The Gavel November 2012

November 2012

Success in a Bottle?

A life-long journey with amphetamine pills

Volume IV, Issue 7

Dear Reader, I am glad that you have decided to check out the November Issue of The Gavel. Inside, you will find happenings around BC and the world. For election coverage and more, check out our website at www.bcgavel.com.

As a growing media presence on campus, we are always looking for new readers and writers. This year has seen an explosion in the number of people interested in our organization. We appreciate your readership.

If you would like to be a part of the Gavel Media Team, please email me at mslende@gmail.com, and we can set up a time to meet.

Happy reading,

Mason S. Lende Editor-in-Chief

Editoral Board MASON LENDE OLIVIA SIMONE ROB ROSSI MEGHAN SMITH MEIDEMA SANCHEZ GEENA DEROSE JILLIAN TIMKO ALLISON RICCATO JENNA LACONTE EMILY AKIN LAUREN LECKENBY KENNETH ST. JOHN SARAH GARCIA MICHAEL NATALIE ANDREW SCHOFIELD BILL STOLL MARION HALFTERMEYER SHANNON COGAN KELLY SLATER GILLIAN FREEDMAN LOUISE SHEEHAN LISA MELLA

Editor-in-Chief Print Manager Managing Editor News Editor Assoc. News Editor Assoc. News Editor Features Editor Assoc. Features Editor Culture Editor Assoc. Culture Editor Assoc. Culture Editor Opinions Editor Assoc. Opinions Editor Assoc. Opinions Editor Sports Editor Assoc. Sports Editor Copy Editor Assoc. Copy Editor Assoc. Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Design Editor

Video Department

MEGHANA KUTHYAR Video Manager

Business and Operations RYAN LEAHY ANGELA SONG ERIC KOPELSON ARUEM SHIN PAT LENEHAN DAPHNE WANG JEANIE LEE

Executive Director Finance Director Ass’t Finance Director Marketing Director Ass’t Marketing Director Advertising Director Avertising Acc’t Manager

@bcgavel facebook.com/bcgavel

www.bcgavel.com 2

the GAVEL / November 2012

November

The Gavel / November 2012 / Volume IV, Issue 7

Table of Contents News 04 04

Lost Issues of the 2012 Elections The Year of Twitter:

06 Is Twitter changing the face of American Politics?

08 Political satire captures youth attention Stewart, Colbert and SNL:

28 29 30

Seven guilt-free Thanksgiving foods Overheard at BC Are we a lazy generation?

Culture 32 32

No Oven? No Stove? No problem!

33

Mom’s famous party punch recipe A capella: Taking the stage at BC

Opinions 12 12

36

Pop culture supports love

38

Kickin’ it in Coolidge Corner

16 better system of government, the U.S. or the U.K.?

40

Spotlight on the missions of Bond.

James Bond.

10 Looking forward to Stokes Hall Stoked

Success in a bottle?

A life-long journey with amphetamine pills

Battle of the Anglophones? Who has the

18 Boycott the GRE 20 listen to Al Gore, and now we’re paying the price

The inconvenient weather: We refused to

Features 22 22 International update: Afghanistan Novemberfest

24 A spin on the classic German Oktoberfest a jungle out there: 26 It’s The safari to freedom

Celebrities endorsing equality

Some ‘cool’ places to visit in the Corner

Sports 42 42

Hamilton, Greinke headline this year’s free agency market

44

La Liga finds an unlikely counterpart in Scotland

46

BC ushers in a new era with the hiring of former Miami (OH) AD, Brad Bates

48

Alabama looks set to repeat as the college season draws to a close 3

INSIDE: /Tweeting the election/Colbert, SNL and Stewart on politics / Inside Stokes Hall

November 2012

Lost issues of the 2012 election

By Mason Lende / Editor-in-Chief

With unemployment at record levels, the economy was the top issue on the minds of most voters. With the exception of abortion rights for women, the economy has dominated the conversation with both candidates while leaving other key issues out of the limelight.

Despite the debates covering an array of topics, candidates rarely strayed from talking points that would enhance their respective standings with independent voters.

2.

Marriage Equality and Gay Rights

Obama was perhaps forced to make this an issue when Joe Biden made one of his infamous gaffes and endorsed gay marriage. Obama became the first sitting president to openly support marriage equality. Romney lief opposed marriage equality, but this e R Mitt Romney echoed the concerns of millions of e rican f Hur Americans out of work who have suffered under the was unlikely to cost him too heavily ival o n r a C sy of bad economy of the last four years. Barack Obama e t r with independent voters since the issue u co tended to the concerns of the middle class which also Photo was virtually irrelevant. The right for gay has been heavily hit by the bleak economy. marriage, however, appeared on the ballot in four states. Minnesota had one Both candidates failed to scratch the surface of several important and unresolved issues when campaigning of the more controversial ballot initiatives their positions with prospective voters. asking a ban.ofMaine, Maryland and photofor courtesy Wikimedia Commons Washington had ballot measures to support marriage equality. Considering the successful repeal of the unpopular Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, voters might Climate Change have suspected that Obama would The environment dominated the make this a major campaign issue. The conversation after former VP and country now slightly favors marriage presidential candidate Al Gore equality, and it is no longer a way to introduced the dangers of climate change create incentive for republicans to in his 2006 movie, An Inconvenient Truth. vote — a strategy used by Karl Rove, a In 2012, the issue disappeared. It was not Republican Party strategist in the past. until Hurricane Sandy swept in the week

1.

before the election that the discussion about climate was forced onto the candidates.

Following the destruction wreaked in New Jersey the candidates were prompted to at least acknowledge the impact of climate change. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie even called Obama’s response “outstanding.”

Obama outlined a plan for green energy, but other than that, largely ignored the consequences of the environment as an issue. Romney appeared unconcerned with the effects of carbon reduction, even as the Kyoto Protocol expires this year.

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Romney’s announcement that he would make conditions so unpleasant for undocumented immigrants that they would self-deport earned him no tokens with the Latino voting population, yet this issue remained mostly untouched by either candidate. Obama attempted to make this an issue when he appealed to Latino voters by stating that his administration will discontinue deporting so-called “DREAMers.” Obama and Biden continued this pledge through the waning days of the election, probably in an attempt to court Latino voters and improve turnout.

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With the mass shootings in the six months prior to the election, voters might have expected to hear more about gun control and the 2nd Amendment. Other than the offhand mention of a Senate candidate being supported by the NRA, gun control barely came up this election season. While shootings have gotten a lot of media attention, the candidates must have considered this issue too risky to touch.

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urtesy of Photo co

Gun 5.Control

Photo courtesy of Isral Air

force/Wikimedia

5

The Year of Photo courtesy of Talia Mark

Photos courtesy of Briar Press

Is Twitter changing the face of American politics?

By Geena De Rose/Assoc. News Editor

Political pundits have dubbed the

2012 presidential election the “Twitter election” due to the prominent role the popular social media website has played. With more than half of all tweets in October referencing the election, Twitter has emerged as a standard forum for national political debate.

Although pundits and political analysts recognized the strong Twitter response to the election as early as January, the debates called special attention to Twitter’s role in the campaign. Twitter reports that there were 6.5 million tweets during the first hour and a half of the first presidential debate, 7.3 million during the second debate and 10.3 million throughout the final debate.

These numbers dwarf the Twitter activity of the 2008 election. In fact,

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the number of tweets on Election Day in 2008 is equivalent to the number tweeted in six minutes at the elevated pace of the 2012 election, Twitter reported.

“Two debates in, the complex issues of our day have been reduced to a large yellow bird and binders full of women.”

Pundits are not the only ones to notice this trend. In August, Twitter established the “Twitter Political Index” which weighs the number and positivity of all tweets referencing Barack

Obama or Mitt Romney.

Although Twitter emphasizes on its blog that the index is not meant to replace traditional polling, it still considers the index a useful tool in gauging popular opinion. “The trend in Twitter Political Index scores for President Obama over the last two years often parallel his approval ratings from Gallup, frequently even hinting at where the poll numbers are headed,” the blog said.

The emergence of Twitter as a principal medium of political discourse has evoked both praise and criticism.

Kathleen Parker, a Washington Post columnist said Twitter and social media trivialize the election. “Two debates in, the complex issues of our day have been reduced to a large yellow bird and binders full of women,” she said. The “million-way conversation” that occurs on Twitter has converted

the GAVEL / November 2012

thoughtful national dialogue into “a convention of Snarks Anonymous,” according to Parker.

The inherently condensed nature of tweeting may present a roadblock to discussing the nation’s most complex issues. “There is not time here… for long complicated explanations for what are, in fact, rather long and complex problems,” Michael Rosenblum, a televisison producer and video journalist, said to the Huffington Post.

Still, many see Twitter as an accompaniment to more traditional methods of political engagement. Twitter users are “most likely to be watching the debate while simultaneously following the commentary on the social media outlet of their choice,” Courtney Klamar, a 23-year-old, said in a Washinton Post letter to the editor.

“If Twitter-ers can highlight important issues like the federal budget (via a beloved bird) or pay equity for women (via binders) and add a little humor to a process… I say tweet on!” Klamar

“The power of Twitter lies in its ability to communicate in real time to the voters.”

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@BarackObama

Followers: over 1.6 million Tweets: over 1,300 Fun Fact: In Utah, Romney’s tweets are more popular than the president’s Most popular Tweet: On this most somber day, America is united under God in its quest for peace and freedom at home and across the world (Sept. 11, 2012)

Followers: 21 million

ally dubbed the “Twitter Election,” the amount and variety of campaigning strategies involved in the election paints a much more complex picture of American politics. “Twitter is just one piece of the puzzle,” Lynch said.

The rest, one assumes, would take more than 140 characters.

Tweets: over 7,000 Fun Fact: Tweets written by Obama are signed -bo Most popular Tweet: “Same-sex couples should be able to get married.”-Obama (May 9, 2012)

trends #election2012 #bigbird #bindersofwomen #horsesandbayonets #vote Photo courtesy of Sutton Hoo/Wikimedia

Photo courtesy of Pete Souza

said.

Voters are not the only ones making their voices heard through social media. The candidates have also made use of Twitter as a significant piece of their campaign strategies.

“Twitter offers the opportunity to reach people quickly,” Theresa Lynch, a Boston College communication professor said. The power of Twitter lies in its “ability to communicate in real time to the voters.”

With both candidates andw voters making themselves heard simultaneously and directly, Twitter may provide a critical “two-way street” of communication, Lynch said.

Although 2012 may be colloqui-

@MittRomney

7

Stewart, Colbert and SNL: Political satire captures youth attention

By Meghan Smith News Editor

Television shows after 11p.m. can look like real news shows. They have professional-looking newscasters talking about current events and show actual footage from around the country. The newscaster looks right at the camera and discusses the latest happenings in the presidential election, and up until that point it is believable.

But he breaks away with a clever one-liner and the audience bursts into laughter.

Shows like The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Saturday Night Live all have entertainment purposes at the heart of their creation. However, in the past decade, especially during elections, these shows have played an important role in influencing political discourse. As young people increasingly rely on these satirical shows as a news source, they are becoming more influential in shaping the public’s perception of politics, and this election year is no exception.

Jon Stewart, the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central frequently refers to his show as a “fake news program.” Despite its self-description as a comedy show, programs like this often blur the line between en-

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8

tertainment and objective journalism, according to media analysts.

While Stewart talks as himself while deconstructing the day’s news, Stephen Colbert, the host of The Colbert Report embodies a character as a staunch conservative who is supposedly based off Fox News’ host Bill O’Reilly. He rarely breaks character, and he has referred to his character as an “active idiot.” He even stays in character when interviewing guests about their latest novel or movie project.

Colbert has admitted that although his show is comedy, it does

have a point, similar to Stewart’s . “I always have a point of view. I care about the news. We do 161 shows a year. You can’t do that unless you care a little bit about what you’re talking about,” Colbert said to Meet the Press’ David Gregory in October.

“I’m not a politician but I like playing political games to see what really happens,” he said.

During this election cycle, Colbert began his own political game by getting involved in the complicated world of campaign finance. Inspired by the 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that ruled that corporations can not be prohibited from making campaign donations, Colbert set up his own Super PAC — a political organization that is allowed to raise unlimited funds from corporations and individuals.

Because Super PACs are subject to fewer restrictions than normal political action committees (PACs), their influence has sparked debate about the impact of money in American politics.

Colbert’s Super PAC, “Making a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow” was formed in 2011 and is a real entity that can raise money and donate to cam-

the GAVEL / November 2012

Stewart and Colbert’s best quotes from this election: “[He] fired Big Bird, America’s favorite non-fried bird. Romney could have waterboarded Aladdin, put down Blue, deported Dora the Explorer, and he still would have won.”

