve it, right?”
Jonathan Caflun, a junior in the School of Hospitality Administration, said he is frustrated at the current state of literacy. “[Literacy] is sadly something that is dying in the country today,” he said, “especially with the rise of social media and the rising uneducated youth who don’t read quality literature.” Biraaj Mahajan, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he believes literacy can even go so far as to affect how people choose a candidate in the current presidential election.
“Living in a democratic nation, being literate is important for parsing out candidates’ views and what their policies might be when they are in office,” Mahajan said. Shuchi Zinzuwadia, a senior in the College of Engineering, said literacy is not just something we are lucky to have, but should be thankful for. “Literacy, in my opinion, is a blessing,” Zinzuwadia said. “There are places in the world where people do not have the chance or opportunity to learn.”
NEWS
More student involvement seen to boost SG reform SG FROM PAGE 1
division,” said Cho, a senior in CAS. “I know there is a lot of hurtful history that colors the context to this election, and I am most worried for the well being of all those running and affiliated. I would most hate for this to be a two-week period that ravages our campus with negativity and hurtful speech.” Several students who ran for SG E-board positions in the past expressed mixed views toward the election processes. Some commend SEC for holding fair elections, while others said there are still problems with the system. Joe Ferme, SG president during the spring 2015 semester, said he enjoyed the competitive nature of SG election when he ran. “[The election] was pretty grueling few months leading up to campaign period, and those two weeks are really nonstop campaigning — you talk to as many students as possible,” Ferme, a 2015 graduate of CAS, recalled his campaign in the spring 2014 semester when he ran as the executive vice president with the slate BU’s Push to Start. Austin Kruger, a presidential candidate of the Team BU slate during last year’s election, said the SEC, being “really staffed,” faced difficulties in managing the election last year. “It’s hard for [SEC] to manage the whole thing,” Kruger, a senior in the Questrom School of Business, said. “It’s all con-
suming … the website, for instance, crashes all the time during election because it cannot handle the amount of traffic that goes to the server, basically.” Alexander Golob, a presidential candidate of the True BU slate in the spring 2014 semester, said the SEC ensured fair representation, but some students were hindered from participating in elections because they cannot afford full dedication. “One of the very large issues [with the election] is student organizers, [such as] the E-board and representatives, are not paid for their work, not compensated,” Golob, a senior in the College of Fine Arts, said. “It creates social inequality because you have people who have to work other jobs, and then they cannot dedicate themselves to the community.” Several current SG members said they hope this election season brings candidates who are ready to lead and change the student body’s perception of SG. Anushka Pinto, a CAS senator, said she expected more slates to join this year’s election. Pinto, a junior in CAS, said more slates competing will be beneficial to the student body as SG is meant to represent the voice of as many students as possible. “We really need someone who really cares about making changes, not someone who is interested in promoting themselves and promoting the power that they have,” Pinto said. “[We need] someone who will really take into account what people want, and make it happen.”
Hamilton Millwee, SG director of academic affairs, said student involvement is the key to the success of this year’s election and hopes students will actually vote when the time comes. “I would highly recommend everyone to get out to vote, because if you don’t vote, you can’t get your voice heard,” said Millwee, a junior in CAS. “Sadly, we haven’t had the most stellar representation of percentage of student body that actually votes in the general election. We are trying to hopefully increased awareness among students.” Several students said despite their lack of knowledge about SG, they hope for SG to continue working collaboratively. Samantha Brooks, a sophomore in the College of General Studies, said though she did not vote last year, she hopes SG will make student life better. “I don’t really know about [SG], so I just [hope they] get their stuff together and make SG good,” Brooks said. “[I hope they promote] more free stuff for students, because students pay so much to go [to BU] and they expect us to pay for all this stuff.” Melissa Hoskins, a senior in the College of Communication, said she voted last year, but she has not been following SG’s initiatives since. “I hope that [the] same controversy really will not come again, because from what I understood, it was a mostly an issue of disagreements getting out of hand,” Hoskins said. “I hope SG can just learn how to work cooperatively.”
MBTA announces decreased operating deficit MBTA FROM PAGE 1
PHOTO BY BRIAN SONG/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced Monday that it has cut its deficit by 43 percent.
the T a lot, and they’re already financially tight as it is, it’s not really the best idea.” Kelly Hanlon, 36, of Brighton, said MBTA service changes would make her commute easier. “I think it’s about time the T had some renovation,” she said. “It seems as if I can’t go downtown without adding an extra 15 minutes into my schedule. There are always delays. Trains are always shutting down. If that means I have to pay an extra 5 percent, I think I will, but I won’t be happy about it.” Michael Gill, 29, of Brighton, said he uses public transportation frequently and would welcome improvements to the system. “I’m running around Boston constantly, and the T has been my lifeline,” he said. “There’s an obvious need for renovations when I’m running around with a camera and the train is delayed, and it’s a mess trying to get myself on a crowded train. It’s great that they’re making improvements, but they need work.”
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CAMPUS CRIME LOGS BY CAROLINE HITESMAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The following reports were taken from the Boston University Police Department crime logs from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28. Laptop stolen from 775 Commonwealth Ave. A female student reported Sunday at 4:45 p.m. that her laptop went missing. She reported her computer was taken after she left it unattended on a table in the George Sherman Union. Male student transported for mental health evaluation A male student was reported to have been aimlessly walking around and checking doors in the hallways of 750 Commonwealth Ave. Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. He was then transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for further mental health evaluations. Threat of extortion at 700 Commonwealth Ave. A male student reported Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. that he sent nude photos of himself to a female party via Facebook chat. The female threatened to post the photo to his Facebook group if he did not pay her money. Fire at 10 Buick St. A fire alarm went off from the third floor of the east tower of StuVi 1 Feb. 23 at approximately 10:30 p.m. The Boston Fire Department reported that a flyer attached to a bulletin board had been set on fire. Male student approached for money A male student reported Feb. 25 at 1:50 pm to have been approached and subsequently asked for money by a male party near a parking lot at 549 Commonwealth Ave. The victim reported that the male party was holding money in one hand and a piece of paper with a list of names on it in the other. Wallet stolen at 771 Commonwealth Ave. A female student reported her wallet was stolen from the second floor of Mugar Memorial Library Feb. 25 at 4:35 p.m. After leaving her purse unattended for several minutes, the victim reported her wallet was missing. Medical transport after self-harm A female student was reported to have been attempting to harm herself Friday at 10:29 p.m. The victim reported taking an unknown number of Ibuprofen tablets and drinking cleaning fluid. The victim was later transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Tip jar stolen from 738 Commonwealth Ave. A restaurant employee of Nud Pob Thai Cuisine reported Saturday at 1 a.m. that a male party came into the restaurant and stole the tip jar. The victim reported that there was approximately $50 in the jar. Male employee struck with metal pole A male employee reported on Feb. 25 to have been struck in the leg with a metal pole near 925 Commonwealth Ave. The victim was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.bike rack near the School of Law.
