3-6-2014

Page 1

The Daily Free Press

Year xliv. Volume lxxxvi. Issue XXVII

DEADLY DRINKS

Study links binge drinking to higher death risks, page 3.

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

SCHOOLBEATS

MUSE takes on new album by ScHoolboy Q, page 5.

]

www.dailyfreepress.com

NO PROBLEM

Men’s hoops cruises to PL semifinal with win over Leopards, page 8.

WEATHER

Today: Sunny/High 27 Tonight: Mostly clear/Low 14 Tomorrow: 40/26

Data Courtesy of weather.com

BU Housing increases residential, dining rates BU’s FY 2013

expenses total $1.623 billion

By Monique Avila Daily Free Press Staff

Boston University Housing announced an increase in its residential and dining rates for the 2014-15 school year in an email to residents Monday. On average, the cost of on-campus residences will increase by $561, and the cost of dining plans will increase by $140, according to BU’s housing website. BU spokesman Colin Riley attributed the cost increases to the university’s maintenance needs, including additional labor, food and transportation costs. “The increase is not related to providing new things, it’s just simply the cost of providing the service,” he said. “Higher education is a very labor-intensive business.” A budget committee annually evaluates and anticipates what the demand for housing will be for the upcoming school year before finalizing BU’s residential rates, Riley said. The budget committee takes major renovations for residences and dining services into account when deciding future rates, including additions such as Marciano Commons at 100 Bay State Road. The housing deposit deadline was extended twice this year, from Feb. 28 to March 3, and then to March 7. The original deadline was set prior to the release of the upcoming rates. Students were given a week to ask for a refund on their housing deposits if they decided not to utilize on-campus housing once rates were finalized.

By Taryn Ottaunick Daily Free Press Staff

MAYA DEVEREAUX/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Because of an increase in residence and dining plan rates for the 2014-15 academic year, which were released Monday, Boston University is giving students the opportunity until Friday to cancel their Residence License Agreement without losing their $600 housing deposit.

This grace period is standard procedure, Riley said. Since the rates have been released, BU housing has seen a 2 percent withdrawal rate, which Riley said was typical. The demand for on-campus housing is still very strong, he said. “Housing has been very stable at 75 percent [of students] living on campus since the first

[Student Village] opened,” Riley said. Several BU students said residential and dining rates were a factor in their decision to live in on-campus housing or to find a residence outside of BU. “I’m currently undecided about living on or

Housing, see page 2

1st medical cannabis commercial to be aired in April By Sarah Regine Capungan Daily Free Press Staff

Following the launch of two medical cannabis branches in Boston, the Medical Cannabis Network, the leading provider of marketing and business solutions for the cannabis industry, will be launching the first cannabis-related commercial in New England for MarijuanaDoctors. com, a company that specializes in medical cannabis treatment. Scheduled for an April release, the commercial aims to raise awareness about medical cannabis in Massachusetts and encourage users to purchase the substance through secure, certified branches, rather than outside sources, said Jason Draizen, CEO of MarijuanaDoctors.com. “We’re not an advocation agency and we don’t endorse recreational marijuana of any type,” he said. “It’s simply a service to help physicians and patients. We’re hoping that the ad will get in front of physicians in the state of Massachusetts, as well as the patients that quali-

fy or are in need to medical marijuana.” The advertisement will feature a man selling sushi out of the palm of his hand with the tagline, “You wouldn’t buy your sushi with this guy, so why would you buy your marijuana from him?” MCN booked airtime for the advertisement through Comcast Spotlight under the conditions that it contained a disclaimer and did not air during primetime. The ad will air between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on stations that are not oriented toward families or children. Draizen said MarijuanaDoctors.com is interested in creating a similar advertising campaign for potlocator.com, another site they own. Like MarijuanaDoctors.com, the purpose of potlocator.com is strictly for medical purposes. Bill Downing, treasurer of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, said advertisements for medical cannabis are necessary because some residents are still unaware that the substance has been legalized for medical use in