-Jon Stewart, about Obama’s flat performance in the first debate “This is the most joy I’ve gotten from an old man since Dick Cheney non-fatally shot one in the face.”

-Jon Stewart, about Clint Eastwood’s appearance with a chair at the RNC “To my fellow Republicans, I am not sure if you are aware of this, but in 1920, women got the right to vote. Since then, rape’s approval rating has plummeted.”

-Stephen Colbert, about several Republicans’ comments about rape “Please Mr. President. Everyone plays by the same rules . . . Except at the end, the rich people flip over the board and say, ‘I win!’”

-Stephen Colbert, about Obama’s critique of the conservative view of government paigns. Colbert regularly discusses the Super PAC on his show and has used it as “satire with a point” to expose the world of campaign finance.

A class at Boston University entitled “The Colbert Report: American Satire” explores the importance of the show.

“Colbert satirically exposes hypocrisy with surgical precision, inviting us to think more deeply about serious issues and to improve our socio-political conditions,” according to the syllabus.

“Absurdism may be the only effective way to expose the absurdities of campaign finance laws,” Dick Polman, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, said. “The laws have become so ludicrous that they require a satirist to unpack them in the pursuit of truth (or, as he [Colbert] calls it, ‘truthiness’).”

Although exposing hypocrisy is one of the show’s aims, not everyone agrees that this is a good thing. “He is making a mockery of the system,” Chuck Todd, NBC’s political director, said. He said he believes The Colbert Report is increasing cynicism. “Is it fair to the process?

Yes, the process is a mess, but he’s doing it in a way that feels like he’s trying to influence it with his own agenda and that may be anti-Republican,” he said.

Forming a Super PAC is not the only way the comedians have gotten inwww.bcgavel.com

volved in politics. Colbert (in character) was invited to testify before Congress in 2011 on the subject of immigration. He even formed an “exploratory committee” in 2008 to try to get on the South Carolina ballot to run for president.

In addition, Stewart frequently has high-profile guests on his show. On Oct. 19, Barack Obama appeared on The Daily Show to talk seriously about

the attacks in Libya and his debate performance. Obama also mentioned, not so seriously, what Joe Biden looks like in a swimsuit. Obama’s appearance drew 2.8 million viewers, the biggest audience for the show all year.

According to some studies, these shows are often a news source for many young people. A Comedy Central study released in October found that young people would like to hear about political candidates on latenight comedy shows. Half of those surveyed said they get their news from late-night shows on Comedy Central as well as Saturday Night Live.

The study also found that a candidate’s sense of humor shapes young people’s attitude toward the politician.

A study done by East Carolina University in 2006 found that 48 percent of young people watched The Daily Show, while only 23 percent watched hard news programs like CNN live or NECN. This study also found that the young people rated candidates more negatively after watching Stewart’s show, and had less trust in the electoral system.

“Through him [his character] I can say things in a more palatable way than I could myself,” Colbert said to David Gregory when asked why he thinks people like to get their news from comedy shows rather than hard news shows. “Comedy helps an idea go down,” Colbert said.

Obama photo courtesy of Pete Souza/Wikimedia Commons Colbert flag photo courtesy of lovablepeople/ Flickr Colbert pose photo courtesy of fiendish_blonde/Flickr

9

STOKED

By Meidema Sanchez Assoc. News Editor Just as the Dustbowl served the needs of students in the past, Stokes Hall will serve the needs of both students and faculty in the future, according to the Boston College administration.

The construction of Stokes Hall has been a bittersweet endeavor. Though the building is impressive, it took the place of the beloved Dustbowl, BC’s once greenest pasture.

Stokes Hall is officially opening in January, in time for some spring semester courses to use its 36 classrooms, including an 80-person miniamphitheater.

The theology, history, English, classics, and philosophy departments will be moved into Stokes Hall. It will also house the A&S honors program, the A&S service center, the Academic Advising Center and the First Year Experience office.

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It will thus be the nexus for the humanities at the university.

“Like everyone in my department, I am really excited about moving out of moldy old Carney into fresh new Stokes,” Kalpana Seshadri, a BC English professor, said. All the light and air coming from all the windows will put everyone in a good cheer, Seshadri added. “I can’t wait,” she said. “It all sounds wonderful.”

In fact, $143 million later, the building represents one of the largest commitments to the liberal arts made by an American university in the last decade.

“Stokes Hall embodies this university’s enduring commitment to the liberal arts,” David Quigley, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said in October 2010 when ground was broken on the Stokes Hall project.

Jesuit Catholic tradition has emphasized for centuries the civilizing and

liberating power of an education, according to Quigley. This education is “rooted in the humanities disciplines that will call Stokes home,” he said.

In addition to new classrooms and spaces for various departments, Stokes Hall will also provide more meeting spaces for students and a café. A grassy area will surround the pedestrian walkway on the east side of the building, between Stokes Hall and Fulton Hall --- presumably an attempt to provide a green space for students that makes up for the lost Dustbowl.

“As an eternal lover of the Dustbowl, I have to say that I am very pleased about the construction of Stokes. I think that having several humanities disciplines in the same building will encourage an exchange of ideas that would have otherwise been more difficult,” Valerie Avila, A&S ’13, said.

Eevee Colon, A&S’13, agreed. “It

the GAVEL / November 2012

may actually refresh these ideas as well because it’s a new building,” she said.

The students’ opinions about Stokes Hall affirm what Patrick J. Keating, executive Vice President of BC, wished. He said that the university was confident that the community would be understanding and supportive of projects that will benefit BC. “With all of the approved construction taking place on campus, there will be some inconveniences,” Keating said. “It is an exciting time in the university’s history.”

The building is LEED certified — it adheres to ‘green’ standards about building construction, a program promoted by the U.S. Green Building Council — in keeping up with BC’s new green building commitment. This means that the building makes efficient use of energy, conserves water and is built with sustainable or green resources and materials.

As a result, BC will have a reduced environmental footprint.

Boston College’s 10-Year Master Plan: Step One Stokes Hall 1. Commit Boston College to becoming the leader in liberal arts education among American universities.

2. Develop and implement a student formation program that will be a contemporary model for colleges and universities committed to student formation.

3. Identify and support selected research commitments that will achieve excellence and distinction in addressing urgent societal problems.

4. Identify and commit targeted resources to selected natural science emphases that will establish Boston College as among the leaders in these areas.

5. Build on the strengths and reputations of Boston College professional schools to establish leadership in critical professional areas.

6. Become a significant intellectual and cultural crossroads by leveraging Boston College’s international resources and partnerships and its Jesuit and Catholic networks.

7. Commit Boston College to becoming the world’s leading Catholic university and theological center.

The rest of this plan will be carried out through an additional $1 billion in construction.

www.bcgavel.com

11

INSIDE: Battle of the Anglophones / Boycott the GRE/ The Inconvient Weather

Opinions Success in a I bottle?

November 2012

spent a total of eight hours in that room, which feels like FOREVER when all you want to do is eat Cheez-its and

swim in the pool. Let me tell you, Mrs. Johnson’s peanut butter crackers were the definition of a downgrade and that

BY SALLY FALKNER GAVEL MEDIA STAFF

I

would like to take you back in time to

One writer takes a look at her life-long journey with amphetamine pills

office clearly wasn’t a swimming pool.

Although the snack was sub-par, I still looked forward to that part of the day. As

a 9-year-old Sally who was just about a test, Mrs. Johnson would flash photos at

to start third grade. Her restlessness me to see if I could see the duck and the

led to erratic behavior; which led to rabbit. I blame the anticipation of a snack, her “being one of those kids”. Being but I could only see the rabbit. She tested born in the middle of the revolution me in other ways to assess my memory, of

psychoactive

drugs

(specifically

her

apparent

problem-solving skills, attention skills, amphetamines),

visual perception, etc. The results came symptoms left her in a lady’s office—I in, and just like that, I was diagnosed with want to say her name was Mrs. Johnson.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder But Mrs. Johnson wasn’t enough to (ADHD) and put on 10 mg of Adderall, the make young Sally excited to come in at ticket out of class early before lunch: the 8:30a.m. for three days straight in one of little blue pill. her precious last weeks of summer.

Photo courtesy of College Degrees 360 / Flickr

12

the GAVEL / November 2012

“And just like that, I was diagnosed with Attention Defecit Hyperactive Disorder and put on the 10 mg of Adderall.”

E

ach school day, after my half of a pill with breakfast, I went to school and was apparently

doing better in class. But as lunchtime

W

eight one

loss side

is effect

amphetamine

just of use.

Some others are insomnia, headaches,

S

hire

Pharmaceuticals

first

produced Adderall in 1996.

Racemic, one of the oldest

amphetamines, was first made in

neared, I, like any other 3rd-grader,

psychotic symptoms, cardiac arrhythmia,

1887 by Lazăr Edeleanu but it was not

would get excited with anticipation.

depression, tolerance to and dependence

until 1937 when the pharmaceutical

About 10 minutes before the rest of the

on the drug.

company,

class was released for lunch and recess,

recommended not to breast feed while

(now GlaxoSmithKline) marketed it

I would go with the new girl to the

taking

the

as the Dexedrine we know today.

nurse’s office for my 10 mg. This went

drug, like many other things the mother

The company had used it earlier to

on for two years until, due to my rapid

ingests, gets passed into the child. In

make

weight loss, my parents pulled me off

turn, this makes the child dependent on

for obstructive lung diseases, known

the amphetamine wagon.

the drug right out of the womb.

as Benzedrine. It was used to treat

www.bcgavel.com

Expectant mothers are

amphetamines

because

Smith,

Kline

bronchodilator,

a

&

French

treatment

13

attention deficit disorders, narcolepsy,

“We are part of the generation whose fate has been tossed in the air by the development, production and distribution of these psychostimulant drugs. No one knows the long-term effects of amphetamines on the body and mind.”

depression (ironic because the drug actually causes it), epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and obesity.

T

he reason I bring up Dexedrine is because in the Vietnam War,

easily getting away with it, and no one

nearby, belonging to the slumber-struck

knows the explicit repercussions that

girl. Or maybe you remember walking

may come later on in life.

past a girl at 7 a.m. working with a crazed

the United States government

distributed Dexedrine to soldiers so that they could stay awake and be alert, arguably contributing to the intensity

I

carry around this thought in the back

of PTSD. It was also used in World War II

of my mind, and from time to time

and continues to be used today. In the

I think about it—mainly because

military, the amphetamines are known

once I got to college I was once again

as “go-pills.” When pilots finish a mission, prescribed Adderall and later Ritalin. It they are given “no-go pills” such as does ease my mind when I’m desperate

look on her face. These girls were one in the same. This girl was me.

I

did have a couple partners in crime who made the nights more enjoyable. And as this was back in

the days of Mojo, finding new music also

Ambien to sedate and relax.

I

to finish some work, but for the most

made for a good break from studying.

part, I try not to take it. But I haven’t

I even downloaded some movies,

always been this way.

namely Pineapple Express. The first time

find it very alarming that we are part of the generation whose fate has been tossed in the air by the development,

production and distribution of these psycho-stimulant drugs. No one knows the long-term effects of amphetamines

I

I watched that masterpiece was at the

f you lived in Hardey or Cushing

first desk to the right of the Hardey

freshman year, maybe you remember

Lounge entrance, facing the opposite

the couple of times where you saw a

wall.

girl sleeping on a couch in the lounge

on the body and mind. Many users are with a pillow and a blanket. There would subjected to abusing these drugs and also be a table covered with papers

14

the GAVEL / November 2012

B

urning the midnight oil has definitely helped me finish manya-paper, the occasional cram for

a test, finish a project, etc. But a few of my

R

elying

completely

on

P

lease think about the following:

amphetamines for school is

(1) Do I need it? (2) Am I in the

not a good idea. Taking more

right state to be taking it? (3)

than you are prescribed is considered

Can I safely take this and know I will

friends possibly, myself especially, can attest

to be abuse. These drugs help us with

to the fact that the label on the prescription

school, but as I said, abuse leads to

bottle is telling the truth. Amphetamines

trouble. Abuse includes taking it to

have their fair share of cons.

party. Mixing these drugs with alcohol

A

can be very dangerous.

be able to control myself from making a habit out of it? (4) Most importantly, what is this going to do to my body?

fter many nights in a row of taking Adderall and not sleeping as much as I should have, I

started to enter a dark place. Freshman year, I did not really see the correlation between

D

rugs in general often turn

M

ixing

lives upside down. College

most

pills

with alcohol can be

makes us feel invincible

at times. But any wise man or woman

dangerous so be careful will tell you that everything is good in

next time you take that pill whether it be moderation, especially when used with

the two activities, or lack thereof. I just kept

Advil or Adderall. caution. I take what I am prescribed to,

taking a pill to make up for procrastination. and that’s what I stick to. Please do the After a while of continuing to put my body same. And if you don’t, just be careful. under that physical and mental strain, I had You owe that to yourself. pretty much entered into a depression. It made for a rough winter. The spring could not have come at a better time and it probably helped that I had taken a break from Adderall.