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NEWS
MBTA hosts public meetings regarding Green Line extension
PHOTO BY BRITTANY CHANG/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority held its first public meeting Wednesday concerning the Green Line extension in Somerville. BY MEAGAN SCHWARZ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority hosted the first in a series of public meetings to discuss the Green Line Extension Project Wednesday. According to a Feb. 23 press release, the meetings are to focus on evaluating the project before a project plan is given to the MassDOT Board of Directors and the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board in May. MBTA spokesperson Jason Johnson said the meetings were planned to provide transparency and involve the community. “We want to encourage public input and suggestions, giving them a forum to express their concerns and hopefully get answers or be directed to where and when they can get answers,” John-
son said. MBTA general manager Frank DePaola wrote in a Jan. 25 letter that the MBTA aims to conduct a plan as efficiently as possible. “The GLX Project Team and MassDOT/MBTA as a whole are focused on addressing the issues as quickly and as thoughtfully as possible,” DePaola wrote in the public letter. “We must make sure that we completely understand the current cost-to-complete of the overall project, as well as the implications of any changes to the project design.” Rafael Mares, vice president and director of healthy communities and environmental justice at the Conservation Law Foundation, discussed the importance of public meetings in a project such as this one. “The challenge is to address the cost problem and to ensure the Green Line is extended and is what people expected,” Mares
said. “It’s important for people to show up and express their support for the extension and at the same time review the designs and see how they can be improved.” Mares said the long-term benefits of the extension include more reliable transportation options, positive environmental effects and cost effectiveness. In terms of reducing the cost of the project, Mares said solutions must reduce the project cost without significant downsizing or negative impacts on the rider experience. Jack Wright, interim project manager for the Green Line Extension from the engineering consulting firm Weston and Sampson, gave a presentation in Somerville Wednesday at the first of five public meetings. The presentation discussed possible solutions currently being researched that will reduce the cost of the project — mostly scaled-back, open-air versions of future Green Line stations, fea-
turing minimal facilities. According to the presentation, a list of cost-saving ideas will be ultimately be vetted, tested for cost-effectiveness, analyzed for fatal flaws and given feedback. This will result in a new design and cost estimate to be presented to the MBTA Board in May. Wright said the process for bringing down the costs requires reassessing previous designs to decide what needs to be changed. At the end of the night, Wright forewarned of the schematics provided in the presentation that “nothing shown tonight is a commitment, only ideas used to make estimates.” Following Wright’s presentation, elected and appointed officials of Medford, Cambridge and Somerville spoke about the project. Many expressed concerns about ensuring the continuation of the project in order to improve the city’s health and crowded roads. Medford Mayor Stephanie Burke expressed excitement for the possibility of the extension. “We stand together and work hard on this project,” Burke said. “We must fulfill this project. We’re willing to take some scaled down facilities to achieve that.” However, many of the residents in attendance were distressed about the lack of funds for the new proposal. Wright emphasized that policymakers would make the final decision, not him, as the crowd began to shout phrases such as, “Where is the governor? Where are [officials] if they work for us?” More than 100 attendees, as well as several Boston residents, were passionate about reaching a solution and called for the presence of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker at future meetings. Many expressed concerns about the cut-
backs on station facilities in order to make up for budget deficits. Michael Connolly, 61, of Cambridge, said he was upset that funding was scarce. “Somerville deserves the extension and the community path,” he said. “It’s unacceptable that our transit system cannot get more funding. We need to keep an eye on state legislature and ask for more investment into this project, because the money is there.” Maria Lamar, 47, of Somerville, called for action from Baker himself. “Gov. Baker wants Boston to be a world-class city, but that isn’t possible if he can’t find money for this project,” she said. “This meeting needed direct access to decision-makers. We needed more information on how we can actually give meaningful feedback to the people making decisions.” Jennifer Morris, 58, of the West End, said she anticipates the extension and believes it will greatly improve transportation around the Greater Boston Area. “I’m out in Somerville quite often … and it’s hard to count on the current available transportation to get me where I need,” she said. “The extension … will seriously improve transportation from Boston out to the greater area and [will] also have a positive environmental impact.” Alan Wu, 25, of Beacon Hill, said he hopes the MBTA takes the meetings seriously and considers what residents want. “I’m glad the MBTA is taking initiative with the meetings and giving citizens a chance to have their voices heard,” he said. “Hopefully they address what they plan on doing and they find a way that doesn’t completely rule out the project altogether, because this would be a historical project.”
Boston and 100 Resilient Cities convene Transatlantic Policy Lab BY ANNA WHITELAW DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Mayor Martin Walsh and 100 Resilient Cities convened at the Transatlantic Policy Lab Monday to discuss and address social inequalities and policy issues in the city, according to a Monday press release. Boston and Athens, Greece are the two cities worldwide that have been chosen to work with TAPL’s 100 Resilient Cities. Walsh expressed in the release how beneficial the program is for the City of Boston as a whole. “This work is very important to the City of Boston,” Walsh said in the release. “There is no better time than now for us to lay the groundwork for our resilience efforts. This is one of the many stages of the process and I look forward to making deep-rooted systemic change to help address inequities in our City. I thank all of our partners for their collaboration in making this possible.” The TAPL is a social equity lab aimed to develop policy recommendations to reduce inequalities, according to the release. TAPL is provided to the city through 100 Resilient Cities as part of Platform Partners, a set of “resilience-building tools” provided from public, private, non-profit and academic sectors, according to the 100 Resilient Cities website. 100 Resilient Cities is an organization pioneered by The Rockefel-
PHOTO BY BETSEY GOLDWASSER/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The City of Boston and 100 Resilient Cities launched the Transatlantic Policy Lab to address income and opportunity inequalities in the city.
ler Foundation, and it works to help cities around the world “become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century,” according to its website. The organization works to facilitate the establishment of resilience among citizens, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and governments. According to the release, the TAPL will assemble experts from the United States and the European Union in order to work together with host cities “in efforts to reduce income inequality and inequality of opportunity.” Atyia Martin, chief resilience officer for the City of Boston, told
The Daily Free Press on Nov. 3, 2015, that the equity lab works to fix opportunity gaps within the city. “They will help look at the specific equity challenges that we face so we’ll know more about what to prioritize,” Martin said. “They’ll help us do the research, to dig deeper into those issue areas to understand the best approach. They’re contributing to the resilience strategy by going through this.” Liz Yee, vice president of strategic partnerships and solutions for 100 Resilient Cities, expressed excitement in the release over the work the lab does. “We’re proud to provide bestin-class tools and services to foster
resilience-building efforts at no direct cost to our member cities,” Yee said in the release. “By convening experts through the Transatlantic Policy Lab, we are poised to assist Boston’s resilience-building efforts and identify where approaches can be scaled to address similar challenges in other cities.” Several residents had opinions on topics they believed should be discussed at the Transatlantic Policy Lab for the benefit of the city. Victor Wei, 21, of Fenway, said he had concerns about the contrast in caliber between public and private schools. “I think there’s a big difference in the quality of public schools,” he
said. “Some policy that would improve the quality of public schools and areas that don’t have the same opportunities as others would be beneficial for Boston as a whole.” Susanna Jackson, 28, of Jamaica Plain, said college campuses could be improved, considering there are dozens of universities in the Boston area. “I think that college campuses should be brought up because there’s a lack of diversity not only on most campuses, but in the arts specifically, and how some students don’t feel safe on campus,” she said. Sam Rees, 34, of Brighton, said he was excited for how an event like this could promote more successful communication between Boston residents and the Walsh administration. “I wish the dialogue was more open, especially since it seems like a lot of the stuff that’s happening, like Black Lives Matter, is just dividing people,” he said. “To foster real communication, this would be good for Boston.” Natalie Schiera, 26, of Brighton, said she’s curious to see how the city government could address the subtle prejudices and inequalities that are seen on a daily basis. “From what you see on the news,” she said, “racial profiling by police, disadvantages of being from a lower income area of Boston, not having access to a good grocery story with fresh products or things like that are all things that are prevalent and what I’d like to be brought up.”
FEATURES
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INBUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
BU Women’s Leadership Symposium showcases female professionals BY ALLEGRA PEELOR DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Inaugural BU Women’s Leadership Symposium on Tuesday night touched on an array of issues, from the role of women in professional settings to the way feminism has changed since the movement began more than 50 years ago. The symposium, hosted by Boston University’s College of Communication, featured keynote speaker and BU alumnus Nancy Armstrong, co-creator of “Makers,” a documentary film series that highlights women “makers” who are paving new paths in entertainment, politics, business or other areas. “Makers” started when Dyllan McGee, an Emmy Award-winning documentarian, wanted to create a film about feminist icon Gloria Steinem’s life. Steinem told McGee that she would not be able to tell the movement’s story solely through one person and encouraged her to expand the project to include more women. Armstrong and her husband, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, joined McGee and helped turn “Makers” into a website that now has more than 3,000 short interview videos and longer documentaries. “These trailblazing women wouldn’t be around to tell their stories, and when they passed, so would their untold, firsthand accounts of arguably one of the most transformative social revolutions in American history,” Armstrong said in her presentation in the Francis D. Burke Club Room at Agganis Arena Tuesday night to approximately 60 people. Throughout the night, Armstrong played a variety of “Makers” videos to give the audience background on the film series’ mission. Some videos focused on a specific subject, such as Maria Bartiromo, a business journalist who was the first person to report live from the f loor of the New York Stock Exchange on a daily basis. Others touched on broader topics, such as the current issue of subtle sexism. “We want to create a storytelling revolution that inspires and ignites the next generation of women and girls,” Armstrong said. Melani Daniels, a first-year graduate student in the Metropolitan College, said she enjoyed Armstrong’s presentation. Daniels said it is important for young girls like her 5-year-old daughter to have strong female role models. “For any type of girl to hear that empowerment is really powerful,” Daniels said. “It’s necessary to [encourage
them] to continue on the path that they want to do. Any path, whether they want to be a stayat-home mom, want to be in a nonprofit, want to be a leader or not.” After Armstrong’s presentation, a panel of five women — Armstrong, Linda Pizzuti Henry, Ida Lewis, Lynn O’Brien Hallstein and Garima Sharma — discussed the difficulties women face when entering professional environments. One of the panel’s main topics was motherhood and how parenthood is often still a very “gendered” function. O’Brien Hallstein, a professor in the College of General Studies, said it is important for women to talk about how and when they are going to start a family with their partners. “If the conversations are left unsaid, it is absolutely clear that it is women’s work,” Hallstein, who has written four books on feminism and motherhood, said. “That work, even though many of us love many parts of it, makes it more difficult to maintain a career.” Daniels said that she appreciated the discussion of motherhood from a feminist perspective. “Men don’t have the choice of staying in their careers or not because they have children,” she said. “They just have babies and continue on.” The panelists also talked about what men could do to hold each other accountable and make sure the feminist movement does not stop with just women advocating for one another. “They genuinely want to do more than their own father did,” Hallstein said. “But there’s a gap between what they say that want and what they actually do.” Additionally, the panel weighed in on one of the biggest issues women in the workplace face today — the “pipeline” through which they must go through to move up in the ranks of companies. Women are getting hired at about the same rate as men are at entry-level jobs, but it proves more difficult for them to move up through the ranks. “There’s a problem where people hire people who look like them, who remind them of themselves,” said Pizzuti Henry, managing director of The Boston Globe and co-founder of HUBweek. “That tends to leave out a lot of people.” Armstrong said she hopes that the Women’s Leadership Symposium will continue for years to come. “It’s great that COM really walks the walk in terms of fostering the next generation of female leaders,” she said.
