3-5-2014

Page 1

The Daily Free Press

Year xliv. Volume lxxxvi. Issue XXVI

WHITE RIBBON SARP sponsors White Ribbon Week at BU, page 3.

[

Wednesday, March 5, 2014 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

HELPING HAND

Center for eating disorder support opens in Boston, page 5.

]

www.dailyfreepress.com

STARTING ON TOP Men’s hoops begins playoffs with top seed, page 8.

WEATHER

Today: Snow/High 28 Tonight: Cloudy/Low 12 Tomorrow: 28/19

Data Courtesy of weather.com

BU students protest Thicke performance at Agganis Mass. falls short of yearly energy efficiency goals

NICOLE BOARDMAN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A woman who wishes to remain anonymous gathered with other demonstrators Tuesday evening in front of Agganis Arena to protest the Robin Thicke concert held inside the venue. By Adrian Baker Daily Free Press Staff

Humanists of Boston University, a social activism group, joined with other students to protest Robin Thicke’s concert at Agganis Arena on Tuesday, criticizing the pop icon for espousing messages that allegedly promote rape culture. HBU President Patrick Johnson, who

helped organize the protest, said the demonstration aimed to raise awareness of entertainment industry’s impact on society’s perception of sexual assault. “Rape culture [is] reinforced by the media we consume,” said Johnson, a College of Arts and Sciences junior. “We want to encourage more critical dialogue of our role in that cultural system.”

Thicke’s popular song “Blurred Lines” and its music video are often criticized for its allegedly misogynist message, provided an avenue for this dialogue, Johnson said. “I find the lyrical insinuations, and especially the graphic insinuations in the music video, to represent a justification for rape,” Johnson said. The “Blurred Lines” music video, which features Thicke hanging around two naked women, sends the wrong message to audiences, Johnson said. “The media’s role in rape culture … is desensitizing the issue of rape and justifying it,” Johnson said. “Rape is a horrendous, heinous crime that should never happen under any circumstances. But from watching the [Blurred Lines] video, that’s not how our society acts, despite what it teaches us.” Johnson said that the goal of the protest was to work toward solving a greater issue than criticizing Thicke. “Sexual oppression is one piece of gender equality, which is one piece of social justice, which is one piece of humanism,” he said. Officials from the Boston University Police Department were present at the protest to ensure the safety of those involved. Jessica Allan, a freshman in CAS and member of HBU, protested the concert with about 20 other BU students. “We wanted to address the wider issue,

Thicke, see page 2

Late-night food truck service to begin at 3 locations in April By Felicia Gans Daily Free Press Staff

Following the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s announcement to extend late night hours on Saturday and Sunday nights, the Office of Food Initiatives proclaimed that food trucks in three locations in Boston will have the option to stay open until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The late-night pilot program, scheduled to begin on April 1st, will launch on Commonwealth Avenue outside Boston University’s Morse Auditorium, Boylston Street outside the Boston Public Library and Opera Place at Northeastern University. Food truck vendors were informed of the opportunity through email on Feb. 25, said Interim Mobile Food Truck Coordinator Emily Benjamin Finn. “We have heard feedback from the trucks

themselves and also constituents looking for the trucks to be vending later,” she said. “This conversation has been in the works for awhile, so it was very exciting to get this going.” Each January, all Boston food trucks take part in a lottery system to determine their locations and schedules. Because the pilot program was approved after the lottery, trucks currently vending at the three designated latenight sites will have the opportunity to participate. Food trucks have the ability to change their schedules on a quarterly basis, so the opportunity for other trucks to participate in the program may arise after its initial launch. The schedule for the late-night program is still evolving, but the Office of Food Initiatives hopes to start communicating with food trucks vending at the late night sites as soon as possible, Finn said. “It’s really exciting both for food truck

vendors themselves and also for food truck customers,” she said. “It will be a great boost for their business, given the amount of foot traffic in those areas on weekend evenings. And it also is a great opportunity for customers. It keeps these really great food establishments open and available to them for an extra hour, so I’m happy that we’re able to make this happen.” Bon Me, a business with three food truck locations and one restaurant, runs a food truck at the BU Morse Auditorium, where they serve dinner Monday through Thursday nights. Owner Patrick Lynch said it is unlikely they will take part in the late night program. “Usually, we close at BU at 7:30,” he said. “We probably won’t look to stay there later. We could go later, but most of the business is people going to and from classes.”