“After many nights in a row of taking Adderall and not sleeping as much as I should, I started to enter a dark place.”

Photo courtesy of Tibor Kádek

www.bcgavel.com

15

Battle of the Anglophones: Who has the better system of government, the United States or the United Kingdom?

By Ricardo Sanchez GAVEL MEDIA STAFF The United States and the United Kingdom are two of the world’s largest functioning political systems. As a democratic republic and constitutional monarchy, respectively, the U.S. and the U.K. have each served as models for new governments throughout the world.

The U.S. system is one of limited federal government while individual states retain more power, wheras the government in the U.K. is technically unrestrained.

This “elective dictatorship” of the U.K. has sparked debate over which is the ideal form of government. A close examination of each system is needed when considering which of these forms of government is the more ideal. Despite its flaws, the U.S. system of limited government is clearly better.

The U.S. is a constitutional republic.

Its system of government is outlined 16

by a written Constitution, which divides the powers of government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers provides a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Each branch is given the ability to check the will of the other two in some way. This system of checks and balances reflects the ultimate intentions of the Founding Fathers: to create a government with limited powers—in direct opposition to the big governments that many escaped from when coming to the American colonies.

The U.K. government has no such restraints. Since there is no written constitution, the government is setup based upon a loose collection of conventions, statutes, and Acts of Parliament.

Because it is a constitutional monarchy, the Monarch along with Her Majesty’s Government presides over the individual governments that make

up the U.K.: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. This entirety is governed by a prime minister, who holds executive power, and is appointed by the Monarch.

The prime minister is chosen so that he or she is the leader of the party that has majority in legislature, or Parliament. The House of Commons, like the American Congress, is elected by the public, but the House of Lords is not.

With no strong Supreme Court to interpret (or strike down) laws, Parliament and the Prime Minister are the supreme actors in government. The formal head of state, the Monarch, gives assent to laws passed by Parliament, but has virtually no authority.

The most outstanding example of this is the blatant lack of checks on government power in the U.K.. Under the current system of government, the powers of the Parliament and the Prime Minister are fused. The power of the elected party is virtually unchecked.

“There are no formal constitutional

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limits on the central government, few judicial restraints, and no constitutionally sanctioned local authorities to dilute the power of the government in London,” Patrick O’Neil says in his book Cases in Comparative Politics.

The only legitimate restraints on the authority of the British government are the opinions of its people, who have the power to vote out members of Parliament during elections, and a few restrictions imposed by the European Union. This lack of checks and balances in the government of the United Kingdom only means that the equality and rights of the people are less protected.

Unlike the U.S., the U.K. does not have a federal division of government power.The local governments of

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Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have severely limited powers and often provide an insignificant partake in the governance of the U.K. This means that ordinary citizens are left much more at the disposal of the national government. This is different from the American federalist system, in which state and local governments give citizens more control over their daily lives.

All of this begs the question: which is the “better” system of government?

While each system of government has its pros and cons, neither is ideal on its own. The U.S. is ideal in the sense that it protects from the abuse of power by government through its separation of powers and checks and balances, but there exist the problems of inefficiency and political polarization.

One might argue that the checks and balances of the U.S. system means that the government is unable to adequately govern and efficiently produce legislation to meet the challenges of the day. An example of this is the filibuster procedure in the U.S. Senate, which allows a lone member to delay or completely prevent a vote on a proposal. This procedure, while allowing for more deliberation on a given proposal, also leaves room

for excessive obstruction—a frequent problem in American government today. A similar filibuster procedure does not exist in the U.K., making it arguably more efficient.

Due to its “first-past-the-post” electoral system, the U.S. has developed into a regime dominated by only two major political parties, the liberal-leaning Democratic Party and the conservative-leaning Republican Party. This two-party system, while giving voters a clear choice during each election, makes politics in the U.S. very polarized and leads to a less than accurate representation of the interests of the people in their government.

While the U.K. is also dominated by two major parties, Labour and Conservative, it has a third party, the Liberal Democrat party, which occupies the political center. This gives voters more options when voting, allows the public interest to be more accurately represented in its legislature (not all voters are strictly liberal or strictly conservative), and forces parties to form coalitions and compromise when writing legislation (making politics less polarized).

When deciding which of these two systems of government is the more ideal, the numerous checks and balances of the U.S. government gives it the edge. Its federalist system of government gives its people more control over their daily lives, and the presence of a strong Supreme Court prevents the government from becoming too powerful.

The U.S. would, however, do well to implement a system in which more than two parties dominate our politics, as in the U.K.. While the multiparty system in the U.K. is much better than the two-party system. In the U.S., the lack of restraints on the will of Parliament make the U.K. system too dangerous to individual liberty and rights.

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Boycott the GRE

By Sarah Garcia Assoc Opinions Editor

After graduation I plan on jumping ship, or more appropriately jumping onto a ship, and heading to Europe.

I would like to avoid graduate school as long as possible.

What has changed in our society in the past 10 years?

When I was younger, graduate school was an idea for some, but not everyone. I didn’t know many graduate students, but the ones I pictured all read Kant out loud, with glasses of wine and berets on.

For some reason, now everyone must go to graduate school. Many of us have heard that infuriating adage, college is the new high school, and grad school is the new college. Well boo to that; I spent four years and thousands of dollars doing homework and getting swine flu. I resent that now I am expected to do it again.

Learning about the Graduate Record Exam, the GRE, a test required by many graduate schools, solidified my decision to forego graduate school for a while. I was flabbergasted to learn what the test entailed: a standardized exam that measures reading comprehension, writing skills, and basic math? Hmm, I’ve been up this river before…this sounds just like the SAT! No sir, I will not take this test. Absolutely not.

The SAT was no fun. It did not assess my intelligence, nor did it predict how well I would go on to do in college.

Really, it just measured how well my SAT tutor had taught me test-taking skills, and how good the expensive book I bought was.

Learning that there was another standardized test in my future made me angry for many reasons. First, there are better ways to demonstrate passion and prowess in a specific field, which is what a graduate school application demonstrates. To still be using a standardized test, which studies have proven is an ineffective measure of intelligence, is just primitive. To me, the GRE represents one more part of a larger education system that is too eager to make one standard assessment that suits everyone. There needs to be a more individualized 18

and more comprehensive way to assess the passion and abilities of incoming graduate students.

The GRE is supposed to “measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study,” according to the Educational Testing Service.

The explanation in the GRE practice book for why students need to take the test is that it measures basic skills, and everyone has to do it so suck it up and take it. But wouldn’t these basic skills come out in your personal essays and transcript?

What it really measures, just like the SAT, is whether you can afford a prep book, have enough time on your hands to relearn algebra, and whether you can do good work without leaving your seat for three hours. “At what point in your life do you sit down and do the same thing for four hours?” Shelby Garber, A&S ‘13, said, “When does that ever happen, doing something intellectual for four hours without taking breaks? People have their own system of how they do their work, and to try to confine them literally and mentally will not lead to an accurate representation of what they are good at.”

I understand there needs to be a way to measure the value of a college education, independent of majors, but isn’t it common knowledge by now that standardized tests are an ineffective way to test adeptness? It disregards individual work habits, individual test-taking skills, and most of all, individual strengths. It also is by no means an even playing field for everyone, since many people cannot afford GRE books, prep courses and practice tests.

The GRE is just one more way for students to fall between the cracks for not measuring up to some universal standard—a standard set in a way that disregards individual work habits and gives advantage to those who either test well, or have the resources to prep well. Students working a job are further at a disadvantage because they will not have as much time to relearn basic math skills. “I spent hours of my life relearning algebra, spending all my time studying for this basic test seemed like such

the GAVEL / November 2012

a waste. I thought to myself, I know I have to do this, but there are a million things I could be doing that are more productive,” Garber said.

One terrible possibility with placing a standardized test in the way of going to graduate school is that passionate, intelligent people who do not do well on the GRE will be discouraged from applying

don’t pertain to many fields. There are GRE subject tests, which should make the whole process more field-specific and the information more valuable, but some feel these are impossibly hard and are rigged for people to fail.

A stronger method of assessing people than the GRE would be to have them submit a portfolio of work that

“The GRE is just one more way for students to fall between the cracks for not measuring up to some universal standard—a standard set in a way that disregards individual work habits and gives advantage to those who either test well, or have the resources altogether. My abysmal SAT scores made me feel dumber than all my friends, and until recently I thought I was the most average of average intelligence. I was wrong; the SAT was wrong. Garber echoed this discouraging nature of the standardized testing when she exuberantly protested the existence of a Quantitative (“simple” math) section, saying “I don’t want to hear now that I’m graduating college, ‘hey by the way there’s a huge field of study that you can’t do, look how badly you did’.”

In addition, the GRE measures abilities that

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demonstrates their abilities, like papers or research projects. Just imagine if you could put together a portfolio that showcased your ability, your passion, and why you need to further your education in a particular field by pursuing a graduate degree.

This would work for both sides: graduate schools would still be able to assess student capabilities, taking stronger applicants to boost their rankings, while also including some people who may not test well, who

are currently being sidelined due to poor GRE scores. As for the students, it would make the application process both easier and more meaningful. It would also prevent people from going to grad school without really wanting to go but in aim of filling their time, just as ‘something to do’. Instead of just taking a test and writing an essay, students will have to prove meaningfully why they want to go, why they need to go, and then hopefully realize to wait to apply until they actually would profit from going to grad school.

The application for graduate school needs to be changed.

Either the personal statement and essays, supplemented by a student-compiled portfolio, should be weighted much higher than the GRE, or the GRE should be done away with entirely.

Why isn’t GPA, personal essays, and submission of past work enough? If graduate schools argue they care about passion more, there is no need for the GRE. If the argument is for it is to evaluate adeptness in a specific field of study, the portfolios would demonstrate this. If it is basic intelligence and value of the college degree you earned, the GPA and the personal essays would show this. Poor writing skills, poor argumentation skills, or poor study skills will easily come across without the need for a dang-blasted standardized test.

In a few years, when I am pressured to go back to school, in lieu of spending hours discerning between circumference and diameter, I will attach this article along with my other qualifications.

Down with the GRE! 19

The Inconvenient Weather We refused to listen to Al Gore, and now we’re paying the price.

BY LAUREN RAMSAHAI/GAVEL MEDIA STAFF I can’t speak for everyone, but Al Gore got me thinking. You’re a child if you haven’t seen, or at the very least, heard of An Inconvenient Truth, the 2006 documentary that addresses the issue of global warming. If you think that it’s not happening, then think again. I know it’s easy to make fun of Al Gore—the sap-loving, tree-hugging, polar-bearcuddling, ex-politician—but for those of you who aren’t already on board, believe me when I say the man’s got a few points.

He may not have been persuasive enough to convince us all that he invented the Internet, or to win in the 2000 presidential election, but he sure does know how to put together a good, old-fashioned PowerPoint, and then turn that PowerPoint into an Academy Award-winning documentary. The facts are clear. Carbon dioxide is leveling up, glaciers are melting, and natives of coastal lands now face the risk of becoming environmental refugees. Records indicate that our generation has experienced the 10 hottest years since the late 1800s.

Are you scared yet? Well you should be. The

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Photo courtesy of Louise Sheehan

the GAVEL / November 2012

world is going to end. Maybe not this holiday season, but soon enough if we keep blowing up our spot. The ozone isn’t your mother’s house, so use some common sense and be respectful. I say this with love for humanity. I don’t want the world to end.

What’s good with the weather lately? Have you noticed that times are changing? In 2011, we experienced the fourth lamest winter since 1872.

And by lame I mean there was no snow. If you’re from the East Coast, you’re going to be cranky if it isn’t a white Christmas. Am I right? Think back to 2010. It felt like we were nearly knee-deep in slush for months. I have no idea what to expect this winter, but the Mayans are telling me not to be all that excited.

I was warned before I moved here in 2009 that I should dress in layers, but little did I know that in the span of three years I would be convinced that Al Gore is the most brilliant man alive.

Seriously, you need to watch the documentary if you haven’t already. And then you need to look into the cost and labor of building a bunker, or find someone that already has one. I know I sound like one of those wacky characters on shows such as Doomsday Preppers, but I’m pretty sure we’re skating on some pretty thin ice here, people.