PHOTO BY SAVANAH MACDONALD/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Emmy-nominated producer and 1998 alumnus of the College of Communication Nancy Armstrong speaks at the Inaugural BU Women’s Leadership Symposium held Tuesday in the Francis D. Burke Club Room at Agganis Arena.
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FEATURES
MUSE
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
REVIEW: Dylan Owen puts “honest voice” into indie hip-hop BY KELSEY CRONIN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Dylan Owen’s music feels like a homemade card. Thoughtful and heartfelt, his lyrics aim straight for the heart, evoking a far more personal connection than the generic verses mainstream rappers sometimes spit. The young musician, who describes his music as a blend of hip-hop vocals set to indie rock tracks, wore his heart on his sleeve as he rapped and sang at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge Tuesday night. The show kicked off the New York native’s first ever headlining tour. Named after his most recent album, “There’s More to Life,” Owen personally put together the four-show tour as a way to connect with fans. And so far, it has done just that. About 100 20-somethings crammed into the intimate venue, passionately singing along to each of Owen’s songs. The energy was palpable, both on stage and in the crowd, and the show felt more like a basement jam session with good friends. Backed up by bandmates Gabe Valle and Nate Sander, who added violin and trumpet to the mix, Owen opened the night with a spoken word intro. In between sets, Owen conversed with fans and thanked them for their enthusiasm. Halfway through the show, he introduced his good friend Regina Zaremba, and the two sang the acoustic duet “Landmarks,” a track from his previous album, “Keep Your Friends Close.” Zaremba stayed on for another set and they debuted a brand new track called “Wrinkles,” a song about loved ones growing old. Owen’s energy never faltered. Even after singing his last set, he enthusiastically ran back on stage to heed the crowd’s “encore” chants.
He closed out the night with “The Window Seat,” a single he released in 2013. After the show, Owen took Polaroids with fans and spent time getting to know the audience. It’s this relationship with his fans that displays Owen’s passion for connecting with others through his music. In an interview with The Daily Free Press before the show, Owen talked about the tribulations, joys and inspiration behind his music-making process. “It’s sometimes challenging to maintain belief that it’s worth doing and that [my music] has a purpose in the world,” he said. “The hardest thing is being able to wake up every day and have confidence in that.” But if his fan base at the show was any indication, it’s clear that listeners appreciate his honest, confessional-style songwriting. Owen grew up in Orange County, New York, where he first fell in love with music. His older brother was in a pop-punk band, and Owen would often rap during their sound checks. “I was the one kid at the punk show who was into hip-hop,” he said, laughing. As he grew up, Owen continued rapping and making music, inspired by artists like A$AP Rocky and Sage Francis. After his freshman year at Cornell University, Owen decided to move to New York City and pursue music full time at New York University. It was there in New York when he fully dove into his passion and devoted himself to music. Owen’s lyrics are often deeply introspective, offering candid snapshots of his life. He sings about everything from his childhood to his high school years to his time living alone in the city.
PHOTO BY KELSEY CRONIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Dylan Owen performs Tuesday at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge as part of the first night of his first tour, “There’s More to Life.”
“I want to put my honest voice out there because I feel like it’s probably pretty similar to how a lot of kids in America grew up,” he said. Part of the reason he decided to write music is because he felt like he never fully related to the songs he heard when he was growing up. “I felt like nobody was saying the exact things I wanted to hear because I’m so particular about words,” Owen said. Owen’s keen attention to word choice is evident in the poetic lyrics that elicit a strong sense of nostalgia in anyone who has ever fallen in love, spent long nights in basements with friends or feared growing older.
He will be taking his unique style of music to Philadelphia, New York and Burlington over the next month. In addition to the tour, he has been working hard on new music and plans to release more songs and videos throughout the year. When asked about the title “There’s More to Life,” Owen explained that it’s an encouraging reminder that there is always more to discover and experience. “Everybody leads you to believe these are going to be the best years of our lives or the most amazing experiences,” he said. “But you can make whatever period of life the best that you want it to be.”
SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
BU Stage Troupe partners with MassKids, combats sexual abuse BY ELISE TAKAHAMA DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Once-heartwarming childhood characters stepped onto the stage this weekend to address much heavier issues — ones without the cheer of a familiar yellow zigzag shirt or a black-and-white beagle. For its annual spring charity show, Boston University’s Stage Troupe produced “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” a play that follows the darker teenage years of the beloved Peanuts characters. As they grow up, the group struggles with complex themes like sexual abuse, bullying, homophobia, depression and suicide. “Dog Sees God” sheds light on the repercussions of sexual abuse and the effect it often has on other relationships, especially internal ones. The emotional challenge to figure out one’s own identity plays a major role throughout the show and voices the inner fears many teenagers may face. “[Sexual abuse] is one of the more under-the-surface themes, but I think it’s definitely one of the most important, in terms of the fallout,” said Eli Saracino, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and the actor who played Matt (better known as Pigpen). “What is the fallout? It’s bullying. It’s struggling to find one’s identity. It’s all of these
things that have stemmed from it.” To emphasize this idea and support a greater cause, Stage Troupe donated all proceeds from the show to Massachusetts Citizens for Children, a child advocacy organization that works directly with children who have experienced sexual abuse.
MassKids became very involved with the production, and the enthusiasm and cooperation of the organization further inspired Stage Troupe’s cast and crew this year. “It feels so good to actually be working alongside each other,” said Karlie Fitzgerald, a senior in the College of Communication, sec-
PHOTO COURTESY BU STAGE TROUPE
BU Stage Troupe performed “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” at the Student Theater at Agganis Arena Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
retary of Stage Troupe and assistant producer of the show. “If you’re doing good theater, your goal is to really change the world in a way — make them think differently, make them think about what they’re seeing onstage and make them think, ‘Is this applicable to my life?’ I think incorporating a charity takes it one step further and makes it so much more real.” Danny Ehrenpreis, a senior in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Stage Troupe vice president of special projects, played one of the show’s main characters. He too said MassKids’ involvement has contributed to the meaningfulness of the show. “We feel more of a connection to the mission at hand and about the characters and what they’re thinking and what they’re going through,” he said, “and we can actually help.” Ehrenpreis’ character, Beethoven, is the type of kid MassKids often works to help: those sexually abused by a parent, judged by peers or bullied to the point of suicide. “We speak out on behalf of the most vulnerable children in the commonwealth, whatever the issue might be,” said Jetta Bernier, the executive director of MassKids. The organization strives to give voices to victims and to educate parents, professionals, CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
FEATURES
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CATALYST THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
Professor Elise Morgan teaches, researches mechanical behavior BY ELISE TAKAHAMA DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Let’s face it. Getting out of bed, sitting through long lectures or walking up and down Commonwealth Avenue between classes are not highlights of the day. These tasks seem tedious, but these simple actions define a physical independence that is often taken for granted. These monotonous motions and the science behind them fascinate Elise Morgan, a mechanical engineering professor in Boston University’s College of Engineering. Morgan is a recipient of numerous faculty and research awards and was recognized as one of 100 Inspiring Women in STEM by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Morgan has been researching mechanical behavior, structure and biological function of tissues at BU since 2003, shortly after finishing her stint as a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine. “I’ve always been really interested in the human body and its ability to support the physical activity that we have to do,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in how important it is for us to be able to do those activities of daily living, not only for our physical well-being, but also for our mental well being.” Since discovering her interest in human movement and the abilities of the skeleton, Morgan has immersed herself in the world of mechanical engineering. She’s taught numerous classes, one of which she designed on her own, all while working on multiple research studies and seeing countless students through Ph.D. dissertations. One of Morgan’s current projects, which she has been working on since 2003, focuses on the biomechanics of spine fractures. The team developed a challenging experimental method involving sophisticated imaging and mechanical testing. The goal is to develop a method of predicting age-related spinal fractures. It can, however, be difficult to see where the spine breaks first. In order to determine this, the team works with segments of actual human vertebrae, applying pressure
PHOTO BY SARAH SILBIGER/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Elise Morgan, a mechanical engineering professor in the College of Engineering, leads her “Mechanical Behavior of Materials” class in the Photonics Center Wednesday afternoon.
