The Daily Free Press
Year xliv. Volume lxxxvi. Issue XVII
CASH 4 CAMPAIGN BU fundraising campaign earns more than $116 million, page 3.
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Tuesday, February 18, 2014 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University
BITE THE DUST
NASA to analyze space dust for organic matter, page 5.
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www.dailyfreepress.com
NOT SO SWEET
Men’s lacrosse drops first home game, page 8.
WEATHER
Today: Heavy snow/High 37 Tonight: Snow showers/Low 24 Tomorrow: 44/29 Data Courtesy of weather.com
Government Center Station to close for 2 years Mass. leaders speak on importance of minority diversity
By Felicia Gans Daily Free Press Staff
In an effort to make Government Center Station safer and more accessible to people with disabilities, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will be closing the station on March 22 for two years for the Government Center Station Reconstruction Project. Construction began on Nov. 18 with the reconfiguring of roadways and sidewalks. According to the MBTA website, Government Center Station will reopen in Spring 2016. Government Center Station, which is currently only accessible by stairways and escalators, will receive improved mechanical and lighting systems, new escalators and new emergency exits. Elevators will also be installed to bring passengers between the Green and Blue lines or to street level. While the Government Center Station is under reconstruction, the MBTA will operate a shuttle bus called Route 608 that will depart from Haymarket Station and make stops at State Street Station, Government Center Station and Bowdoin Station. The shuttle will operate seven days a week from 5:20 a.m. to 12:20 a.m. No fares will be collected. Green line trains will continue to pass through Government Center, but they will no longer make station stops there. The Boston College B-Line, which runs through Boston University’s campus, will now stop operating
By Felicia Gans Daily Free Press Staff
vide this innovative financing to the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center,” he said in the Wednesday release. “Residents of the Commonwealth need high-quality, low-cost health care, and this expansion will help JMSCHC reach even more individuals and families in need.” Since JMSCHC opened its doors in 1974, the clinic has expanded from a simple two-room clinic to four clinic sites in Allston, Brighton and Waltham. Their mission is to improve the overall health of the community by providing a range of services including medical, pharmaceutical, vision and mental health assistance. “The new building will be the next generational home for the Health Center,” said Elizabeth Browne, executive director
In honor of Black History Month, James Rooney, executive director of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and entrepreneur Darryl Settles held a business forum Monday to share information about the future of diversity and minority leadership in Boston. “Black History Month is about recognizing the contributions that African Americans and people of color have made to our nation, our state and our city,” Walsh said. “What you’re doing here tonight goes one step further. You’re calling us to honor the past by ensuring a bright future.” Steven Rogers, Harvard University professor of entrepreneurship, was the master of ceremonies. Panel speakers included U.S. Sen. Edward Markey; Boston Mayor Martin Walsh; Massachusetts Sen. Linda Dorcena-Forry; Rooney of the ECEC; Kairos Shen, director of planning for the Boston Redevelopment Authority; Beth Williams, co-chair of the Economic Development Committee for the City of Boston; and Richard Taylor, chairman of Taylor Smith Properties. Walsh said he took the first steps to promoting diversity in city leaders through his appointments in the cabinet, the police department and several city departments. He hopes to create a city whose leaders reflect the diversity of the city’s residents. “If we don’t start in City Hall, by setting the bar high, then how can I, as mayor, or we, as a government, expect other people to do the same?” he said. Minority populations have grown dramatically in Boston over the past several decades. In 1950, whites represented 94.7 percent of Boston’s population. Today, that number has shrunk to 58.9 percent, Rogers said. “The minority community has grown exponentially, but sadly, as the population has grown dramatically, the city’s dollars spent with minority businesses has been embarrassingly low,” he said. “Minorities are the citizens of Boston. They pay taxes, and therefore, they deserve the opportunity that everyone else deserves.” Markey said the business leaders of today
Health Center, see page 2
Diversity, see page 2
ASHLYN EDWARDS/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Beginning March 22, Government Center Station will close for two years so crews can begin to reconstruct a safer, more accessible facility.
at Park Street. The Cleveland Circle C-Line will stop at North Station and the Riverside D-Line will stop Park Street during rush hours and North Station during all other times. The E-Line will stop at Lechmere, the MBTA website said. MBTA riders who need to get to the area around Government Center should get off the Green line at Park Street or Haymarket
because both stations are within walking distance of Government Center. Several residents said the reconstruction at Government Center station will be an inconvenience to anyone who needs to get to the Government Center area or transfer to another train. Derek Montaque, 21, of Dorchester, said
Government Center, see page 2
Allston Village health center receives $8 million tax credit By Kelsey Newell and Matthew Cronin Daily Free Press Staff
Residents of Allston are delighted by a new development by the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center, which is significantly increasing the size of its facility, enabling it to better achieve its purpose of providing care to low-income patients. The JMSCHC received an $8 million tax credit from MassDevelopment in order to build the new 48,000-square-foot health center in Allston. The building will nearly double JMSCHC’s current patient capacity of 6,000 patients annually to about 11,500. It will also be combining the three current separate facilities in Allston and Brighton, the administrative offices and the primary health center, into one building, according to the Wednesday press release. Kelsey Abbruzzese, communications
director at MassDevelopment, said JMSCHC expects to add 75 jobs to facilitate its expansion and predicts the project will create 90 construction jobs. “The New Markets Tax Credit program provides low-cost financing to businesses and nonprofits in eligible census tracts,” she said in the Wednesday release. “Leveraging this financing for JMSCHC creates jobs in Boston and expands access to highquality, low-cost health care, an important public purpose.” Marty Jones, president and CEO of MassDevelopment, said this expansion is necessary for JMSCHC to reach the needs of the community and is happy to be able to provide them with the funding. “MassDevelopment has used New Markets Tax Credits to deliver capital where it is most needed, and we’re pleased to pro-
SARP stages Valentine’s Day flash mob to support ending domestic violence By Toni Ann Booras Daily Free Press Staff
MIKE DESOCIO/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center held a flash mob at the George Sherman Union Friday as a part of an international day of support for women affected by violence.
The Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center held a flash mob Friday as part of the One Billion Rising campaign, a global initiative to end violence against women and encourage those who have experienced abuse to break their silence. Sarah Voorhees, SARP’s administrative coordinator who organized the dance routine, said the event was a fun way to engage students in an important cause. “Every person of any gender deserves love, equality and respect,” Voorhees said. “The One Billion Rising flash mob at BU aims to bring awareness to the violence that unfortunately still happens in our world, and lets students speak up and express themselves through dance.” This is the second year SARP has hosted the Valentine’s Day flash mob, which drew about a dozen participants. “We hope that each year the flash mob grows and One Billion Rising becomes synonymous with Valentine’s Day at BU,” Voorhees said.
Globally, Valentine’s Day flash mobs were planned in approximately 200 countries, One Billion Rising announced Thursday. Flash mobs also took place at colleges and universities throughout the country through Campus Rising, a smaller facet of the One Billion Rising campaign. Participants prepared for BU’s flash mob by learning the choreographed routine from a video released by One Billion Rising, and practiced as a group on Thursday. The flash mob, which was originally scheduled to take place at Marsh Plaza, was relocated to the GSU Link due to Friday’s weather conditions. Urvashi Mohnani, a College of Engineering freshman, witnessed the flash mob when it broke out. “It looked interesting and I figured I might as well stay and watch instead of disturbing them by passing through,” she said.
Flash Mob, see page 2