This fall, things appear to be normal. There are no signs of zombies or a devastating plague and no flying monkeys or mutated sewage animals. The leaves are changing and it is getting colder. Simple enough.

But then there’s the issue of never knowing what

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Photo courtesy of Neil Matalia

Photo courtesy of Adrian.benko

to wear…ever. It rains for a span of four days and then the weather person surprises us with a sunny day marked by 70-degree temperature and confused animals running around in a fit of ignorance. In the morning, I put on a dress and come back from my 3 p.m. class shivering because the temperature has dropped 20 degrees. I realize that New England is notorious for its unpredictability—the frequently shifting judicial sentiment towards gay marriage, the fact that Massachusetts’ very own demigod Tom Brady can lose against the Giants in the Super Bowl, and of course the all-too-dramatic weather patterns— but I really don’t think what we are experiencing here is typical.

Maybe I’m wrong and Al just wanted to spook us all as a sort of revenge for not voting for him. Maybe the Mayans wanted to play a little practical joke of their own: they never truly disappeared, but are just hiding somewhere underground. I’m sure if they were still around today, they could give us a pretty thorough tutorial on sustainable living.

In the past century, our civilization has created a humongous carbon footprint, one so large our generation will have

What’s good with the weather lately? trouble surpassing it. But that’s not what I’m suggesting. We all know how to cut down on our intake and output, so we should be doing just that.

First of all, reusable items are the future.

Nalgenes are great, use them. For those of you that have a car, that’s sweet, but environmentally- friendly commuting is the better way to go and clearly underrated. Support brands that use recycled products and recycle the product when you’re done using it.

Simple things can really have the potential to save us from a global warming crisis. So come on everyone, just do it!

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Inside: Novemberfest/7 Guilt-free Thanksgiving Foods /Are we really a lazy generation?

Features

Features

November 2012

International Update Afghanistan

By Victoria Southwood Gavel Media Staff

The war in Afghanistan has been both America’s longest war and the least talked about war that the U.S. has ever been involved in.

Many Americans are uninformed. Some do not know why the U.S. entered a war with Afghanistan, and other do not know where the U.S. currently stands.

Others are not clear on what actions the U.S. is taking to bring the war to a close.

This should change.

American occupation of Afghanistan began in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks carried out by the al Qaeda terrorist organization. Upon entering Afghanistan, the U.S. had one goal: to eliminate the terrorist threat that seemed to be coming directly from al Qaeda and indirectly from the Afghani Taliban. This Taliban sub-group was supposedly protecting al Qaeda. Over the past 11 years, the government’s justifications for American occupation of Afghanistan have changed only slightly.

While the main focus has remained the elimination of al Qaeda, the U.S. also developed goals to help the Afghans prepare to govern themselves and rebuild their country. These efforts explain why the U.S. temporarily extends its presence in Afghanistan until at least 2014. At this time, the government says that U.S. combatant troops will come home, leaving only a small number of peaceful forces to help NATO officials continue to administer aid in the form of training Afghanis.

While this might seem a valiant plan, many are skeptical that these goals are realistic, and others are upset that it took the U.S. so long to make withdrawal plans.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta stated that by mid-2013 the US will be making moves to bring troops home. Until then, recent events have indicated that our presence in Afghanistan is threatening the well-being of U.S. troops and Americans around the world, including those who are currently in peaceful situations.

In September, Americans mourned the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three Americans in the attack on the American consulate in Libya. This attack has been linked to al Qaeda. Kabul, Afghanistan, has also been the location of many killings of U.S. citizens and other international visitors. On Sept.

18, a suicide bomber, allegedly from the Hezh-e-Islami insurgent group, killed 12 people, seven of them foreigners.

One of the most recent and widely discussed occurrences was the beheading 22

the GAVEL / November2012

Features claims, many people feel that it is high time that the U.S. follow through with its intentions to exit.

The U.S. reached some important landmarks, suggesting it has been in Afghanistan long enough. The Kabul firefight that took place in September led to the 2000th American soldier killed in the war in Afghanistan. This is in addition to the more than 1,000 coalition forces that have also been lost.

Roughly 20,000 Afghan civilians have lost their lives during the conflict and tens of thousands of troops have been injured in some way (including both wounds and traumatic brain injuries).

The U.S. has left a mark on Afghanistan that can never be erased, and Americans need to acknowledge the significance of our longest war in history. of 17 Afghanis in an area almost completely dominated by the Taliban in August. Fifteen men and two women were immediately beheaded by the Taliban for hosting a late-night party and dancing to music. While Afghani officials are investigating the incident, it proves how much power the Taliban still holds in Afghanistan.

Even though the Taliban has been linked to al Qaeda, making both organizations a threat to American troops, it remains unclear whether the Taliban originated as a U.S. enemy, or whether the U.S. turned them into an enemy.

Jonathan Steele — an international journalist who has spent significant time studying Afghanistan while living there and analyzing the conflict — is skeptical. He suggests that the Taliban was never truly an enemy, but instead was an Afghan group looking to protect their country from foreign occupation. (Which they had reasonable justification for doing, given the extended Russian occupation prior to Taliban rule.)

Statements of the Taliban officials seem to back the assertion that Taliban involvement in the war and the aid www.bcgavel.com

they provided al Qaeda were purely a response to foreign invasion, rather than any anti-American sentiment. ”A lasting occupation means lasting resistance. American intelligence networks including the CIA state that members of al Qaeda have all left Afghanistan. So America’s military presence is not for its own security but a long-term strategy for turning our country and the region into its colony,” a Taliban official said It appears that the Taliban understands U.S. anger towards al Qaeda. At the same time, the Taliban are expressing their own fears concerning U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.

“We ask from the beginning and we say once again: to enforce the Sharia law and Islamic government in Afghanistan, to remove foreign forces from our country,” Mullah Omar, a spokesman for the leader of the Taliban, said in a similar statement.

This suggests not religious resentment toward the U.S., but a desire to rid their country of unnecessary foreign influence.

Whether or not the Taliban is as great a threat as the U.S. government

Photos courtesy of Louise Sheehan/ Gavel Media, and U.S. Army and U.S. Dept. of State

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Features

Novemberfest

By Christian Fiedler Gavel Media Staff Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebration is known for copious amounts of beer (literally served en masse), Bavarian munchies like pretzels and currywurst, traditional clothing and plenty of music and dancing. What’s not so well known is that a good portion of the celebration occurs in September.

With this in mind and with the month of October already claimed by the Battle of the College Beers, we gave ourselves license to turn Oktoberfest into Novemberfest. What is a month’s difference anyway? We will certainly never turn down an occasion to grill up some bierwurst and imbibe by the liter.

Gavel Media proudly presents Novemberfest, featuring some of the best Märzenbier Munich has to offer.

1) Samuel Adams Octoberfest — 5.3 percent ABV — Boston Beer Co. — Boston, MA We will start on this side of the Atlantic with Sam Adams’ seasonal Oktoberfest offering. The lightest in alcohol of all of the märzen style beers we tried, it pours a deep copper color with an aroma of caramel and fresh bread. On the tongue, this beer brings forth more caramel sweetness, nutty flavors and a pinch of earthy hops on the finish. Low-key and straightforward, Sam Adams’ O-Fest is a great choice for light beer drinkers.

3.5/5 pints 2) Oktoberfest-Märzen — 5.8 percent ABV — Hacker-Pschorr Bräu — Munich, Germany Hacker-Pschorr’s Oktoberfest is the next step up in alcohol content and the first beer on this list from Munich. Pouring a darker hue than the Sam Adams, HackerPschorr’s offering is nutty in aroma and tastes sharp and clean. It has just enough bitterness to balance it out, finishing drier than Sam Adams. Hacker-Pschorr is a great pick for an authentic Oktoberfest, but better options remain.

4/5 pints.

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3) Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur-Märzen — 5.9 percent ABV — Spaten-Franziskaner Bräu — Munich, Germany Spaten’s Oktoberfest is very different from the other options. In the glass, it has a much lighter, golden color than the others.

Spaten’s O-Fest has a skunked and buttery malt aroma and tastes mild and bready on the palate. While Spaten has lively carbonation and a light, drinkable body, its flat flavor falls behind the competition.

2.5/5 pints

the GAVEL / November2012

Features All participants in this beer review were 21+. Please drink responsibly

4) Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen — 6.0 percent ABV — Paulaner Brauerei — Munich, Germany At the top of the alcohol range is Paulaner’s Okotoberfest, with a hearty 6 percent alcohol by volume. We could tell just from popping the cap that we would dig Paulaner with notes of rye bread, herbal hops and toffee wafting from the glass. Paulaner strikes the perfect amber color between Spaten’s yellow-gold and Hacker Pschorr’s brownish hue. On the tongue, Paulaner presents a toasty, sweet, complex malt profile with enough floral hops to balance, but not dominate. Lively carbonation and a light to medium body sealed the deal for us; Paulaner was the clear winner.

The Paulaner OktoberfestMärzen was the obvious winner of this competition 5) 1809 Berliner Weisse — 5.0 percent ABV — Professor Fritz Briem — Freising, Germany It is always nice to have something a bit different on the menu, so we decided to include another great style from Germany. Berliner Weisse is a sour (yup, sour) beer from Berlin.

It is typically served with sugar, raspberry or herbal syrup. With a dash of rasberry syrup in the glass, 1809 Berliner Weisse becomes a rosy www.bcgavel.com

pink, crystal clear beverage with champagne-like bubbles and a white head. In the nose, this beer is full of raspberry, tangy malt aromas and citrus notes. The raspberries continue into the flavor with a wave of sweet and sour. The best part of Berliner Weisse might be its body, which is light, refreshing and wonderfully drinkable and a great choice for nonbeer-drinkers.

4.5/5 pints Photos courtesy of Gillian Freedman and Louise Sheehan / Gavel Media 25

Features

It’s a jungle out there: The safari to freedom

By Olivia Simone / Print Manager Political America is divided into strangely primitive psychographics; if it were displaced onto an African safari setting (bear with me here), the metaphor would be clear.

Like financially hungry conservatives, lions and tigers lurk where not a single gazelle nor antelope suspects them.

Innocent water buffalo crowd around the same water hole, clueless of the creeping crocodile. They are obstinate and much like stubborn nonvoters—according to USA Today, only 54.2 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot—they base their decision to ignore their ultimate fate on their immediate needs. For college students, like a BC senior who refuses to vote but who wishes to remain anonymous, this decision could be as a simple as “refusing to feed the

Tolerance Conservatives suggest that we should reap the full benefit of the seeds we sow — or the carcasses we kill — but they will not hoard what they can not use.

Liberals tend to promote turnover among the upper class’s earnings to those who are in need; thus, the hyena may be an outlandish oversimplification of recycling resources. Libertarians advocate tolerance; their respect towards another’s life choices is an expression of loyalty to humankind. They aim for harmony and the freedom of natural order. Elephants are one of the most loyal species and thus, one of the most harmonious. Ironically, the anarchy of the safari kingdom is more often than not, an obsolete metaphor for the carnal tendency of humans.

Miraculously, the tables have turned: the politics of American culture have become more representative of the dangers of the wild — the safari has become a symbol of harmony that we must strive for.

Polarization of political parties in the U.S. has caused unnecessary malice and disrespectful bashing of political candidates. Where has the harmony of our society faltered, while other, more simplistic animals, have mastered it?

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madness of the election campaigns” which she felt were “ridiculous” (CSON ’13).

To complete the metaphor, there are hyenas, prancing around the lions’ feast, waiting for the carcass to be abandoned before they can pounce (liberals).

But what species, on our great earth, would the libertarians resemble? The wise elephant whose daily eating habits naturally create waterholes for other thirsty animals? Like the libertarian who wishes to stay out of everyone’s business, the elephant neither attacks other animals nor jumps at another’s leftovers; they are content with minding their own business.

Libertarianism—the safari to freedom.

The fossils of libertarianism ideals can be found in what was arguably one of the greatest and most intelligent movements across Europe: the Enlightenment movement of the 18th century. French free-thinkers threw up their arms at the Catholic Church and the absolute monarchy. They chewed over free will during dinner table conversations, classic liberal ideas budded. John Locke determined that in a natural state, all people were equal, independent and had a natural right to defend his or her “life, health, liberty, or possessions”—isn’t this beginning to sound familiar?