to pieces until they break. Integrating that information with high-resolution CT scans produces tons of data and images. “We wanted to analyze those images quantitatively to see where the bone was actually breaking first,” she said. “The technique to do that had been done with much smaller image data sets and with objects that were pretty regularly shaped, like a rectangular box. But we have this pretty irregularly shaped region of the spine.” Contradictory to crushing human spines, Morgan is also involved in a bone healing study, in which she focuses on understanding how forces that are applied to a broken bone influence how the bone heals. “If a kid injures her right thighbone and that stunts the growth, the growth is stunted in one leg but not the other,” Morgan explained. “So, that child can develop a big difference in her leg length. In that situation, if the difference in leg length is more than a half inch, that child might undergo a procedure to actually lengthen the bone.” With growing medical technology, scientists have developed a clinical process that
can extend the bone. Every 12 hours, a surgeon cuts the bone in half and stretches the two halves apart. The process can actually make a bone up to seven inches longer, Morgan said. For this study, the team is analyzing how bone fractures heal in mice. The process of approaching new studies and tackling big-picture questions can take a long time. Morgan and her team, however,
have somehow continued to stay enthusiastic for years. “Research comes in spurts,” she said. “Overall, it’s just a very dogged test of persistence, in that results can be really slow and forthcoming and you can have a lot of setbacks.” Morgan and her team have had to hurdle over obstacles, such as broken equipment, a lack of funding, minimal time and some unexpected oversights. But by encouraging her students to focus on critical thinking, keeping an open mind and staying persistent, Morgan’s energy and inspiration have not wavered despite the obstructions. “For me, what makes it all worth it are actually two things: one is that excitement of discovery,” she said, “and the other thing I love is working with students and that process of discovery.” Luckily, BU seems like the right place for Morgan. Just as her students keep her motivated, she works to leave an imprint on their lives too. “It’s important to focus on having an impact,” she said. “In the classroom, it’s a positive impact on students understanding the course material and how it fits in their overall program of study and in their life. In the lab, it’s on having an impact on training students. Overall, it should be having an impact on society’s knowledge and everyone’s quality of life.
SUMMER
SESSIONS 2016 MAY • JUNE • JULY • AUGUST
“Dog Sees God” proceeds to MassKids STAGE TROUPE, FROM PAGE 6
citizens and youth about how they can better prevent sexual abuse. “We have a tool kit with lots of great materials and curricula and strategies so that people can learn to be proactive and learn to prevent sexual abuse in the first place,” Bernier said. And the movement doesn’t stop there, Bernier said. MassKids has been working on countless legislative acts as well. One act would mandate comprehensive education about sexual abuse prevention within schools and youth organizations. Another closes a loophole in the current “age of consent” law, and yet another strengthens the capacity of schools in screening prospective employees. Both Stage Troupe and audience members said abuse does not always get the attention and raise the concerns that it should. Connor Gallacher, a freshman in CAS, was “blown away” by the intensity and thought-provoking material of the performance. It not only inspired him to take action, but also changed his perspective on many of the topics addressed in the play. “I had no idea it could be this bad,” he said. “I thought about [these issues] in one specific light, like from an outsider’s point of view, and this really brought me into the heads of people who are experiencing these terrible things.”
Gallacher’s reaction was the audience reaction the cast and crew said they were aiming for. “I feel like if these heavy themes are resonating with the audience this way, it’s something that we’re doing right,” Saracino said, admitting that he was glad to see some audience members shed a few tears. By producing shows as significant as “Dog Sees God,” organizations like Stage Troupe are able to provide a platform to discuss big issues through informed and mature conversations. After Friday night’s show, cast members came out on stage to hold a talkback to answer any of the audience’s questions about sexual abuse or MassKids. “It just hits you,” Ehrenpreis said. “And I think everyone is starting to realize that this is something bigger than what we are. This is going toward something that is huge, something that can actually change the whole way this whole situation goes about.” Sometimes these topics can be difficult to digest, but Bernier said the full understanding and maturity of the cast was impressive. “I walked away from the performance feeling that the world was in good hands if this is the kind of generation that is coming up through the ranks,” Bernier said. “We’re in good hands here with the next generation.”
step closer to graduation. online, on campus, or both. have your summer and earn credits too.
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OPINION
8
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
Samantha J. Gross, Editor-in-Chief Sonia Rao, 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
45th year | Volume 90 | Issue VII 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 © 2015 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Rhonda Mak, Multimedia Editor
Lucas Williams, Editorial Page Editor
Chloe Bruning, Blog Editor
Sekar Krisnauli T., Campus Editor
Christy Osler, Features Editor
Shakti Rovner, Office Manager
Olivia Quintana, City Editor
Sarah Silbiger, Photo Editor
Jonathan Sigal, Sports Editor
Rachel Chmielinski, Layout Editor
Feminine hygiene products must be made more accessible “A pad for every period” is the motto New York is moving toward with its new feminine hygiene practices. New York homeless shelters will now be able to use federal grant money to provide visitors with tampons, CBS New York reported. New York Rep. Grace Meng convinced the Federal Emergency Management Agency to move forward in this effort, CBS New York reported. The new, tampon-positive development comes months after free tampon dispensers were installed in the High School for Arts and Business in New York City, according to The New York Times. States like New York and California have also introduced legislation to eliminate a tampon tax, according to the Times. Wisconsin has even introduced a bill to make tampons free in all state buildings, including schools. The United States is finally making an effort to recognize the difficulty in obtaining tampons. Currently, feminine hygiene products are largely inaccessible in the United States. Using products like tampons and pads is a human right. But even though the U.S. is not a developing country, some of its citizens currently don’t have access
to basic hygiene products. Putting free tampon dispensers in school bathrooms helps eliminate the stigma of using tampons early on in girls’ development. No longer do girls have to slip a tampon up their sleeve and run to the bathroom or have to ask the school nurse for a tampon. Now, they have a safe, private space where they can obtain and use tampons without embarrassment. Girls are taught at a young age to talk about their periods in hushed voices and only to other women. Planning when to bring tampons to school, when to covertly use a tampon and how to ask for tampons is too much pressure for 12-year-old girls. They need to be free from being embarrassed about their bodies. In the adult world, the supermarket tampon aisle is the equivalent of the nurse’s office. Tampons and pads are hidden in far store corners, across from the condoms and sex toys, when they instead belong next to the toilet paper. Their nondescript black boxes and f lowery lettering disguise that they’re actually products to be put up a vagina. Women shouldn’t feel shame shopping for something they need. The fact is that there are no prac-
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At Boston University, people essentially throw free condoms at each other. But for a free tampon, students must venture into the Center for Gender and Sexuality Activism in the basement of the George Sherman Union. Preventing STDs on campus is important, but so is handling periods. Tampon accessibility must be put on the public agenda. Women don’t need men to tell them periods are hell. They already know. But feminine hygiene products must be discussed in front of men, and they must be everywhere. Through open discussion, the shame some women feel about their periods can be eliminated. The only way for this problem to be fixed is for the price of tampons to be lowered and the stigma surrounding them to disappear. The cycle can be broken by conversation and improved accessibility. Whether you’re a homeless woman or a middle school girl, feminine hygiene products are necessities. Hopefully, everyone can have access to tampons and pads in the near future without feeling shame for using them. All this country needs is a little more period positivity.