the Commonwealth. “A lot of residents who might still be under the impression that medical marijuana remains illegal would probably be given the clear signal that medical marijuana is now actually available, legally available,” he said. “These are doctors who are selling services to write medical marijuana recommendations, and they want to be sure that the public is aware of their offering so advertising is entirely appropriate.” Heidi Heilman, president of the Massachusetts Prevention Alliance, said more research on medical cannabis is needed before MCN airs advertisements about the substance on television. “This is medicine based on public opinion and not on science or research, and that’s the real danger of this [advertisement],” she said. “It touts this practice of recommending and using marijuana for any ailment as sound treatment

Cannabis, see page 2

Boston University’s Annual Report, released Monday, showed that BU’s expenditures for Fiscal Year 2013 reached $1.623 billion and contributed to causes important to the school’s community and growth. Over the course of FY 2013, BU was able to put large sums of money toward research, financial aid and construction and renovation, said BU’s Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Martin Howard. “The Annual Report ... provides a spot-on summary of the major drivers and highlights of the FY 2013 results,” Howard said. “The university was able to continue increasing the amounts available for financial aid and enhance our support of externally sponsored research.” The total amount of research awards distributed was $339.3 million, which funded projects such as exploring the triggers of cancer in black women, designing a bionic pancreas and developing new methods of working with autistic children. Senior Vice President of Operations Gary Nicksa said all of the university’s financial expenditures are evaluated carefully and designed to maximize the quality of the BU experience. “The university’s strategic plan guides all major project investment decisions,” he said. “The strategic plan emphasizes the quality of BU education, research, student services and student life. Projects highlighted in the 2013 annual report are directly connected to our strategic priorities.” As a nonprofit university, BU must operate all aspects of the school within the limits of a yearly budget, which was approximately $2 billion for FY 2013, said BU spokesman Colin Riley. “We’re nonprofit,” Riley said. “Our goal is to operate within the budget that we establish year-to-year. It’s a very serious and deliberative approach by the senior administration. On the endowment side, there is definitely a goal to invest prudently and wisely so that we don’t put endowment funds at risk.” A total of $70 million was allocated toward construction projects on the BU campus, which were designed to expand upon and renovate many of BU’s facilities.

Expenses, see page 2

Ukrainian crisis could have negative impact on Massachusetts, experts say By Olivia Deng Daily Free Press Staff

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, a former U.S. Senator for Massachusetts, travelled to Kiev, Ukraine Tuesday to meet with the new Ukrainian government, a decision that could have many economic and political repercussions for Massachusetts. Russian President Vladimir Putin took a stance in the conflict, seizing military control of Crimea to protect the Russian population of the Ukrainian town, posing tremendous threats to the independence of Ukraine, said Vitalii Moroz, a member of political advocacy group Ukrainian Boston. “If one country is allowed to attack another under the cause of protecting the rights of Russian-speaking residents, it may ruin the stability in the world and new conflicts to take place around the world,” he said. “If to talk in terms of Boston, the crisis brings the feeling of instability to the Ukrainian community.” Moroz said the group has organized protest rallies to demand Ukrainian indepen-

dence, and they launched a fundraising campaign to help the families of those killed and injured. Their goal is to raise $5,000. “Rallies in support of Ukraine unite not just Ukrainians living in Boston but many other ethnic groups, including Belorussians, Lithuanians, Americans, Jews even Russians,” he said. “Those who want to see Ukraine free and independent join us.” Ukrainian Boston has organized six rallies in front of the Massachusetts State House, and their most recent rally Wednesday aimed to send a message to U.S. President Barack Obama, who spent the day in Boston. “Obama’s administration sent a strong message to Russia as a reaction to Russia’s aggression to Ukraine but we want to make sure that the U.S. will continue to pressure Russia with economic sanctions and diplomatic tools,” he said. The potential for economic sanctions against Russia, currently under consideration,

Ukraine, see page 2

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

While on his visit to Ukraine Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry looks at photos of those killed at Maidan.


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