Food Trucks, see page 2

By Kelsey Newell Daily Free Press Staff

Despite success up until now, the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 from the levels of 1990 may not be met at the Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick Administration’s current rate, according to a report by the Global Warming Solutions Project. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 requires Massachusetts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Additionally, the Green Communities Act of 2008 required states to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy. At this point, Massachusetts has lowered its gas emissions by 20 percent and although the Environmental League of Massachusetts praises Patrick for that success, they are pushing for further action. “For climate and clean energy advocates, Gov. Patrick’s administration and the Massachusetts legislature have been national leaders in promoting energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy,” said George Bachrach, president of ELM, in a Monday release. “But challenges still remain, and Gov. Patrick and the legislature should use his final months in office to meet this statutory obligation and put the Commonwealth on a path to a greener future.” Eugenia Gibbons, program director of ELM, said there are five areas of action highlighted from the report for the Patrick Administration’s use. An area of action that residents can take part in is increasing the use of non-auto transportation. MassDOT announced a “modeshift” goal in 2012 hoping to triple the share of Massachusetts travel being done through walking, bicycling and public transit. Gibbons said this is “essential” to meeting the 25 percent gas emissions reduction by 2020. “The Patrick Administration has many reasons to be proud of what it has achieved so far on climate change,” she said. “And yet there remains a great deal to do. We have every confidence that if encouraged, the Administration will step up this vitally important work during its last 10 months, continuing to press

Environment, see page 2

Boston University’s total revenues exceed $1.6 billion for Fiscal Year 2013 By Taryn Ottaunick Daily Free Press Staff

Boston University’s Annual Report displayed a jump in overall monetary intake throughout Fiscal Year 2013, according to officials from the school’s Department of Treasury. The report showed that BU was able to increase its revenue, said Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Martin Howard. “Financial results for FY 2013 reflect our continued vigilance to maintain a diversity of revenues from five primary sources: tuition, research, auxiliaries, philanthropic and endowment support,” Howard said. “It is worth noting our continued success in annual fundraising and progress toward our comprehensive campaign goal.” University tuition and fees made up 51.5 percent of BU’s revenue for FY 2013, the report stated. Sponsored programs, sales and services, and auxiliaries also formed a significant portion of the school’s $1.689 billion in revenues. “Thanks to diversified revenue flows,

steady yet nimble leadership and external validation, this year we increased our endowment, contained costs, moved forward with multiple construction projects and even saw our bond rating elevated,” the report stated. BU’s operating revenues saw a modest increase, ensuring that BU will remain able to operate efficiently, which requires about $2 billion each year, said Colin Riley, a spokesman for BU. “The operating revenues had an increase of 1.22 percent to $1.689 billion,” Riley said “An increase is desirable. Decline is not. This signifies BU’s capability of operating under the current budget, bodes well for FY 2014 and is certainly a positive.” Riley said as a nonprofit university, a large majority of BU’s revenue comes from the yearly tuition paid by students attending the university. “More than half of revenue comes from tuition,” Riley said. “The tuition covers the biggest expense, which is salary and benefits. However, BU is not tuition-dependent and has other methods of contributing to the operating budget.”

MAYA DEVEREAUX/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston University released its interactive online Annual Report Monday, outlining the accomplishments made in the 2013 fiscal year, which ended June 30.

Although tuition increased by 3.7 percent for the 2013-14 school year, this number remains below the national average tuition increase of schools similar to BU, Riley said.

“For the past decade, the university has been below the national average of similar

Revenues, see page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
3-5-2014 by The Daily Free Press - Issuu