This week’s crossword puzzle is brought to you by Elizabeth Rich
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tical alternatives to tampons and pads. When homeless women without access to feminine hygiene products are in need of them, they use rags or the clothes they happen to be wearing at the time, Meng told the Times. No human being deserves to go through that. Nobody should have to choose between buying food and buying feminine hygiene products, either. But unfortunately, many Americans do. That’s why the homeless shelters that give out tampons and pads are so impactful. Even though tampons are expensive for the average American woman, they’re a necessary luxury for people who can’t afford them. Feminine products are so expensive. Condoms aren’t taxed. Sunscreen isn’t taxed. Tampons and pads are. Having sex is optional. Standing in the sun is optional. Menstruation is not. Tampons and pads are considered luxury items even though there’s nothing luxurious about walking around with wads of cotton in a vagina. Feminine hygiene products are taxed in all but five states, according to The Washington Post. Women are essentially taxed for having a vagina.
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1. Not short 5. Untidy people 10. Barely 14. Hodgepodge 15. Forbidden 16. Within 17. Triumphant 19. Acquire 20. Avenue (abbrev.) 21. Elector 22. S S S S 23. In a concise manner 25. Hebrew unit of weight 27. Website address 28. Toward the back 31. Open grassland 34. Thresholds 35. Japanese apricot 36. Creative work 37. A seal 38. Beloved
39. 59 in Roman numerals 40. Roof overhangs 41. Close-knit group 42. Brawler 44. Not brilliant 45. Fissures 46. Brown coal 50. Goes through the air 52. Subarctic coniferous forests 54. Russian fighter 55. Egg-shaped 56. Tableware 58. Peel 59. Leg joints 60. Prima donna problems 61. Chickadees 62. Spy 63. Exam
1. A green fabric mixture 2. Drink garnish 3. More pleasant 4. Snagged 5. A leisurely walk 6. Not clergy 7. Double-reed woodwind 8. Belonging to the middle class 9. Mayday 10. Scroll saw 11. Brazen 12. Anagram of "Ties" 13. A large amount 18. Blatant 22. Makes a mistake 24. Lather 26. Nobleman 28. "Message received and understood" 29. Back
30. Calamitous 31. Volumes (abbrev.) 32. Sweeping story 33. Sybaritic 34. Disinvesting 37. Sodium chloride 38. "Darn!" 40. FFFF 41. Stogie 43. Meadows 44. Compilation 46. Energize 47. Picture 48. Novices 49. Excrete 50. Garrison 51. 57 in Roman numerals 53. Away from the wind 56. Calypso offshoot 57. Damp
OPINION
9
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016
Does one true love exist?
BY MEREDITH WILSHERE COLUMNIST
A recent examination of romantic comedies in my gender studies class has led me to question two things: why Hugh Grant isn’t in more of them, and why there is always the reinforcement of the “one true love” trope. Naturally, our class analysis went deeper than questioning Hugh Grant’s presence, but I was caught on the idea of having one true love. Admittedly, I have never been in love. I do not know what it’s like to love one person, let alone what it’s like to know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. I can imagine a decision like that is based off of more than just music taste and a coffee order. I have never been swept off my feet and I have never ridden off into the sunset with the only man I am destined to spend the rest of eternity with. Not that either one of these things are the basis of love, but I know they look good in romantic comedies. The theory of having one true love has muddled roots, but it can certainly be found in popular culture within the movies and television shows we watch. One true love means that there is only one person on this Earth you were destined to be with, and you
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t is dangerous rhetoric that we value ourselves on the fulfillment of others and consider ourselves less than whole without them.
will never be whole until you met this person. Following this logic, what happens to us if we never meet this person? Have we failed our quest on Earth if we never meet “the one?” Will we never be whole until we find our other half? The rhetoric of having one true love dates back to the times of ancient Greece, most notably found in Plato’s “Symposium.” In those times, it was thought that people were born in pairs that Zeus then split apart, forever casting these halves into a world of ambiguity, confusion and identity crisis until they found their other half. It is a nice sentiment to consider, that there is someone who fits with you so perfectly that they are your other half. In reality, this is not a thought I can agree with. People are not halves. It is dangerous rhetoric that we value ourselves on the fulfillment of others and consider ourselves less than whole without them. Why do we limit ourselves to the belief that there is only one person out in the world that we are destined to be with? There are more than seven billion people roaming the Earth at any point in time. We pass them on the street, awkwardly stare at them on the T and accidentally hit them with our umbrellas when it rains. We are constantly meeting people, whether we intend to or not. This is not to say that the boy in your statistics class is going to be your next beau, but sometimes, life can be funny like that. We, as college-aged millennials, are so young. We meet people, we make friends, we make mistakes. We are learning and growing every single day, starting and ending relationships in the same cycle as we start and end a Netflix show. There is enough pressure in our society to make the world better than how those who came before us left it, that we should not be concerned with searching for our other halves. We should be striving to make better wholes. If there is such a thing as one true love and all the romantic comedies prove to be true, then I resolve to have myself be my one true love. If there truly is one person we are destined to love, shouldn’t it be ourselves? Shouldn’t we dedicate time and love to ourselves first before traversing the world to find “the one?” We are the one person we spend the most time with. Shouldn’t we fall head over heels for ourselves? I want to be surprised, amazed, enchanted by the things I can do. I want to devote the truest love I can have to myself and then share it with someone who can tolerate my corny jokes and even cornier tacos. I am not a half. I am a whole. I resolve to love myself wholly and share that love with whomever I choose.
Trump's duty to reject Duke support
BY SARAH BURSTEIN COLUMNIST
Happy March, everyone, and happy primary election season! It’s gotten to that point in the election year when I cannot believe we have to endure eight more months of this, when the media is completely saturated in election-season shenanigans and when I just want to take a long nap until election day and never have to look at an elephant or a donkey ever again. Unfortunately, this three-season-long nap is not possible because we’re all forced to deal with the unnecessary ridiculousness that comes out of election season, and this week’s aggravation comes from none other than Republican candidate and Massachusetts primary winner Donald Trump. Last Wednesday, David Duke, a white nationalist, neo-Nazi, spokesperson for Holocaust denial and former Ku Klux Klan leader announced his support for Trump on his radio show. According to The New York Times, Duke said, “Voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage.” Now, I know Trump has made statements in the past that would suggest he is not a very progressive person. And maybe I was thinking too optimistically, but I assumed the immediate response from the Trump campaign would be to denounce this declaration of support. Alas, I was wrong. When asked about Duke’s announcement in an interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump responded by mumbling a bunch of words and phrases that I think were supposed to sound like sentences. Trump’s exact response was: “I don’t know anything about David Duke, OK? I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know. Did he endorse me, or what’s going on?” Poetic. Trump later stated, “You wouldn’t want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I’d have to look.” Trump then attempted to clear the air while on the TODAY show, according to CNN, when he claimed his incoherent response was due to a “bad earpiece.” I do not truly understand how we, as a supposedly civilized nation, let a candidate who would not immediately reject support from a man like David Duke, a man so against actual American
principles like freedom and unification, get this close to the White House. Sometimes I think we all just have become so desensitized to Trump’s remarks at this point that we do not understand the magnitude of his words — or in this case, lack thereof. Back in the summer, when the election drama was just heating up, two men in Boston assaulted a homeless Hispanic man in reaction to Trump’s infamous immigration comments, according to The Boston Globe. Trump’s first reaction to hearing the news was, “I will say that people who are following me are very passionate. They love this country and they want this country to be great again.” During election season, I find that it is very easy for politicians to get caught up in winning the election rather than winning the position. Donald Trump is obviously working hard to win and maintain the support of conservative Americans. However, David Duke is not a regular conservative American. He is someone who has built a career off of spewing hate and causing danger toward other Americans. Perhaps Trump’s campaign managers told him to react in a way that was somewhat oblivious rather than definitively against Duke, but there has to be a line somewhere between political strategy and complete ignorance. This type of ignorance does nothing but tell African Americans, Jewish Americans and other minorities that Donald Trump cares more about pleasing the supporters he already has than keeping them safe and protecting their interests. It makes me wonder, if the majority of Trump’s supporters would get offended if he disavowed support from a member of the KKK, what kind of hateful people are supporting Donald Trump? Even Sen. Marco Rubio, one of Trump’s competitors for the Republican nomination involved himself in the drama of David Duke’s announcement by stating that Trump was “unelectable,” and frankly, I agree. Any presidential candidate, no matter what party they belong to, has the duty to protect Americans by belittling characters like David Duke as soon as they open their mouths. Our politicians get too caught up with what parties they represent and the best way to make their views consistent with that party. The idea of “political correctness” has been a hot topic, especially among the Republican candidates, and it almost feels like Trump would rather let Duke’s comments slide than be considered politically correct. I am truly sick and tired of candidates acting so political that they forget what the position of president entails and what it means to protect the rights and interests of more than 300 million people. I expect and demand more from the leaders of this country and the candidates who could be my president. And, Mr. Trump, if your nomination potential depends so greatly on whether or not David Duke supports you, perhaps you should not be president of the United States.