Mutualism of 18th century Europe joined forces with this train of thought, capitalizing on spontaneous order— or, order that arises when people naturally act in their own interest (Hobbes was definitely onto something). As Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, a 19th Century French politician stated, “business transactions alone produce the social order.” Throughout the next century, ideas tending towards individual rights blossomed, including advocating free love (supporting women’s rights), and free thought (in which the individual had the right to decide their own religious beliefs). Eventually, Joseph Dejacque, an anarchist communist philosopher, declared that the individual has a right to the satisfaction of his or her needs; incidentally, Dejacque was the first recorded person to employ the term libertarian.

the GAVEL / November2012

Features Photos courtesy of Sharon Schneider, Brittany Hock, Arias Levita, IceNineJon, Mark Robertson / Flickr

Live and let live.

According to liberarianism.com, the core of Libertarianism is rational and simple. Aside from the stanch belief in economic and personal liberty (and who would argue with that?), Libertarians hold that one’s freedom to make his or her own choices leads to “abundance, peace, harmony, creativity, order, and safety” (www.Libertarianism.com).

Tolerance of other’s life choices is essential. Rather than one leader deciding whether a couple can legally marry, or that everyone must pay taxes to finance potentially unnecessary programs, the choice is left to the individual—the programs that do not benefit them directly will fade.

a—to quote Ron Paul—“one-size-fits-all federal education program?” Why must it be an issue over whether or not the government should endorse or nor endorse abortion?

These things, according to libertarian belief, do not have a legitimate function in the government, nor should they be financed with public funds. Libertarians even disagree with standardized testing in schools, who wouldn’t embrace that?

In a Libertarian world, the government’s main function is to uphold the constitution and to maintain a free marketplace.

Any governmental intervention in the individual’s private Whose right is it to determine another’s lifestyle? Whose life, including mandating programs financed through taxes, right is it to decide whether or not another human being is considered overstepping the government’s boundaries. should be punished by death? Whose right is it to delegate Hold up, hyenas, the elephants a’coming.

Consider the latest controversy: Obamacare The U.S., especially within the past four years, has seen an increase in our already over the top governmental regulations. Consider the latest controversy of the 2012 election: healthcare. Because some people can’t afford it, we all have to pay for it. It’s great in theory, but logistically its gnarls need some combing out—the immediate result of an abolished free market health insurance policy would see cuts in doctors’ salaries, less one-on-one patient assessment by providers (and thereby less services for patients) and most frighteningly, a steady increase in healthcare prices typical of a monopoly system. Libertarians believe in the power of an autonomous free marketplace. With competition between interstate health insurance agencies, prices are naturally driven down.

Open up your mind (and increase your take-home-pay) to the free market baby.

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Implications.

So, if conservatives are socially unwavering and fiscally conscious and liberals are socially fearless and fiscally benevolent, then what about the libertarians?

The Liberty Movement is self-explanatory. It is the belief in liberty in all realms of political life.

Libertarians believe that each individual owns his or her own life and thus should be allowed the right to make his or her own choices. Society should function with limited government and guidance from the Constitution — without which, the country would never function as the American powerhouse that it is today. Coercion should be minimized and liberties, including voluntary association, should be emphasized.

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Features

Seven Guilt-free Thanksgiving Foods

Photos By Theogeo, Tracy, Dtarazona, Patricia, Stu Spivack, Rick Kimpel, Clemens M. Brandstetter / Wikimedia Commons

By Alison Ricciato

Assoc. Features Editor This Thanksgiving, we are all looking forward to delectable home-cooked meals. In case you are worried about what your Thanksgiving feast is going to do to your Christmas break beach body, we found seven foods to gobble down without remorse. Our only caution is to bear in mind the proper serving sizes for your size, especially with more calorie-rich treats like pie and casserole. Regardless, this year, pig out in the name of health.

1. What is the mainstay of any Thanksgiving dinner? Turkey of course! This bird is pretty lean as meats go, with the white meat containing less than one gram of saturated fat. Plus, it has fewer calories than beef or pork. It is also a good source of an amino acid, which aids in relaxing and opening arteries. Just remem2. Who doesn’t eye the suspicious-looking cranberry ber that the white meat has sauce every year? Sure, it looks greater health benefits. kind of like thick, maroon Jell2 O, but cranberries are full of antioxidants and are linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and higher amounts of good cholesterol.

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3. Swap out the traditional mashed potatoes for sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes have vitamins A and C, plus potassium, fiber and beta carotene. That helps your heart, digestive system, eyes and immune system. Eat a helping of these starches, guilt-free.

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6. Alright, so maybe green beans by themselves are not quite so tempting, but a tasty green bean casserole is creamy, delicious and has its fair share of hearty advantages. Green beans are a good source of vitamins A, B6 and C. They also have fiber and minerals that aid in metabolic function and controlling blood pressure.

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4 4. We all love pumpkin-flavored foods at this time of year (Pumpkin Spice Latte anyone?). Like sweet potatoes, pumpkins provide beta carotene and vitamin A, as well as other nutrients that are great for eye health. Add some pureed pumpkin to any dish, from pumpkin pies to lattes for added health benefits!

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5. Tempted by the pecan pie? Pecans are stocked with heart-healthy fats and the natural antioxidant vitamin E. This means they provide nutrients to help the cells in your body repair themselves. They are good for your skin and linked to lowering the risk of heart disease.

7. Every year there are inevitably some squash and zucchini dishes. Mashed up, they might not look so appetizing. Throw a helping of sliced zucchini on your salad and try squash in a soup or sautéed, instead of just mashed, for a delicious side dish. They are packed with fiber, vitamins A, B and K, betacarotene, potassium and iron.

An added benefit is that squash has a high water content and is low in calories.

the GAVEL / November2012

Features

Overheard At BC

Overheard at BC is a cherished Gavel Media tradition. Read on to get some laughs at the expense of your fellow BC students and be careful what you say— or it might show up here! All statements are 100 percent “overheard” and not fabricated by Gavel Media.

Guy 1: “Are they ever getting back together?”

Guy 2: “No, they are never ever ever getting back together.”

-Quad “I hate when you walk into a classroom and it smells like…people.”

– Carney “I’m really into guys that are into themselves.”

–Lower Dining Hall “I’m gonna go to late night and I’m gonna go hard.”

–O’Neill Library “Was there ever a more hopeless place to find love in than a mod?”

–Late Night “Tequila will heal your swollen glands.”

– Lower Dining Hall “I feel like all the sexy is oozing out of me.”

–CoRo “I run my life according to J.Crew new arrivals.”

–Carney “If I eat it slowly, it’s like I didn’t eat it at all.”

- McElroy “My pseudo-boyfriend’s, like, joining a cult.”

-Campion “If you don’t leave Late Night with either a man or a steak and cheese, your night was a failure.”

- Late Night Photos Courtesy of Louise Sheehan/ Gavel Media

www.bcgavel.com

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Features

Are we really a lazy generation?

By Katie Levingston

Gavel Media Staff

Y

our mom is not the only one who thinks you are not working hard enough. A 2009 Pew Research Center survey revealed that about three out of four Americans believe that the work ethic of older adults is superior to that of younger adults.

Generation Y — those born between 1979 and 1997 and sometimes called “Millennials” — has been deemed the “laziest” generation. According to our elders, we have apparently lost the drive to try hard and work hard. The coun-

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terargument is that it might seem that Generation Y works less because of the society we have grown up in: A society bursting with technological advancements makes it easier to do everyday tasks.

“We have the means to be lazy — we can access information so much faster with the Internet than any other generations. I don’t know if it’s laziness as much as trying to do things in the fastest way possible,” Emily Lynch, ‘15, says.

Professors have mixed judgments on Generation Y’s work ethic based on their day-to-day interactions with students. English professor Christopher Wil-

son believes that students actually take on much more work than they probably should.

“Of the students I have gotten to know fairly well, I certainly don’t see any drop-off in a ‘work ethic’ if what we mean by that is simply ‘how hard’ students work, or how many jobs or volunteer assignments they have, and so on,” Wilson says. “On the contrary, their lives seem to me filled up, to the brim, even maybe to a fault.”

Many students are spreading themselves too thin, working for themselves and for the community. According to a Rutgers University study of graduates,

although many college students receive financial aid, 44 percent of students say that their own employment or personal savings help to fund their education.

In addition, students are taking on non-paying jobs.

A report by the Corporation of National and Community Service revealed that between 1989 and 2006, the number of volunteering students doubled, from 13.4 percent to 26.4 percent.

On the other hand, some professors see a spectrum of slackers and high-achievers, so it can be hard to judge an overall work ethic.

“I have seen a wide range, with some students not all

the GAVEL / November2012

Features

that invested in their academic work,” psychology professor Ellen Winner said. “But on the bright side, I have seen some highly motivated students at BC, including just about all of the students who work in our labs.”

Generation Y finds value in the collaborative experience of group work, detailed in Don Tapscott’s book Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. To older workers, asking for help might equate to laziness. But Generation Y tends to thrive in teamwork.

Generation Y also has the ability to be more efficient with technology, so it does not take as long to complete tasks. Therefore we can do more, see more and experience more.

“We have a lot of technology to help us complete idle tasks, so we’re not concentrating our time on busy work. This way we can spread out our activities and have wider ranging interests than past generations,” Ande Giancarlo, ‘15, says.

If Generation Y can use all of these advancements in a constructive way, it will make lasting contributions to the world. It has all the tools at its disposal to create and innovate. Thus, Generation Y has the lofty task of building on the great advancements that have already been made.

Steven Krueger, ‘14, believes that Generation Y has great potential and the best is yet to come.

“I can see why people generally take our generation to be lazy, indifferent and apathetic as a whole. But then I’ve encountered kids my age who have done amazing things and have a motivation to succeed that is unbridled among other generations,” he says. “Our generation has the skills to make unfathomable advancements in any field. And when individuals pair those skills with hard work and determination, watch what we achieve in 10 years.”

Photos By Louise Sheehan / Gavel Media www.bcgavel.com

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Culture

INSIDE: BC’s a capella groups / How well do you know James Bond? / Guide to Coolidge Corner

Culture

November 2012

No oven? No stove? No problem!

Mom’s Famous Party Punch Recipe

By Olivia Simone / Print Manager When Hurricane Sandy forced my roommates under house arrest, we realized that there could be nothing better to lighten the mood — especially with the lights are out — than to try out my mother’s famous party punch recipe.

After several hours of writing essays, doing homework and studying for exams, I was ready to try something fun.

Growing up, I spent every New Year’s Eve watching my mother’s friends coo over her punch. Now that I was finally legal, I knew that I had to try it out for size — and for taste.

This punch is perfect for small social gatherings, whether you are reuniting with study-abroad friends over dinner or holding a Christmas social in your apartment — either way, it is a must-try.

The ingredients in this recipe include alcohol; if you are under the age of 21, replace the wine and champagne with ginger ale for a non-alcoholic punch.

Please drink responsibly.

Preparation:

Ingredients: 1 can frozen pink lemonade 1 can frozen limeade 1 can frozen raspberry mix 1 lemon or lime, sliced 2 bottles Prosecco or champagne 1 bottle white wine (Riesling) 4 cans flavored seltzer water 1 cup fresh cranberries 1 cup frozen berries Whole, fresh mint leaves

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Freeze all three cans of frozen drink mix, if not already frozen.

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Slice lemon or lime very thin and set aside.

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In a large bowl, add cans of frozen drink mix.

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Pour white wine, Prosecco or champagne, and seltzer over frozen drink mix.

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Float slices of lemon or lime, mint leaves, cranberries and berries.

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Ladle punch into wine glasses or party glasses and enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Louise Sheehan/Gavel Media 32

the GAVEL / November 2012

Culture A cappella: Taking the stage at BC

At the beginning of fall, enthusiastic BC freshmen come in ready to test their talents in extracurricular activities on campus. From cultural groups to UGBC to dance teams, there is a multitude of programs to audition for, interview for, or simply sign up for. Eight performing groups in particular give out highly-coveted spots each year to the students with the best voices. These a cappella groups are unique, ranging in style, size and tradition.

By Lauren Leckenby / Assoc. Culture Editor

The Sharps, BC’s all-female a cappella group, perfects the higher vocal range and performs a diverse set of songs. The sisterhood sings everything from Lauryn Hill to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Ke$ha. Abbey Clark LSOE ‘14, the business manager of the Sharps this year, describes the girls’ group dynamic as extremely close. “Every member of the BC Sharps has a different personality, background and niche in our group. The fact that we are all so different, however, does not take away from the unity and solidarity of the group,” she said. Established in 1990, the Sharps have since belted out their old school disco theme song, “If I Can’t Have You” proudly. Each October, the Sharps team up with the all-male a cappella group, the Heightsmen, to give a spooky performance entitled the “Sheightsmen” and each spring they host a concert for their alumnae.