Interrobang Google searches for “How do I move to Canada?” spiked after Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won the most states on Super Tuesday. We here at the ol’ Free Press want to know, where would BU people flee to in a dire situation?
Freshmen: The Warren Towers bomb shelter
Unlimited Dining Planners: A food coma
BU Abroad: Abroad (again)
Psychology Majors: Their subconscious
English Majors: Walden
West Campus: The bottom of their bottles
President Brown: The Ivy League
FreeP: The 1990$ (when we still got paid)
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SPORTS
Men's basketball starts Patriot League Tournament run vs. American BY MICHAEL JOSCELYN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
After fighting through a slog of a regular season, the Boston University men’s basketball team will kick off the Patriot League Tournament Thursday night with a home game against American University. Winning eight of their last 10 games gave the Terriers (18-13, 11-7 Patriot League) the third seed in the tournament, while a four-game winning streak placed the Eagles sixth in the conference (11-18, 9-9 Patriot League). In the team’s two matchups on the year, the Terriers trounced the Eagles by a combined 31-point margin, including a 20-point win on Feb 10. “We’ve been fortunate in both games that we’ve played defense pretty well,” said BU head coach Joe Jones. “We really need to be focused and disciplined to beat this team. We’re going to have to make sure we don’t take anything for granted that we’ve done in the past. That doesn’t matter at all.” In the last game between the two teams, junior guard Eric Fanning led the team with 25 points. The Trenton, New Jersey native was recently awarded Patriot League First Team honors, as he placed first on the Terriers with 15.2 points per game. Fanning was not the only player to receive league honors, though. Fresh-
man guard Kyle Foreman was placed on the All-Rookie Team and senior forward Nathan Dieudonne became a part of the first-ever All-Defensive Team. The three Terriers were not the only members of the organization awarded hardware, as Jones was awarded his first Coach of the Year award by NBC Sports. “First and foremost, the praise should go to the players,” Jones said. “My staff should get a ton of the credit for what we’ve been able to accomplish this year.” Both Foreman and Dieudonne were missing in action for BU in its regular season finale against the College of the Holy Cross, an 83-68 victory. Foreman suffered an ankle injury against the United States Military Academy that held him out of action, while Dieudonne is still suffering from an ankle injury. There is still uncertainty as to who will be available for the American game, as sophomore forward Nick Havener was limited to four minutes of action in the Terriers’ last game due to an Achilles injury. “Right now I really don’t know who’ll play, and that’s a really big thing for us,” Jones said. “Through the game, we’re going to have to see what’s working, and that’s what we’ve been doing all year. We don’t worry who’s out there, we just worry about how we’re playing and who’s playing well to-
gether.” Despite the uncertainty, Jones admitted he has a rough game plan already formed in preparation for the Eagles. “I have in my mind an idea of who’ll be playing most of the minutes,” Jones said, “but we’ll have to see what happens when it starts.” For the Eagles, it is all about defense and defensive rebounding. They are dead last in the Patriot League in points per game, as they average a feeble 57. Yet, they came out victorious in nine Patriot League contests due to a staunch defense that only lets up 65.3 points a game, second-best in the league. This stark contrast extends to rebounding, as the Eagles -3.9 rebounding margin is third worst among all Patriot League teams. Senior Jesse Reed and freshman Delante Jones lead American with an average of 12.8 and 12 points per game, respectively, while no other player registers double digits. Still, the Eagles won the Patriot League Tournament two years ago with a 55-36 victory over the Terriers. This recent success makes American all the more tougher of an opponent for BU. “They’re well coached,” Jones said. “We know they have two guys that can hurt you, but their other guys are playing much better. They do what they do very well, and if you’re
PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Cheddi Mosely will try and help BU through the Patriot League Tournament.
not ready, they’ll get you. They’ll out-discipline you, and if they’re playing with more discipline, then they have a better chance of beating you.”
Blackhawks, Panthers prepare for Stanley Cup with NHL trades BENEDYKCIUK FROM PAGE 12 sixth-round pick this year), the other moves they made have left them primed for success now, not later. Florida added two solid forwards in Jiri Hudler and Teddy Purcell. They also acquired defenseman Jakub Kindl, a mobile third-line defenseman, from the Detroit Red Wings, in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The Panthers, who currently sit atop the Atlantic division, shocked the league this year. Despite unexpected success last year, they were not expected to be in serious contention to win the Atlantic division this season. They’ve got a great young core of skaters, featuring two of the past three Calder Trophy winners in forward Jonathan Huberdeau and
defenseman Aaron Ekblad. They’ve got a veteran goaltender who has extensive playoff experience in Roberto Luongo. And they’ve got one of hockey’s single most esteemed players in Jaromir Jagr. Adding Hudler and Purcell to its roster makes Florida a legitimate threat to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. While Chicago and Florida were the big winners, there were several more — just not nearly on the same level. Other winners include the Boston Bruins, the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Boston improved on both sides of the puck at the deadline by acquiring a versatile forward in Lee Stempniak (from the New Jersey Devils) and a veteran defenseman in John-Michael Liles (from the Carolina Hur-
ricanes). Stempniak should compliment Boston’s defense-first mentality well, while Liles provides much needed puck-mobility to an aging defensive corps featuring Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg. The Atlantic Division is wide open, and the Bruins undeniably have the experience, depth, and goaltending to go on a deep playoff run, especially after their deadline deals. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers acquired Eric Staal from Carolina for two second-round picks and prospect forward Aleksi Saarela. Staal does not in any way make the Rangers instant favorites. He is not the player he was years ago, and he doesn’t have to be. He was a leader of the Stanley Cup-winning Hurricanes in 2005, thus explaining why the
Rangers brought him on board. Recent Rangers teams have been missing precisely his type of experience and leadership. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on this list for an entirely different reason. They have maximized return for their assets now, in an attempt to start fresh in the future. This year, the Leafs parted with their captain, Dion Phaneuf, as well as their starting goalie, James Reimer. Toronto has already been considered a potential landing spot for pending unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos. With Mike Babcock at the helm and prospects such as Kasperi Kapanen and Mitch Marner coming up soon, the Maple Leafs’ future actually looks bright again.
Havener harnessing potential, balancing eagerness and talent HAVENER FROM PAGE 12 Havener and Dieudonne flip-flopped positions on the floor before the injury. And so with Dieudonne out, Havener has had to bear the brunt of his loss, and he’s struggled at times under the pressure. Havener tends to play aggressively on both ends of the floor, a trait he picked up from his childhood days at the park. He said a lot of players back home are physically gifted like him. He said the refs make fewer calls, and it leads to a more lenient game. However, collegiate referees punish hyper-aggressiveness, and Havener has proven to be an ample target. “My dad was a football player, so he’s very physical,” Havener said. “I would always play on the playground and be super physical, like block people’s shots and push them to the ground. Nothing would be a foul — we would call our own fouls and everything. And coming to college … you just pet a guy and it’s a foul.” Despite the debilitating effect it can have on his team, Jones embraces Havener’s physicality and intensity. “I think sometimes you just have to kind of go through it,” Jones said. “So from an experience standpoint, you start to get a feel for what you can get away with and what you can’t. But you don’t want to take away the kid’s aggressiveness, because that’s what makes him good.”
According to Dieudonne, the key for Havener is harnessing his physical gifts. He said Havener needs to play smarter on the floor in order to bolster his longevity and playability. “I guess the thing with him is he’s just kind of undeveloped athleticism,” Dieudonne said. “For him, it’s just knowing what to do. If you tell him what to do and he does it, he does fine. Whenever he deviates from that, he kind of messes things up a little bit. It’s just keeping his head on straight. He’s fine physically, it’s just making sure he’s always focusing and doing the right things.” Havener not only battles himself physically, but mentally as well. He has a tendency to shut down when he and his team go into a slump. He stops communicating and closes himself off from everyone around him. He’s worked extensively to control the habit, but he said it still creeps up on him at times. Jones and his coaching staff are aware of Havener’s self-deprecating nature. Jones said as much as Havener is evolving on the court, he’s maturing psychologically as well. His message to Havener is simple. “I hope in this next stretch that it comes together for him and he’s able over time to relax and just play and have some fun playing basketball,” Jones said. “Because that’s what it’s all about, is just enjoying playing, and those are things we just try to reiterate to him over and over, is just enjoy
it. Enjoy the experience, enjoy playing the game that you love to play.” He added, “Going forward, we just have to continue to work with him and develop him. But he’s got a lot of tools to work with, and I’m just pleased he’s on our side. I love coaching that kid.” After every one of his games, Havener looks at the box score. In particular, he always notes BU’s team rebounding statistics. But he also checks his individual numbers, searching for new ways to elevate his game. “One big thing I’ve noticed is I’ve been turning over the ball a lot less, which was a big problem before conference play” he said. “My offensive efficiency numbers went down, so I’m working on taking better shots in games. But I have also seen that my rebounds have gone up, my blocks, steals and other defensive numbers have gone up in the box scores as well. “I definitely have room for improvement.” He does, and everyone else knows it too. Dieudonne said Havener needs to work on his team defense and focus less on securing attractive stats like blocks and steals. “If someone beats someone off the dribble, do you know when to stunt and when to stay?” Dieudonne postured. “Do you know who you’re guarding, so how long you can stunt? It’s those small nuances of the game that you get from playing so many minutes … So it’s just stuff like that. And he’s come a long way since last year.