SHARPS

The Bostonians of Boston College is the oldest co-ed a cappella group on campus, currently ringing in its 26th year. Characterizing its music style as primarily pop, its members like to keep things upbeat and even add in some beat boxing. A few jams in its repertoire include “Domino” and “Senorita” by Justin Timberlake. But the Bostonians also perform powerful ballads such as “Breathe Again” by Sara Bareilles and “Landslide” by the Dixie Chicks. Never failing to be originals, the Bostonians added a medley to its set list that includes “Wide Awake”

by Katy Perry. In and out of rehearsal, the Bostonians acts as a family.

Jeff Nicholson A&S ‘14 , beat boxer and bass singer for the group, remarks that its dynamic “is not a cliché college group format where there is some sort of unspoken hierarchy. There are officers who are seniors, juniors and sophomores so there is real unity.” The Bostonians recently hosted its Fall Invitational with a guest a cappella group from BU, and is looking forward to its Café at the end of the semester.

BOSTONIANS

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Culture Shaan, BC’s South Asian a cappella group, sparks intrigue and appreciation throughout campus with renditions of popular Bollywood songs and mixes of popular South Asian and Western songs. Since Shaan began in 2010, it has impressed the BC students with its creativity and South Asian musical flare. Priyasha Chaturvedi A&S ‘14, the musical director and soprano singer for BC’s youngest a capella group, said, “One of the first songs we learned, ‘Aankhein’ is a crowd favorite, as well as ‘Jiya Jale’. We also really like one of our few mash-ups: ‘Suraj’ and ‘What Goes Around’ by Justin Timberlake.” Shaan’s biggest performances are Acappellafest in the fall and the SASA Culture Show in the winter.

SHAAN

AGAINST THE CURRENT

Against the Current has stepped into the spotlight on campus because of its faith-filled song choices and impressive vocalists. As BC’s Christian a cappella group, ATC focuses on current pop songs with positive or Christian themes and arranges them to their characteristic style. Its most recent set list includes “Shadowfeet” by Brooke Fraser and “Redeemer” by Nicole Mullen.

It also sings purely faith-oriented songs such as “Emanuel” by Kepano Green and “Hosanna” by Starfield. Against the Current impresses students each year at its Spring Concert and Arts Festival.

HEIGHTSMEN

BC’s all male a cappella group, the Heightsmen, never ceases to keep our campus entertained. For example, many of you may know the group by its music video of an a cappella rendition of “Bed Intruder,” entitled “Mod Intruder.” Perfecting classics by Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and many more since 1990, the Heightsmen have remained a true brotherhood united through song. Masrur Khan A&S ‘14, the business manager and all-pitch singer for the group, loves everything about the fraternity feel that the Heightsmen embodies. The group proudly performs their theme song, “Good Ole A Cappella,” with every set. While the Heightsmen flawlessly belt out old school favorites like “Come Fly With Me” by Sinatra, the Heightsmen also managed to personalize current pop songs, such as “Kids” by MGMT. The Heightsmen’s biggest performance each semester is its Café, where the group performs every song in its set list. However, the group keeps it original by incorporating skits and even a freshman dance.

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the GAVEL / November 2012

Culture The Dynamics, BC’s co-ed pop a cappella group founded in the fall of 1998, ignites the campus with its talented solos and fantastic harmonies. The group members dedicate themselves to creating challenging arrangements that are also fun and entertaining. Focusing mainly on current pop songs, this group puts a creative spin on each one. A few of its favorites include “Without You” by David Guetta, “Home” by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, and “Save Tonight” by Mindi Abair. Not only talented singers, the members have a close and humorous relationship that has led them to also perform skits and make YouTube shorts. The Dynamics’ impressive set list at its Invitational kept the BC audience anxious for more.

DYNAMICS

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Boston

ACOUSTICS College Acoustics keeps the focus on fun and profes-

sionalism. With unique music styling of smooth R&B, boy band pop, upbeat country, angsty ‘90s alt rock and even dubstep, it is safe to say that the Acoustics’performaces never disappoint. “Gone” by N’Sync, “You and I” by Lady Gaga and “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles are just a few special favorites to perform because the songs exemplify the group’s high energy and love for one another. Nate Richardson A&S ‘13, tenor and baritone singer reflects that the members “all come from different backgrounds and have different opinions, but our love of music and each other keeps us united.” The group has a close bond with its alumni, who have left a great legacy for new members. Don’t miss Fall Café on Dec. 1!

a cappella group named B.E.A.T.S., which stands for Black B.E.A.T.S. The Experience in America Through Song, is the only R&B and

soul group on the Heights. As one of the younger groups on campus, B.E.A.T.S. is only in the midst of its fourth year together and have already managed to wow the campus. The group seeks to sing music that tells the story of black American history and a few of its favorites are “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday, “Respect” by Aretha Franklin and “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. B.E.A.T.S. has developed a special tradition in its four short years in which it opens its shows with a piece called “Let the B.E.A.T.S. build,” which features the chorus of “Run this Town”

by Jay-Z featuring Kanye West and Rihanna. Johanna Facada A&S ‘14, the treasurer and tenor alto/soprano singer for the B.E.A.T.S., reflects that the group has become a crazy second family for her and she jokes, “When they say a cappella kids are weird they’re talking about us.”

Screenshots by Gillian Freedman / Gavel Media www.bcgavel.com

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Culture

Pop Culture

By Jenna LaConte / Culture Editor

The political world may be divided in its stance on LGBT rights, but pop culture has come to a conclusion: in the 21st century, sexuality is a non-issue. LGBT performers and characters have taken over the airwaves, debunking the myth of heteronormativity, which is the assumption that a person is straight until proven otherwise.

Photo courtesy of ‘Cause I need it / Flickr

FRANK OCEAN

e Hagen / Flickr

Photo courtesy of Pol

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Supports Love

“This unrequited love / to me it’s nothing but a one-man cult / and cyanide in my Styrofoam cup / I could never make him love me.”

So sings Frank Ocean in a song titled “Bad Religion” from his album Channel Orange, which was released in July. This summer was big for Ocean, who came out via an open letter on his Tumblr in the week leading up to the release of Channel Orange.

In the letter, Ocean does not use the words “gay” or “bisexual.” He simply tells the story of his first love, who happened to be a man.

“In the last year or 3 I’ve screamed at my creator. Screamed at the clouds in the sky. For some explanation. Mercy maybe. For peace of mind to rain like manna somehow. 4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too… By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life,” he said in the letter.

Ocean, a member of the hip-hop collective Odd Future, opened up to The Guardian, a British newspaper, about his decision to go public with his sexuality. “People are just afraid of things too much,” he said. “Sure, evil exists, extremism exists. Somebody could commit a hate crime and hurt me. But they could do the same just because I’m black. They could do the same just because I’m American.”

Tyler the Creator, the leader of Odd Future, spoke out in support of Ocean following the revealing Tumblr post. Like many influential rappers, Tyler the Creator has released some highly controversial songs, many of which have homophobic lyrics. Ocean’s decision to come out, along with his continued acceptance within the hip-hop community, is revolutionary to a genre that has typically shied away from supporting the LGBT community.

Flag photo courtesy of Benson Kua / Wikimedia Commons

the GAVEL / November 2012

Culture Ak Screenshot by Emily in / Gavel Media

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS The same guys who made thrift shops cool have a message for the world: “Human rights for everybody / There is no difference.”

“Same Love,” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, speaks out against marriage inequality. The song features a hook by Mary Lambert, a lesbian singer who croons the words, “And I can’t change / Even if I tried / Even if I wanted to / My love, my love, my love / She keeps me warm.”

Perhaps more engaging than the lyrics is the music video, which went viral on social networking sites. The video flashes through heart-wrenching scenes of teenagers struggling with their sexualities, eventually leading to scenes of marital bliss at same-sex weddings. In the YouTube description, the artists encourage listeners to join their cause for civil rights through the approval of Referendum 74 to legalize gay marriage in Washington, their home state.

“SAME-SEX COUPLES – IN ORDER TO HAVE A CHILD – MEANS YOU REALLY,

REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

Screenshot by Gillian Freedman / Gavel Media

The typical family-based sitcom has taken on a new formula to integrate homosexuality and combat heteronormativity.

Modern Family and The New Normal have gone above and beyond this incorporation of non-straight characters by explicitly stating the depicted family lives to be just that: modern and normal. Both shows follow same-sex couples in their everyday lives, including the difficult processes of adoption and surrogacy. These challenges strain any relationship, gay or straight.

However, the couples flourish in spite of these difficulties, letting love prevail.

SO IF YOU’RE A SAME-SEX COUPLE THAT HAS A CHILD IT MEANS THAT CHILD IS SO LOVED AND SO WANTED.”

-NEIL PATRICK HARRIS

Photo courte

sy of CapitalM

/ Flickr

Neil Patrick Harris, who plays the ultimate womanizer as Barney on How I Met Your Mother, is much less of a ladies’ man in real life. That’s because NPH, or should I say America’s favorite teen doctor Doogie Houser, is happily engaged to Screenshot by Gillian Freedman / Gavel Media his life partner, David Burtka.

Harris and Burtka have two children, twins Harper and Gideon, who were born via surrogate. Although marriage equality and same-sex couples having children are often debated, Harris’s explanation of his and Burtka’s desire to be parents made the concept a no-brainer.

“Same-sex couples – in order to have a child – means you really, really, really, really have to do a lot of work to make that happen. So if you’re a same-sex couple that has a child it means that child is so loved and so wanted,” Harris said in an interview with Oprah.

In a world where 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom can thrive on television, are we really still vel Media lian Freedman / Ga questioning whether two grown adults of the same sex can raise children together?

Photo courtesy of Gil www.bcgavel.com

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Culture

Kickin’ it in Coolidge Corner

By Emily Akin / Assoc. Culture Editor

The coolest hangout you didn’t know about.

Take a tour down Harvard Street with Gavel Media!

DESTINATION #1: Coolidge Corner Movie Wait, what? This place is awesome.

These are my first thoughts as the cashier at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, described the cinema’s upcoming attractions.

“On November 19 we have this new program coming. We’re going to play the silent movies with a live orchestra in the front of the theater,” she says.

While the theatre screens new blockbusters, it prides itself on their strange and obscure film programs. For Halloween they ran several horror movie marathons, full of classics such as The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Thing. These movie marathons aren’t strictly seasonal; they screen horror and cult indie movies every Saturday at midnight.

Their website describes these “@fter Midnite” showings as “late-night, weekend programming for the cool insomniac crowd, including horrifying, weird, camp, avant-garde, trippedout movies and cult niche live performances.” Some upcoming shows in November include: Predator, The Room, Evil Dead II, RoboCop and Blood, Sweat + Vinyl: DIY in the 21st Century.

Besides these cult classics, the Coolidge Corner Theatre offers many cinematographically strange genres of film, including Goethe German Film, Science on Screen and Ballet in Cinema.

The “Sounds of the Silent” program sounds especially cool: it offers “a taste of cinema history with silent film classics featuring newly composed, original scores performed live by acclaimed accompanists.” An insider’s tip on what to look for coming in November: Peter Pan (1924) accompanied by a live orchestra.

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A little ways down Harvard Street is a chocolate and maroon candy-striped awning that will beckon you into a Francophile’s heaven. The Paris Creperie is a tiny traditional Parisian café, which serves AMAZING sweet or savory crepes.

The number one ingredient in most crepes demonstrates how awesome this restaurant is: Nutella.

Who doesn’t love Nutella? Go away, whoever you are. Chocolate and hazelnut lovers will be in heaven when they see the Nutella Chocolate Crepe, the Nutella Frozen Hot Chocolate, the Raspberry Nutella Hot Chocolate and the Mint Nutella Latte.

Make sure to swing by the store to enjoy the cozy European atmosphere! It’s a refreshing change from the huge coffee chains, which we are accustomed to (sorry Dunkin, I love you, but show me the Nutella).

DESTINATION #2: The Paris Creperie the GAVEL / November 2012

Culture A giant Adventure Time poster and a balding Asian man welcomed me into the New England Comics store. Unlike many other comic stores, this shop focuses on selling cartoons and strips produced by local cartoonists. The site in Coolidge Corner is one of eight locations in Greater Boston.

The stores offer weekly gaming events, including Friday Night Magic and Saturday Magic Booster Draft Tournaments. For avid comic fans this local hole-in-the-wall is a fun Boston business to visit and support!

(Fun Fact: the Adventure Time poster is currently hanging up in my eight-man.)