That’s the only thing — he’s good at blocking shots, he’s going to go get some steals, but it’s just team defense that’s really important.” Jones expects Havener to cultivate his post game. He’s seen flashes of brilliance from him on the low block, but now it’s about becoming a consistent threat. “Nick can hurt you in a lot of different ways, and that’s just one way,” Jones said. “He’s developing into being a guy that can score with his back to the basket.” Some have floated the idea of Havener becoming an outside threat in order to stretch the floor and open lanes for Terrier penetrators. Havener is confident he can do it — he just needs to get more shots up in the gym. This season, in the face of constant adversity, Havener’s shown that he’s willing to become whatever his team needs him to be. So instead of honing in on a singular identity, maybe it’s best to take on as many as possible? He might always be foul-prone. He might turn into a potent offensive weapon. He might never overcome the mental rigors of the game. He might become the ultimate winner. He might never reach his true potential. He might exceed it. Havener will never fit the mold. But he can certainly break it. Havener will never fit the mold. But he can certainly break it.
SPORTS
11
Women's basketball drops regular season finale to Army BY JOE CALABRESE DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Playing in its final home contest of the year, the Boston University women’s basketball team dropped a 79-44 decision Wednesday night at Case Gym. Slated against the Black Knights (26-2, 17-1 Patriot League) for the second time in three games, the Terriers (3-26, 3-15 Patriot League) struggled to assert themselves, ultimately falling to the conference’s top team. The first quarter was messy for both sides, as both teams had trouble maintaining possession. Both teams had seven turnovers and four steals each in the first 10 minutes, but Army scored 12 points off turnovers as compared to BU’s eight. Despite the chaotic nature of the first quarter, the Black Knights still went 7-for-13 from the field and held a 21-11 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter was almost a carbon copy of the first, as BU turned the ball over 10 times and Army sunk eight of its 12 shots. The Terriers went into halftime down 45-21 but held Army’s senior Kelsey Minato to just 12 points in the half, seven of which came from the free throw line. Following the game, BU head coach Katy Steding was not too pleased with how her team performed in its final regular
season contest. “I saw a team that was a little lethargic,” Steding said. “Army’s just a really good polished team, and if you slack a little bit, they take advantage of everything you do.” While Minato was limited in the first half, she turned it on when she came out of the locker room. She finished with a gamehigh 32 points and 2,477 career points — the most out of any Patriot League player of all time. Minato and the rest of the Black Knights shot 50 percent from behind the arc, but the Terriers struggled mightily in that regard. They couldn’t sink any of their eight 3-point shot attempts, and Steding said she believes it has to do with their shot selection. “We’ve got to take better shots,” she said. “We’re better when we get the ball inside and look for good kick outs, but we didn’t do that very well tonight … When we’re patient enough to do that, we have some success. But we’re still young and we’re still figuring those things out. We should be farther along with that.” While the Terriers were outplayed in nearly every facet of the game, graduate student guard Troi Melton and sophomore guard Corrine Williams remained resilient and forced their way into the paint consistently.
They were the only BU players to score in double digits, as Melton led the team with 13 and Williams had 11. Melton also had six steals and was all over the f loor, trying to disrupt Army at all costs. Wednesday’s game was also the final regular season game for Melton and senior guard Clodagh Scannell. Steding said that while they’re both fierce competitors on the court, it’s their off-court mentality that contributes most to the team. “It’s a little bittersweet,” Steding said. “… They’re special people, and it’s not just their abilities on the court that make them special. Troi is a great kid. She just works so dang hard. And Clodagh has been a terrific friend and big sister to the rest of the team, and she’s grown as a leader this season. I’m proud of both of them.” With the regular season out of the way, Steding is already looking to the playoff picture, where she says the team’s pace is something they’ll need to focus on going forward. “[The key] is us being able to play at that tempo but still [having] the composure to execute our move or our play or the next pass,” Steding said. “We have to learn that that tempo is something to play only when the other team is forcing us to play that way.”
PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Troi Melton had a strong game in her final appearance at Case Gym.
BU fall coaches reflect on collective Patriot League, NCAA success BY JONATHAN SIGAL DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
While the Boston University men’s soccer, women’s soccer and field hockey teams won’t officially kick off their respective seasons until August 2016, they’re far from resting on their laurels. In the midst of their abbreviated spring seasons, each group is coming off a year in which it qualified for the NCAA Tournament, a feat that only a select number of Division I teams can boast about. Outside of national recognition, the Terriers’ fall contingent won two Patriot League titles, brought home a collective nine major conference awards and won a combined 40 games. With three veteran head coaches at the helm — Neil Roberts for men’s soccer, Nancy Feldman for women’s soccer and Sally Starr for field hockey — the Terriers enjoyed success that other colleges would be envious of. For Feldman, who just wrapped up her 21st season leading the scarlet and white, the explanation for such results is quite simple. “It starts with Boston University both being a tremendous academic institution and a very desirable school because of the prestige, social environment and the cultural environment of being in the great City of Boston,” Feldman said. “We attract some really fantastic student-athletes, so that’s why there’s been consistent success among our teams all fall and just across the board there’s
more success than not.” Upon entering the Patriot League for the 2013-14 season, BU’s fall teams have wasted little time in adjusting from life in the America East conference. This holds true for the men’s soccer team, as it hosted the 2014 conference tournament and earned a first-round bye this past fall after posting a 6-1-2 record against several perennial contenders. The likes of junior striker Felix De Bona, junior goalkeeper Matt Gilbert and sophomore midfielder Anthony Viteri led the Terriers from August to November, carrying over the environment that now-graduates Dominique Badji, Nick Thomson and Jordan Barker helped cultivate. Roberts said the reason for his team’s continued success lies in that said culture. “They all work extremely hard and the attitude is very good,” the 31-year coaching veteran said. “It’s a collective thing with everyone pitching in and everyone trying to do their part to make it all work. We had it this past fall, and the team is continuing it right now because it’s not something you take for granted. It’s a lot of work to get it there, and it’s a commitment from the players to keep it there.” According to Feldman, the women’s soccer team’s success can also be logically explained. The ever-present guidance of graduate student goalkeeper Alyssa Parisi, senior forward Jenna Fisher and senior center back McKenzie
Hollenbaugh served as the team’s backbone, while freshman striker McKenna Doyle and freshman central midfielder Julianna Chen slid into prominent roles. Through that unique blend, BU fell just short of the NCAA Tournament’s Third Round. “It was absolutely a great balance between experienced, older players and some young, incoming players,” Feldman said. “We had balance throughout the season with contributions from both sides, and the middle sophomore and junior group was good too … These younger gals have opportunity and responsibilities and proved they’re capable of not just playing, but being really important contributors.” Starr, who has led field hockey to 12 NCAA Tournaments in her 35-year tenure, said the same sentiments explained why her team is often a national contender. Senior co-captains Sofi Laurito and Rachel Coll led the charge, earning NFHCA All-American nods, but many others chipped in along the way, sending the stalwarts out with a bang. “Probably first and foremost, it was a group of young women who really care for each other and really appreciate the opportunity they had to be on this team and to have the opportunity to represent Boston University,” Starr said. “They truly love each other, and they truly got along with each other on and off the field.”