DESTINATION #3: cs New England Comi Stacks of handmade colorful soaps and the smell of sandalwood will welcome you into Melt on Harvard Street. The store in Coolidge Corner is one of two locations in Massachusetts. The shop specializes in crueltyfree, paraben-free mineral oil and petroleum-based products, which “represent natural beauty and freshness,” according to the salesclerk. The artisanal products at Melt are perfect birthday gifts for mom.

DESTINATION #4: Melt Bath & Skin Care

DESTINATION #5: d Gift Brookline News an www.bcgavel.com

Go to this store just for chuckles. An extensive collection of bongs and pipes are prominently displayed in a glass case on the counter. Before you get any ideas, a sign clearly declares that they are “ONLY FOR TOBACCO USE.” The carousel of raunchy birthday cards features characters such as “Vodka Girl” and “The Caped Crusader of Cannabis.” For you gentlemen who have been craving cigars but aren’t willing to shell out the big bucks, Brookline News and Gift provides various cheaper options. The rest of the store is a confusing cross between a flea market and a disorganized CVS that hasn’t been restocked since 1994.

Photos by Emily Akin / Gavel Media 39

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James Bond, simply put, is the man. He wears a tuxedo as he jumps off of buildings, dominates at poker, assassinates political leaders from around the world and walks off with the prettiest girls.

For the few who are not experts on the legend that is James Bond, here are some highlights from my favorite Bond movies to catch you up on the history of his escapades.

Screenshot by Gillian Freedman / Gavel Media

By Mary Yuengert / Gavel Media Staff

SPOTLIGHT ON THE MISSIONS OF BOND. JAMES BOND.

Culture

Screenshot by Louise Sheehan / Gavel Media

Screenshot by Gillian Freedman / Gavel Media

Photo courtesy of Julien Haler / Flickr

Screenshot by Gillian Freedman / Gavel Media

Skyfall (2012)

Bond Girl

Daniel Craig Eva Green

Skyfall, the 23rd movie in the Bond series, premieres November 7th. Be sure to catch Bond during his latest mission as he attempts to save M from an attack by renegade MI6 operative Raoul Silva.

Photo courtesy of Logan Kirst / Gavel Media

the GAVEL / November 2012

Culture You Only Live Twice (1967) Bond Sean Connery Girl Mie Hama

Live and Let Die (1973) Bond Roger Moore

Bond heads off to Jamaica on a mission to discover the truth behind the death of a fellow agent, but stumbles upon the secret underground lair of Dr. Julius No, who is attempting to use his radio beam to spoil the operation of an American manned space launch.

Bond finds himself dispatched to Japan on a mission to discover who’s behind a recent space mishap in which American and Soviet manned spacecraft disappeared in orbit. Bond meets Ernst Stavro Blofield, who is attempting to disrupt Red China and promote war between the superpowers of the world.

Bond is led to a world where Dr. Kananga, a corrupt Caribbean dictator, is running a drug ring out of Harlem.

Dr. Kananga is attempting to distribute heroin to put other drug lords out of business.

Bond becomes trapped in Mr. Big’s world, where gangsters and voodoo are his biggest obstacles.

For Your Eyes Only (1981) Bond Roger Moore

License to Kill (1989) Bond Timothy Dalton Girl Carey Lowell

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1

Dr. No (1962)

Bond Girl

Sean Connery Ursula Andress

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Girl

Carole Bouquet

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Bond races the Soviets to recover a missing missile command system.

He encounters some deceptive rival businessmen from Greece as well as leading lady Melina Havelock. She is seeking vengeance for the murder of her parents, who were killed in attempts to recover the same missing

We find our hero suspended from MI6 due to his pursuit of Franz Sanchez, a drug lord who Bond and his friend Felix Leiter had attempted to capture. M suspends his license to kill, which fails to stop Bond from going after Sanchez with even more force than ever.

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Die Another Day (2002) Bond Pierce Brosnan

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Girl

Bond Girl

“Jinx” Johnson

Bond is betrayed during a mission to North Korea and is captured and imprisoned after he seemingly killed a colonel in the North Korean army. A year later, he is released, determined to redeem himself by seeking out his betrayer and killing the agent who he believes was involved in his torture.

www.bcgavel.com

Casino Royale (2006) Daniel Craig Eva Green

At the beginning of his career as 007, Bond pursues a mission to bankrupt terrorist financier Le Chiffre by beating him in a high-stakes poker game. Along the way, he falls in love with Vesper Lynd, who is a treasury employee assigned to provide Bond with money for his mission.

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Girl

Jane Seymour

GoldenEye (1995)

Bond Girl

Pierce Brosnan Izabella Scorupco

Pierce Brosnan makes his first appearance as James Bond, saving the world from a massive financial meltdown by preventing a crime syndicate called Janus from using the GoldenEye satellite weapon against London.

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Quantum of Solace (2008)

Bond Girl

Daniel Craig Olga Kurlenko

Bond comes face-toface with Dominic Greene, a businessman who belongs to the Quantum organization.

In an attempt to gain control of Bolivia’s water supply, Greene is going undercover as an environmentalist trying to stage a coup d’état.

Bond teams up with Camille Montes, both seeking revenge.

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INSIDE: La Liga in Scotland / AD Brad Bates/ Alabama Bowl Chances SPORTS

SPORTS

November 2012

Hamilton, Greinke headline this year’s free agency market

By Jake Miller Gavel Media Staff With the Fall Classic complete, here’s a look at the players that might land on your team’s roster next year. In parentheses, we have included the palyer’s most recent team.

Catcher: Mike Napoli (Texas Rangers), AJ Pierzynski (Chicago White Sox), Russell Martin (New York Yankees) Napoli did great things for the Texas Rangers. The Red Sox, however, are in dire need of a middle-of-the-order bat and another option for first base. Napoli could act as a platoon player with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, splitting time at catcher and first. The Padres and the Mets are starving for catching help, but cannot offer a supporting cast as strong as the Sox. They will have to be satisfied with Pierzynski and Martin. Minnesota might also be in the search of another catcher in order to save Joe Mauer’s legs and could be in the fight for Napoli as well.

First base: Adam LaRoche (Washington Nationals), James Loney (Boston Red Sox), Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Rays) Washington’s lineup is a lot less fearsome without LaRoche, who is expected to test the market. With more than 42

enough financial flexibility, the Red Sox may be able to entice LaRoche to cut his ties with the Nats. Baltimore is in need of a first baseman as well, with fan favorite Mark Reynolds struggling to control his strikeouts total. Loney, who was traded to Boston from the Dodgers in the infamous “Nick Punto Trade,” did not impress the Red Sox front office. He may draw interest from the Rays, who have had it with Pena’s inability to stay above the Mendoza Line.

Second base: Kelly Johnson (Toronto Blue Jays), Jeff Keppinger (Tampa Bay Rays) Johnson could remain with the Blue Jays who value his versatility.

However, Colorado may swoop in in search of infield help, especially if Troy Tulowitzki isn’t fully healed by next year. Keppinger briefly sampled his talent in Tampa this year and the Rays will probably keep him to see how he develops.

Third base: Kevin Youkilis (Chicago White Sox), Eric Chavez (New York Yankees) Youkilis proved Bobby Valentine right (and that is not a typo) by underperforming in Chicago after being traded from Boston. His career numbers have been steadily falling and switching from first to third ev-

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ery year has definitely taken a toll on him. The White Sox still have a need for Youkilis, but the Astros’ and Reds’ needs for third basemen are greater. Chavez is beginning to show his age as well, but New York may be hesitant to let him walk after the admirable job he did filling in for A-Rod. Shortstop: Marco Scutaro (San Francisco Giants), Jhonny Peralta (Detroit Tigers), Stephen Drew (Oakland Athletics) Scutaro has been otherworldly since being shipped to the Giants during the season. He is in line for a significant raise, one that San Fran will more than happily pay if he can replicate his performance from this year. His World Series opponent, Detroit, would probably like to nab him as an upgrade over Peralta, who is also a free agent. Drew, the

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shortstop for the upstart Athletics, resurrected his career in Oakland and will likely stay for another year there.

Outfielder: Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers), Michael Bourn (Atlanta Braves), Cody Ross (Boston Red Sox), Nick Swisher (New York Yankees) Hamilton’s numbers speak for themselves, but his myriad of issues off the field might raise some doubts among baseball’s general managers.

Texas is in an uncomfortable position because of how Hamilton was treated at the end of this year. Detroit may be looking to replace Delmon Young and a lineup of Miguel Cabrera, Hamilton and Prince would be unstoppable.

Milwaukee can take the salary hit and Hamilton may value playing in a small market. Bourn, Ross and Swisher are all staying put. The Braves, Red Sox and Yankees would be foolish to not resign their “locker room guys.” www.bcgavel.com

Starting Pitcher: Zach Greinke (Los Angeles Angels), Ryan Dempster (Texas Rangers), Colby Lewis (Texas Rangers) The Angels unloaded far too much talent to get Grienke last season and will be looking to lock him up long term. The Rangers are in a bit of a bind because they probably cannot keep both Dempster and Lewis. Colby has not developed as they had hoped and may end up going to Theo Epstein’s Cubs, Dempster’s team last year.

Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Broxton (Cincinnati Reds), Ryan Madson (Cincinnati Reds), Jose Valverde (Detroit Tigers) Broxton or Madson may be allowed to leave the Reds organization if Cincinnati decides to hand the reigns over to Aroldis Chapman. The Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals and Blue Jays will be interested in Broxton, but Madson is

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certainly not a bad consolation prize.

The Reds would never let both guys go, but may not be financially able to hold on to both. Valverde did nothing to help his own cause by imploding in the playoffs this year. He is still good enough to aid the rebuilding process of a bottom-feeding team, such as Kansas City, though.

Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner (Cleveland Indians), Lance Berkman (St. Louis Cardinals) Hafner is getting up there in age, so Cleveland may be hesitant to resign their slugger. He may end up like Jim Thome, latching onto a young team in need of veteran leadership, like Pittsburgh, Baltimore or Tampa Bay. Lance Berkman is also getting old and may be better suited to the DH position in the AL instead of the demanding first base duties of the NL. Look for Kansas City and Oakland to be potential suitors.

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SPORTS

La Liga finds an unlikely counterpart in Scotland

By Andrew Schofield Sports Editor It was the spring of 2003. AIM was all the rage. Republicans were vigilant about “freedom fries.” And some of the world’s best soccer players were plying their trade in the Scottish Premier League (SPL).

Swedish striker Henrik Larsson — who would go on to help FC Barcelona win two league titles in the mid-2000’s — originally earned his fame during his seven-year stay at Scottish side Celtic FC. After a two-year spell at Barcelona, Ronald de Boer — a fixture on the Dutch national team during the mid1990s — joined Rangers FC, Celtic’s rival and the league champion that year.

But, it is not 2003 anymore. No one on my AIM buddy list still signs on anymore. The far right’s vitriol for the naming rights to fried potatoes has spelled over to other equally serious topics — like the getting access to President Obama’s birth certificate. And the SPL has fallen into disrepair as its talent level and exposure clearly dwarf that of most of the other major domestic leagues in Europe.

Just this summer, Rangers FC, one of the SPL’s most prestigious clubs, went into insolvency and was relegated to the league’s third and lowest division.

But the decline of Rangers FC was simply the league’s price to pay for years of mismanagement — the seeds of its downfall were sown over a decade ago.

At the heart of the SPL’s collapse was the unbalanced power dynamic in control of the league. As the league’s two most popular clubs, Celtic FC and Rangers FC — the duo often referred to simply as “The Old Firm” — were able

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to dominate the terms on which the league’s television revenue was distributed.

It was not even until the league’s other 10 teams threatened to withdraw from the SPL in April of 2002 that the two clubs began to slash the large gap between the television revenue of the two factions. But by then, it was already too late.

Despite the continued success of “The Old Firm” in the mid-2000s, the difference in the quality of teams within the league widened — driven by the economic inequality inherent to the league’s structure.

Today, the league hardly has a strong presence within international competitions and fails to attract any considerable amount of international talent.

While most other EuroPhoto courtesy of Calcio Better/Flickr pean soccer leagues have reached television revenue sharing agreements with much more equality, the hegemonic nature of the SPL does find a surprising counterpart in one of the world’s most popular leagues today, La Liga. Like the SPL, La Liga is dominated by a pair of rivals, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Either of the two won the league title every year the past 16 years.

The disparity is not going anywhere soon. Just last season, the gap between second place Barcelona and third place Valencia was 30 points — far exceeding that of any other major league.

Throughout the past 15 years, the pair has been able to dominate the terms on which the

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the GAVEL / November 2012

SPORTS league came to television agreements —even allowing clubs to make arrangements with networks on a clubby-club basis until 2010. However, the two have made considerable concessions in the most recent deal agreed Photo courtesy of Gonzalo Hinostroza/Flickr upon– namely, each taking a 16 percent drop in television revenue. The deal still doles out over two thirds of the pie to the pair.