PHOTO BY BETSEY GOLDWASSER/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The women's soccer team won the Patriot League title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Looking ahead, neither Roberts, Starr nor Feldman are content with their team’s place regionally or nationally, and that approach has resonated in their respective spring seasons. Men’s soccer is looking to “be better than we were last year,” women’s soccer stressed that the “approach is really starting over” and field hockey feels “next year will be an even bigger leap for us.” While it remains to be seen if such success will follow suit, histo-
ry suggests that BU’s fall teams will keep on setting a high standard. “I think it all speaks to Boston University, as it’s a great academic school,” Starr said, “and as coaches, we’re able to recruit some of the top student-athletes in the country. If you’re the type of kid who wants to excel in the classroom, you’re also able to excel on the athletic field … I think the type of athletes we’ve been able to bring to Boston University really bodes well for that.”
Sports
Quotable “We attract some really fantastic student-athletes, so that’s why there’s been consistent success among our teams all fall." - Nancy Feldman, women's soccer coach p. 11
The Blue Line
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Time to Dance The men's basketball team kicks off its Patriot League Tournament run by hosting American. p. 10
Nick Havener searches for consistent production, role
NHL Trade Deadline winners
BY JUSTIN PALLENIK DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
BY MIKE BENEDYKCIUK DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
This past Monday, teams across the NHL simultaneously counted down to the 3 p.m. trade deadline. According to USA TODAY, 19 trades involving 37 players were made Monday, a strict departure from last year’s relatively quiet period. Despite the high volume of trades, there was a genuine lack of excitement surrounding this year’s trade deadline. Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman had been shopping forward Jonathan Drouin for weeks leading up to the deadline. However, despite rumors linking teams like the Anaheim Ducks to the former third overall pick, no trade was made, leaving both Drouin and the Lightning unsatisfied. As the playoffs draw nearer, it will become evident who the biggest winners of the deadline were. However, at first glance, one team stands out the most — the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago brought back veteran forward Andrew Ladd (who was a key piece of the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup Championship), filling a much-needed hole at left wing. The Hawks acquired Ladd, Matt Fraser and Jay Harrison from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for prospect Marko Dano, a first-round pick this year. In addition to making their top line one of the most lethal in the NHL, the Blackhawks brought in a depth scorer in Tomas Fleischmann and a strong checker and penalty killer in Dale Weise to bolster their bottom six. When Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger return from the injured reserve, the Blackhawks forward corps could prove very lethal, as led by Ladd, Hossa and Jonathan Toews. Now, couple Chicago’s diverse forwards with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook manning the blue line, as well as goaltender Corey Crawford (who’s sneakily having a Vezina-caliber season). This was an excellent trade deadline for Chicago, which looks to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions since the Detroit Red Wings won in both 1997 and 1998. The Blackhawks saw the most improvement in the Western Conference, and the Florida Panthers saw the most improvement in the East. Florida was both busy and successful at the deadline. Although the Anaheim Ducks received much less than they could (or should) have for forward Brandon Pirri (Anaheim’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Nick Havener is indefinable. He’s both incredibly athletic and spectacularly unpolished. He’s long and sturdy enough to body up with big men down low. He’s simultaneously nimble and coordinated enough to run with guards along the perimeter. He’s energetic and vocal, but extremely foul-prone. At times, he’s the heart and soul of the Boston University men’s basketball team. And on other occasions, he closes himself off from the game. On the one hand, he’s a gamebreaker, a physically dominant power forward capable of enforcing his will on his opponent. See Feb. 17, when the Terriers hosted Colgate University. With his team stuck in a 4444 second-half deadlock against the then 12-13 Raiders, Havener took over. Over the final 13 minutes, he contributed 10 points, highlighted by a momentum-shifting putback slam, three emphatic blocks and two steals en route to a pivotal 71-68 win. On the other hand, Havener can also break the game. He often lets his aggressiveness get the best of him, which confines him to the bench. On Feb. 3 against the United States Naval Academy, Havener logged just one minute in the second half, but committed three costly fouls and made an early exit during crunch time. So which player is he? Only time will tell. Coming into the 2015-16 campaign, Havener needed to find his role. After averaging 8.1 minutes per game as a rookie, he’d gotten the chance to see the game, to observe the difference in speed and size from his days at Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida. But going into “Year Two,” he searched for a niche. Things didn’t quite go according to plan. When the injury bug struck the Terriers, sidelining veterans such as senior forward Justin Alston and junior guard Cedric Hankerson, Havener adapted on the fly. Nearly overnight, the sophomore transformed into a 20-minuteper-game player, a change that took him by surprise, but one that he accepted nonetheless. “It was tough being thrown into it,” Havener said. “But [BU] Coach [Joe Jones] did a really good job of preparing every single one of us, that if we didn’t have an opportunity to play a lot of minutes, that we’d be ready for it. I still think I’m transitioning. I think there’s a lot of things that I’m still adjusting to … It was definitely more of a shock, and logging a lot of minutes is tiring, but I can’t really complain.” Thankfully for Havener, he knew where to start building his role. The previous season, Jones had designated him the team cheerleader. He asked Havener to bring the energy and a loud voice every time he touched the floor. This year, with two major team leaders restricted to the bench, Havener has committed himself fully to Jones’ mantra of “talk, talk, talk.” Havener brings the energy in tangible ways on the court. His 6-foot-8 frame and elite jumping ability make him a force on the boards. According to Sports Reference, Havener is third in the Patriot League with a 16.6 total rebounding
PHOTO BY BRITTANY CHANG/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Nick Havener is a basketball enigma of sorts, primed to breakout and star for BU.
percentage. He set a career-high Feb. 23 against the United States Military Academy when he pulled down 15 boards in 24 minutes. “I’m always checking the rebounding stats,” Havener said. “Honestly, if I don’t have 10 rebounds in a game, I beat myself up about it.” Perhaps Havener’s greatest attribute, however, is his defense. Despite his size, he’s remarkably agile, which keeps him step for step with most guards. This skill is invaluable, particularly on pick-and-rolls, because it allows the Terriers to switch without sacrificing their defensive integrity. With Havener capably manning the wing, BU can remain patient and switch back when the opportunity presents itself. Havener’s defensive prowess isn’t limited to playing the wing, either. He’s also comfortable jostling with big bodies on the low block. He tends to lull post players into lane before using his length and positioning to force low-percentage shots. “I love playing against post players because they always think they’re smarter than me,” Havener said. “I just body them up, make sure he doesn’t get past me … I’m a lot quicker, so if he shoots a shot over me, I’m fine with that. I’ve got long arms and a tall body.” Havener is the second-best defender in the Patriot League according to defensive rating, a statistic that measures how many points each player gives up per 100 possessions. He’s racked up the fourth most blocks in the conference (39) and the sixth most steals (35). Modestly, Havener calls himself “a good defender.” His coach agrees. “He’s good,” Jones said about Havener’s value on the defensive end. “He’s got quick hands, he’s long, he blocks shots, gets his hands on balls and he brings a lot to the table in that area.” On offense, Havener has worked tirelessly
to become a facilitator. He admitted that early in the season, he struggled with the ball in his hands around the perimeter. But he found a home at the high post at the outset of conference play and hasn’t looked back. Nowadays, BU often runs its offense through Havener at the high post, where he has the option to drive, shoot the mid-range jumper, dribble handoff or find a cutter through the lane. He said playing from the top of the key helps him see the whole floor and find the open man. Jones lauded Havener’s development as a facilitator. “He’s got great decision-making [ability],” Jones said. “He’s a great passer, has a great feel for the game, very unselfish, sees the floor, sees plays happening before they happen.” Havener’s watershed moment as a passing big man came in a home tilt against Bucknell University on Jan. 23. Late in the first half, the Terriers went to him at the high post to start a possession. After surveying the floor for a few seconds, he snapped off a pass to his fellow big man, senior Nathan Dieudonne, for an easy dunk from the low block. The next time down the floor, BU ran the play again, netting the same result. Havener counts this simple succession among the highlights of his season. He said it gave him the confidence to trust his instincts and distribute the ball with authority. Unfortunately for Havener, he didn’t get the chance to see his high-low chemistry with Dieudonne develop much further. On Feb. 10, the Patriot League All-Defensive Team standout broke his foot in a matchup with American University. The injury dealt another major blow to an already depleted BU squad. It also put even more responsibility on Havener’s shoulders. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
BOTTOM LI NE THURSDAY, MARCH 3
Men's Basketball vs. American, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 4
SATURDAY, MARCH 5
Softball @ Grand Canyon,
Men's Lacrosse @ Canisius, 1 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6
MONDAY, MARCH 7
2:30 p.m.
Women's Ice Hockey @
The Deflategate appeal hearing will
Men's Ice Hockey vs. UMass
Northeastern, 4:30 p.m.
begin Thursday. What better way to
Amherst,
Men's Ice Hockey vs. UMass Amherst,
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
Softball @ San Diego, 5 p.m.
kick off spring break?