Moreover, the practice of coming to individual arrangements with television networks allowed the two clubs to rake in considerably more revenue from the selling of television rights for over a decade than the other teams. With such an advantage, Real Photo courtesy of Gonzalo Hinostrazo/Flickr and Barca have become dominant forces at home and abroad, while the rest of the league has struggled to even remain financially viable.

At the moment, six of the league’s 20 are protected by Spain’s bankruptcy laws while another two — Malaga and Valencia — have been forced to sell their most talented players to stay afloat

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financially.

But it seems as though both Barcelona and Real Madrid fail to realize the implications of such inequality. Aside from promoting equality of opportunity for all teams within the league in the name of fair play, the disparity in talent levels within La Liga has illeffect on the profitability of the league as a whole.

Despite the remarkable success of their national team, Spain’s domestic league ranks behind leagues such as the English Premier League and Italy’s Serie A, not only in terms of popularity, but in terms of television revenue as well, with the EPL potentially earning close to a billion more dollars annually than its Spanish counterpart.

La Liga arguably plays a more entertaining style of soccer than the rest of the world, but it certainly lacks the parity that a viewer finds in the average season of EPL action. While the EPL often has several more serious contenders for the title than La Liga, it also boasts much stronger teams in the lower echelon of the league.

By creating a more equitable arrangement with regard to their policy on television revenue sharing, La Liga could become a much more talented, deeper league.

While Real and Barca would certainly face a drop in profit in the short term, there could very well be more money to be made by cultivating the league’s overall profitability.

In other words, by taking a smaller piece of the pie in the present, Real and Barca could increase the size of the whole pie in the years to come – ensuring the league’s long-term stability.

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BC ushers in a new era with the hiring of former Miami (OH) AD, Brad Bates

By Teddy Kolva Gavel Media Staff

Brad Bates, who previously served Miami University of Ohio for ten years as Director of Athletics, was named the successor of Gene DeFillipo on Oct. 9th. Bates arrives at a crucial time for Boston College Athletics.

The football team’s integrity and culture of excellence has been slowly fading as it has become a weekly doormat for college football’s elite (Florida State) and the not-soelite (Army). The ef-

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fects of the football team’s struggles are obvious, seen best at every home game.

Alumni, supporters and SuperFans alike ditch the waning minutes of blowout losses and head home bitter and disconcerted.

A student body once known to be enthusiastic for Game Day on the Heights is now utterly indifferent — the team’s recent performance no longer captivates the emotions of those who used to flock to Alumni every weekend.

Bates is faced with many important decisions in the coming months, most im-

portantly the status of current head football coach Frank Spaziani. Spaz’s record the past four seasons is a disappointing 21-25.

The search for his inevitable replacement rests on the decision-making ability and insight of Bates.

A walk-on defensive back at the University of Michigan under the great Bo Schembechler, Bates knows the qualities of a competent, professional and determined coach. Finding a good hire is a critical step for a program that needs better play calling, better recruiting and a better

team culture.

Football is the foremost concern for many, but other sports teams are at pivotal junctures as Bates begins his tenure.

Men’s basketball, for instance, led by head coach Steve Donahue, is in the process of rebuilding and developing a competitive squad for the upcoming season. Bates will be tasked with fostering this newly reborn, fragile program and developing a healthy relationship with Donahue.

This task that should not be unattainable for Bates, given his track record at Mi-

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ami of Ohio.

Men’s ice hockey is on the brink of being a perennial dynasty — one more NCAA championship would pin them as possibly the greatest collegiate ice hockey program ever.

Bates is well acquainted with good ice hockey teams; Miami appeared in two consecutive Frozen Fours and one national championship in 2009.

He has the potential to be the steward of incredible success by elevating the program to new and dominant heights.

During his tenure at Miami, he oversaw the football team’s first ever back-to-back bowl game appearances. Out of the 18 varsity sports teams at Miami, 14 won at least one conference championship under his reign.

Consequently, Miami was awarded the Reese and Jacoby Trophies for allaround athletic excellence. Success seems to be a byproduct of Bates, following him wherever he goes.

As a part of revamping Miami Athletics, Bates spearheaded the remodeling of the football field, ice hockey

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rink and softball field. He raised private funds to ensure the completion of these facilities, further ushering in an era of competitiveness and success at Miami.

Initially working as an associate AD at Vanderbilt University, Bates entered into a Miami athletics department in 2002 that faced a variety of issues, only to convert it into a premiere model for aspiring athletic departments across the United States.

Bates is an excellent fit for Boston College: the GSR (Graduation Success Rate) of his student-athletes at Miami was 89%, which was 9% greater than the national average. At Boston College, 21 out of the 31 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams scored a perfect 100 on the GSR, the most of any Division 1-A school.

A leader in the field of sports administration, Bates served as the President of the NCAA Division IA Athletic Directors Association. He emphasizes the “student” in studentathlete to a remarkable degree — instituting a concept at Miami referred

to as the “Culture of Champions.”

Under this unique idea, his student-athletes were taught that excellence and winning permeated the field or competition. It was an easy choice for Father Leahy and the Board of Trustees because this innovative model of success mirrors the values of Boston College and because Bates elicted such a high GSR during his time at Miami.

With many aspects of BC Athletics in a period of transition — a crossroads in which mediocrity or dominance seem to be the only available routes — Bates will serve as a guiding presence for the coming years.

His impressive background, featuring years of experience in working with student-athletes, coaches and administrators should usher in an era of Boston College athletics marked by championships and triumphs, rather than droves of Super Fans leaving prematurely from sporting events in dazed disappointment.

This football season has seen far too much of that.

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SPORTS

Alabama looks set to repeat as the college season draws to a close the NFL Draft,.

These dreams were dashed after a shocking upset loss to Stanford early With a new playoff system in the in the season and less than stellar works for next year’s college football play from its superstar, quarterback postseason, this will be the final year Matt Barkley. A 64-51 loss to Oregon utilizing the current postseason for- dashed any hopes for a return to the mat: the Bowl Championship Series. national title conversation. While USC has rebounded niceCurrently, a total of ten ly since its early seateams are selected to son loss, it still has a participate in the five “The fate of this Flor- potential stumbling game BCS schedule, beginning on New Year’s ida State team is es- block against Notre Day and culminating sentially sealed: while Dame that will surely limit their chance with the BCS National Championship on Janu- the National Cham- to return to the Naary 7th. pionship is virtually tional Championship conversation this Although a complicated methodology out of reach, they can season.

Michigan opened is used to determine cruise through the rest which teams are select- of their schedule with the season against college football ed to each bowl game, powerhouse Alathe system is designed ease...” bama, resulting in to reward both the best a 41-14 beat down. teams in college footMichigan has played ball and the champion from each major BCS Conference. Here well since its opening night disaster, are the teams that will most likely be with a close loss to an impressive playing on the big stage come New Notre Dame team as its only other defeat thus far.

Year’s: The road remaining for Michigan this season is not particularly difficult, Rose Bowl but it does end the year at Ohio State, the class of the Big 10 this season.

Southern California (PAC-12 ChamLuckily for the Wolverines, Ohio State pion) vs. Michigan (Big 10 Champion) is bowl-ineligible this season, making While a trip to the Rose Bowl usually its chances to reach the Rose Bowl indicates a successful season, USC will that much more likely. view this game as a consolation prize in Orange Bowl its first season returning to bowl-eligibility. USC had National Championship Florida State (ACC Champion) vs. hopes from the onset of the season beRutgers (Big East Champion) hind the arm of future first round draft pick, Matt Barkley, who chose to return Florida State is another team that for his senior year instead of opting for 48

By Emyr Remy Gavel Media Staff

had national championship aspirations before losing in a shocking upset, this time to a decent, but middle-of-the-pack North Carolina State team led by head coach Tom O’Brien.

The only true test remaining for the Seminoles comes in the last game of the regular season against the very impressive Florida Gators team.

The fate of this Florida State team is essentially sealed: while the National Championship is virtually out of reach, they can cruise through the rest of their schedule with ease and guarantee themselves a slot in the ACC Championship Game.

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There is very little competition left in the ACC to compete against the Seminoles except a Clemson Tigers team that the Seminoles have already overcome this season.

While the Big East has been the laughingstock of BCS conferences for the last several years, the conference is still given a slot in the BCS as long as they are field. Rutgers fits this bill perfectly: while it has looked good this season, the Scarlet Knights have gone up against mediocre programs and will continue to do so all the way to a BCS berth.

Its only competition Photo courtesy of Crazed Newt/Flickr comes in the last game of the season against conference rival, Louisville. Look for the winner of that game to earn a spot in the Orange Bowl.

Sugar Bowl Florida (SEC) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12)

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The Florida Gators have been downright dominant and beaten great teams in South Carolina and LSU this season. Its national title hopes were dashed in a upset loss to SEC rival Georiga.

However, with Alabama potentially heading to the national championship, Florida could replace them as the SEC representative if they overcome in-state rival, Florida State.

However, if the Gators pick up another loss against the Alabama Crimson Tide 49

SPORTS in the SEC Championship, they could overcoming a skilled be passed over in favor for a team like Oklahoma team early Georgia or South Carolina. If they do fig- in the season. ure out a way to overcome the Crimson Its quarterback ColTide, look for the Gators to have a place lin Klein has been the in the Sugar Bowl. leader of this team The Oklahoma Sooners have title from the start and his aspirations year in and year out and great play has him in seem to be a mainstay in BCS match- the conversation for ups thanks to Hall of Fame coach, Bob the Heisman Trophy as Stoops. Expect them to return to the college football’s most BCS thanks to a prolific offense and a outstanding player. The stout defense to match. road to an undefeated The Sooners’ pair of losses came season is very manageagainst a shockingly good Kansas State able for the Wildcats game in a closely contested matchup early in the year “...the Alabama Crimson as well as against a solid Tide have continued to Notre Dame squad. Oklahoma has a manageable dominate the opposition road to the BCS, with a falby impressive margins, tering West Virginia team as coupling a high-scoring its only serious competition remaining. offense with the top ranked

Fiesta Bowl

defense in the nation.”

Kansas State (Big 12 Champion) vs. Notre Dame (Independent) Probably the biggest surprise of the college football season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has impressed everyone with its heart and skill en route to overcoming several top-tier teams this year. Notre Dame still has a ways to go, however, and it ends the season against a very skilled USC team in one of the oldest rivalry games in college football.

The Irish should not be counted out — time and time again this season they team has overcome all odds in ways reminiscent of their old glory days.

While it has not yet returned to its previous level of greatness, look for the Irish to find a way to return to the BCS stage.

Kansas State has won virtually every game this season in wildly impressive fashion, recently embarrassing oncehighly touted West Virginia team and 50

given their prior performances, with the Texas Longhorns presenting the greatest obstacle to this goal.

If any national championship contenders falter in the last weeks of the regular season, look for Kansas State to slip into the BCS National Championship.

BCS National Championship Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC Champion) vs.

Oregon Ducks (PAC-12 Champion) As the reigning national champions, the

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the GAVEL / November 2012

SPORTS Crimson Tide to be right where they were at the end of last season.

The Oregon Ducks have put a great team together this season, fielding a great defense to complement one of the most dynamic offenses in the country. Led by their ground game, the Oregon Ducks’ offense is among the best in the nation, and it will have to be in full effect if the Ducks hope to reach the championship game.

The tail end of the season has and will not be kind to the Ducks: it outscored preseason PAC-12 favorite USC in a 62-51 victory. And the Ducks will face a solid Stanford squad before ending their season against in-state rival Oregon State on the road. Expect the Ducks to be challenged during this stretch, but to ultimately survive on their way to the PAC-12 Championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship.

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Alabama Crimson Tide has continued to dominate the opposition by impressive margins, coupling a highscoring offense with the top ranked defense in the nation.

While the ground game drives the Alabama offense, the defense is without a doubt the heart and soul of the Crimson Tide. This squad will continue to be absolutely stifling throughout the rest of the season despite the competition, which is not lacking in skill or talent.

The Crimson Tide have entered the heart of their schedule with a hard-earned victory over SEC rival LSU. The Crimson Tide cap off the season with Iron Bowl rivalry game against Auburn. The Crimson Tide can also expect to face a tough Florida Gators team, or potentially Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina squad, in the SEC Championship Game, which is sure to be a great one.

Despite the toughness of the remaining schedule, expect the www.bcgavel.com

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Photo courtesy of David Smith/Flickr

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